SOUTHERN VIOLENCE / ROYAL VISIT, WOMEN RANGERS IN TRAINING

Thirayuth takes aim at CNS, govt 'stumbling'

WASSAYOS NGAMKHAM

Prominent academic Thirayuth Boonmi yesterday billed the interim government as ''a baby turmeric root'' and the Council for National Security (CNS) as ''Gogi Tempura flour'' in an apparent reference to their political inexperience. ''This government is anything but 'Old Ginger','' said the renowned sociologist at Thammasat University, referring to the government's nickname bestowed by the press for its teamwork of mostly retirees and senior technocrats.

He said the government and the CNS had stumbled over the political ploys staged by ousted prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra and various political camps.

He cautioned that the interim government had worked without a clear direction and that may result in dwindling public confidence.

He said he would present in detail his research study on the political situation in the middle of the month.

His view has changed drastically from October, when he expressed absolute trust in the government's ability to steer the country out of the crisis.

He made his remarks while appearing at the Crime Suppression Division yesterday to answer questions over defamation charges filed by Mr Thaksin in June last year.

Mr Thirayuth said he believed the police would not pursue the case as his criticisms of the Thaksin administration were made out of duty as an academic to reflect on the government.

He conceded that the charges against him have had some impact on his academic performance because he had to waste time in defending himself. The legal move against scholars was not healthy for academic circles.

He maintained that his views were based on professional research. But Mr Thaksin may have taken offence by the terms he coined, like kotaranuwat, which alluded to cronyism and corruption.

Bangkok Post
Friday February 02, 2007