POLITICS

Rift denied for not imposing emergency

WASSANA NANUAM

Prime Minister Surayud Chulanont yesterday denied a rift between the government and the Council for National Security after the government decided against declaring a state of emergency. He stressed that the decision not to impose the emergency rule was a joint one and that it was made after all the parties, including CNS chairman Sonthi Boonyaratkalin, had expressed their views.

The decision, hailed by pro-democracy and human rights groups, came on the eve of the anti-coup protest organised by operators of the satellite-based PTV station.

Gen Surayud said the meeting also discussed other measures to keep mass rallies violence-free, without the need to invoke the state of emergency. ''We discussed not only the emergency rule, but also other options and precautions necessary to prevent violence,'' he said.

He defended Gen Sonthi for lobbying for emergency rule, saying the army chief did not ''overreact'' but made the suggestion out of concern.

Gen Sonthi said rumours about the rift were a dirty trick by opponents to stir up conflict between him and Gen Surayud.

The CNS chairman said he understood Gen Surayud's reasons for not announcing a state of emergency in the city, and affirmed that his friendship with the prime minister remains strong, adding that they talk to each other for more than one hour a day.

''It's good that we see things differently. A decision made by only one person might not be correct,'' he said.

Furthermore, an army source said most senior military officers applauded Gen Surayud's decision. They thought announcing a state of emergency would worsen the country's image, while the rallies led by PTV executives were not that threatening.

''The [PTV] group only threatened to expose the facts about Gen Sonthi's [alleged] double marriage registration. It frightened the CNS and Gen Sonthi. They don't want the group to talk about this again and that could be the reason why they are trying to prevent their rallies,'' said the source.

Bangkok Post

Saturday March 31, 2007