CNS says it's ready to protect the ASC

POLITICS / ELECTION AFTERMATH

CNS says it's ready to protect the ASC

Won't allow PPP-led govt to shut it down

POST REPORTERS

The Council for National Security (CNS) is ready to protect the Assets Scrutiny Committee (ASC) if the People Power party (PPP) forms the new government, the Sept 19 coup leader, Gen Sonthi Boonyaratkalin, said yesterday.

Defence Minister Gen Boonrawd Somtas echoed the same sentiments.

The CNS would stay out of politics as the parties jockey to form the first elected government since last year's coup.

But its members were worried about the future of the Assets Scrutiny Commission if the new government was headed by the PPP.

The ASC was set up by the coup makers to investigate alleged irregularities under the governments of ousted prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra.

The CNS was ready to protect it if the PPP ordered it shut down.

Members of the CNS met Gen Sonthi yesterday and gave him an assurance they were not thinking about another coup.

Supreme Commander Gen Boonsrang Niampradit, who is a member of the coup junta, said the CNS realised the PPP could end up running the country, given the result of Sunday's general election.

''We have discussed the outcome of the election,'' he said.

''Our assessment is that the People Power party has a good chance of forming a government, but the Democrat party's chances are not ended yet.

''Politics is not stable.

''But we will not interfere in attempts to set up a government,'' Gen Boonsrang said.

Talks between CNS members and Gen Sonthi, the CNS chairman until his retirement at the end of September, did not centre on its future after the election, especially if the PPP administers the country, he said.

Gen Boonrawd shrugged off fears of revenge by the PPP-led government, saying he did not believe the next government would interfere with the armed forces.

''Frankly speaking, we are not afraid of any revenge even if the PPP comes to power,'' he said.

''It will not interfere with the armed forces, especially with the reshuffling of officers.''