NYT : Thai Junta to Stay After Appointing Premiere

Thai Junta to Stay After Appointing Premiere

By SETH MYDANS | September 26, 2006

BANGKOK, Sept. 26 -- One week after seizing power in a coup, the leader of Thailand’s military junta said today that it would not disband after naming a civilian prime minister in the next few days but would stay on in an advisory role.

Thai newspapers reported that the generals had offered the prime minister’s job to Supachai Panitchpakdi, a former head of the World Trade Organization, but the coup leader, Gen. Sonthi Boonyaratkalin, declined to confirm this.

At a news conference, General Sonthi did not make clear how much power he intended to exercise, but said national security in the coming months remained unpredictable. It was the first indication by the generals that they intend to retain power in the new government.

"We do not know what the internal situation will be in the future," he said. "As of today the situation is calm, orderly and peaceful, but we do not know what is going to happen in the future."

Abhisit Vejjajiva, the leader of the Democratic Party, said General Sonthi seemed to be backing away from his promise, made on the night of the coup last Tuesday, that within two weeks, "We are gone."

"If they hold on to power," Mr. Abhisit said, "it will be the opposite of what was announced and we hope that it will not happen."

General Sonthi said the martial law he imposed when he seized power would remain in effect until the situation is stable. One indication of his concern was a decree issued Sunday that banned political activity or meetings in the rural areas that are Thaksin’s base.

At the time of the coup, the military was split between officers supporting or opposing Thaksin Shinawatra, the ousted prime minister. During his five years in power Mr. Thaksin had put loyalists in control of almost every sector of government and region of the country.

"Let us not forget that Mr.Thaksin, although out of power for now, has not thrown in the towel yet," wrote Veera Prateepchaikul, deputy editor-in-chief of The Bangkok Post daily newspaper, in a column. "He is still very much loved by the grassroots population and has built up a nuge network of support over the years."

Some Thai newspaper commentators are saying it does not appear that the junta had thoroughly prepared the steps to be taken after its seizure of power.

The military leaders are being criticized for their decision not to immediately freeze the assets of Mr. Thaksin and his associates, for appointing some figures associated with Mr. Thaksin to key positions and for failing to make policy statements on important national issues apart from security.

A small anti-coup movement has begun, and political analysts say it could swell into a larger problem for the junta if the military does not quickly replace itself with a civilian administration.

A group of civil society groups calling itself the N.G.O.’s Network for Political and Social Reform urged the junta today to withdraw its restrictions on free assembly and free press; to restore the constitution, particularly its articles on civil rights; and to appoint officials who are free of corruption and have no ties to the Mr. Thaksin government.

Chaiwat Satha-anand, a political scientist at Thammasat University, said he understood the reasons for ousting Mr. Thaksin but he said he was disturbed by its broad and immediate acceptance by the public.

"It is sad to see how popular this coup has become because accepting violent situations to political problems could also be seen as a sign of despair," he wrote in a column in the Bangkok Post.

In its report on the selection of a prime minister The Nation daily newspaper said Mr. Supachai had tentatively accepted an offer to lead the interim government.

Mr. Supachai, who is now head of the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development in Geneva, has held a number of financial posts in the Thai government, including that of commerce minister after the Asian financial crisis in 1997.

Under the junta’s plan, the interim prime minister would hold office during the year-long drafting of a new constitution and preparations for a parliamentary election that would restore democracy.

"I have someone in mind but would rather not say it at this time," General Sonthi said. "I will try to pick a prime minister as soon as possible."

He said he would name a civilian who would be free to make his own decisions and appoint his own 35-member cabinet. But he said his definition of a civilian prime minister included former members of the military.

General Sonthi said the military rulers had been in touch with Mr. Thaksin, who is now in London, and that as a Thai citizen he was free to return whenever he wants.

"But I think Mr. Thaksin can decide for himself," General Sonthi said. "I think Mr. Thakskin may not come right now because he can see the situation is unstable."

Investigations have begun into the assets of Mr. Thaksin and his associates and into possible government corruption and these could affect his decision whether to return.

A nine-member investigating committee was formed Sunday and its chairman, Sawat Chotiphanit, said, "If we find evidence that they tried to transfer their assets overseas we will freeze the assets."

As it prepares to settle in for the long term, General Sonthi said the junta, which had insisted on being called the Council for Democratic Reform under Constitutional Monarchy, was renaming itself the National Security Council.