Civilian government 'in 2 weeks'

The Star
Sep. 20, 2006

BANGKOK: Administrative Reform Council (ARC) leader Gen Sonthi Boonyaratkalin told foreign diplomats that a civilian government would be appointed to run the country within two weeks and a general election could be carried out by October next year.

In what was billed as an attempt to restore confidence among the international community, Gen Sonthi told about 80 Bangkok-based diplomats that the military continues to stand with the people and that the coup was in line with their wishes.

Gen Sonthi appeared in front of about 80 envoys and 200 media representatives, with other armed forces leaders who joined forces in a coup d'etat on Monday night. The army chief and coup leader spoke through an interpreter and appeared to be in a good mood.

ARC is still discussing the candidacy for the upcoming caretaker prime minister, but added that the person must be neutral, believe in democracy, and embrace the much revered monarchy.

The junta leader told reporters that the decision to launch the coup came three days ago, but pointed out that the idea had been discussed quietly for some time among the military top brass.

Diplomats appeared calm and most were adopting a wait-and-see attitude, according to a foreign envoy in the session with Sonthi and other coup leaders.

Gen Sonthi had earlier cited corruption within the Thaksin administration, and accused the ousted premier as a threat to the monarchy, deeply dividing the nation, and for gross interference with the country's independent bodies.

Gen Sonthi said Thaksin and members of his Cabinet could return to Thailand as free men because they had not been charged with any crime, but he was ambiguous as to what the junta would do with the ousted premier's assets.

Any dealing with Thaksin's wealth will depend on the due process of law, but the ARC has yet to set up any body to investigate his assets, said Gen Sondhi, who had cited massive corruption as the justification for the coup.

Asked by a diplomat from Finland, which currently chairs the European Union, what should be the outcome of Thai democracy and the message to Western tourists, Gen Sonthi said Thailand was and still is a democracy and that tourists can continue to visit the country.

Asked by an Australian diplomat whether the recent election of the Elections Commission (EC) was not part of the normal restoration of democracy, Gen Sonthi said that the EC and the working of the executive branch was a different matter.

Gen Sonthi insisted that Thailand's foreign policy remained intact, as would bilateral economic arrangements.

He added that the ARC continues to support ousted Deputy Prime Minister Surakiart Sathirathai's candidacy to be the next UN Secretary-General, replacing outgoing Kofi Annan. – The Nation / Asia News Network