Chavalit to visit Prem 'to end rift with CNS'

Chavalit to visit Prem 'to end rift with CNS'

WASSANA NANUAM & ANUCHA CHAROENPO

NEW YEAR'S BOMBS AFTERMATH / POLICE REASSURED, HELP FROM DOWN UNDER, SEEING THROUGH GARBAGE, RECONCILATION

Gen Chavalit Yongchaiyudh will today visit Privy Council president Prem Tinsulanonda in a bid to end his rift with the Council for National Security (CNS), amid speculation that his close aide will be in the new cabinet line-up, said a military source yesterday. According to the source, Gen Chavalit had agreed to end the spat out of respect for Gen Prem.

Gen Chavalit upset the CNS members when he criticised the generals for accepting top executive posts on the boards of state enterprises after the Sept 19 coup. He also suggested that ousted prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra be allowed to return to Thailand.

His men were reportedly behind land encroachment allegations against Prime Minister Surayud Chulanont.

The rift deepened when the former prime minister was put on a list of people to be questioned following the multiple explosions at New Year.

The source said Gen Chavalit was not happy that the CNS had put him under surveillance and tapped his phones out of fear he might help Mr Thaksin return to Thailand.

Gen Chavalit and CNS deputy secretary-general Gen Saprang Kalayanamitr recently traded barbs via the media and refused to talk to each other to clear the air. However, CNS chief Gen Sonthi Boonyaratkalin said he did not think the reported rift between the CNS and Gen Chavalit would spin out of control.

Gen Chavalit's planned visit to Gen Prem was described as a traditional New Year courtesy call, but it has added weight to speculation that Gen Wichit Yathip, a former deputy army chief, has been offered a seat in a new cabinet line-up expected to be announced soon.

Meanwhile, Education Minister Wijit Srisa-arn said the prime minister yesterday agreed in principle to add a deputy education minister to the cabinet. He had requested the appointment of a deputy to offset his workload and Gen Surayud agreed to his proposal, said Mr Wijit.

The speculation over Gen Wichit and Mr Wijit's disclosure added weight to rumours of an impending cabinet reshuffle.

Other names which have cropped up in such rumours include that of Squadron-Leader Prasong Soonsiri, a former national security chief in the administrations of Gen Prem Tinsulanonda.

Sqn-Ldr Prasong, now a member of the National Legislative Assembly, yesterday said during a radio programme that he had been approached by one of the CNS core leaders to be a new deputy prime minister.

Gen Surayud, however, said yesterday he had no knowledge of anyone being asked to join his cabinet.

Prime Minister's Office Mininster Prasit Kovilaikool also downplayed the possibility of a cabinet reshuffle soon.

Finance Minister M R Pridiyathorn Devakula refuted reports of former central bank governor M R Chatumongol Sonakul being approached to replace him.

Bangkok Post
Thursday January 11, 2007