Thursday, 26 June 2008

Key figures in PPP discuss big changes to the cabinet

The Bangkok Post
Thursday June 26, 2008

Key members of the People Power party and dissolved Thai Rak Thai party have reportedly discussed the possibility of a major cabinet reshuffle to ease anti-government sentiment, a PPP source revealed yesterday.

Their top targets were Foreign Minister Noppadon Pattama and Commerce Minister Mingkwan Sangsuwan, according to the source.

The source said banned politicians Khunying Sudarat Keyuraphan, Phumtham Wechayachai, Adisorn Piengkes, Chaturon Chaisaeng, Newin Chidchob and Sora-at Klinprathum met with core PPP members to assess the government's situation after the Democrat party's no-confidence debate on Tuesday.

Those core leaders agreed that there should be a major cabinet reshuffle to quell the anti-government movement led by the People's Alliance for Democracy (PAD) and to prevent other coalition parties defecting, said the source.

The PPP's coalition partners have been dissatisfied with the way Mr Noppadon answered the opposition's queries over the Preah Vihear issue, the source said.

Mr Mingkwan has conflicts with Deputy Commerce Minister Banyin Tangpaporn from the Matchimathipataya party, the source said.

Those leaders have asked Thaksin Shinawatra to convince Prime Minister Samak Sundaravej to reshuffle his cabinet to enable his government to move forward and amend the constitution, according to the source.

They want the charter amended before the current government's term ends to revoke the political ban on 111 former Thai Rak Thai executives, said the source.

The government whip planned to seek cooperation from coalition MPs to vote in favour of all censured cabinet members, but it also planned either to ask Mr Noppadon to quit or to swap his position with another minister, the source said.

Mr Noppadon has been attacked over the past two days by the opposition, senators and other critics for the decision to support Cambodia to list Preah Vihear as a World Heritage site.They argued the support could have consequences for the future demarcation of the border.

Supreme Commander Gen Boonsrang Niempradit yesterday criticised the Foreign Ministry for making a mistake with the Preah Vihear issue. It should have made sure its negotiations with Cambodia were transparent to the public from the very beginning, he said.

A military source said most top brass believed the ministry should try to co-register Preah Vihear and its compound as a World Heritage site with Phnom Penh, instead of supporting Phnom Penh's attempt to register it alone.

Cambodia will forward the temple listing proposal to the World Heritage Committee meeting in Quebec which starts on July 2.

The new board of the World Heritage Committee of Thailand will tomorrow hold talks in preparation for the meeting.

The cabinet has approved the list of new board members of Thailand's World Heritage Committee to replace Adul Wichiencharoen with Pongpol Adireksarn.

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