From: kamol@munnari.oz.AU (Kamol Hengkietisak)
Newsgroups: soc.culture.thai
Subject: Sep 29: NAP conflict resolved.
Date: 29 Sep 1992 13:22:36 +1000
Organization: Mail/News gateway
NNTP-Posting-Host: munnari.oz.au


NAP ]conflict resolved
 
THE Chuan Leekpai Government yesterday overcame its first major hurdle 
when the New Aspiration Party managed to settle its internal conflict 
over the allocation of Cabinet seats.
 
NAP leader Chavalit Yongchaiyudh confirmed after a joint meeting of 
the party's executive committee and MPs yesterday that the party had 
decided to reallocate some of the seats under its Cabinet quota among 
its MPs.
 
Party sources said three original nominees were dropped from the list 
and replaced by members of the powerful Northeastern wing led by 
secretary-general Phisan Moolasartsathorn.
 
The three dropped from the NAP list were Federation of Thai Industries 
chairman Narongchai Akkaraseranee -- a non-elected nominee, Khon Kaen 
MP Sermsak Kiatsuranon and Chiang Mai MP Tawatwong na Chiang Mai.
 
Mr Narongchai had been approached to serve as deputy industry minister 
under the NAP's quota while Mr Somsak and Mr Tawatwong were nominated 
to take up the deputy agriculture and finance ministers respectively.
 
Cabinet nominees in the Phisan faction threatened to withdraw their 
support for the NAP when they claimed the NAP list presented to Mr 
Chuan on Sunday was not the same as that agreed between Gen Chavalit 
and Mr Phisan.
 
The Northeastern faction was particulary unhappy with the nomination 
of Bangkok Bank executive board chairman Amnuay Veerawan and Mr 
Narongchai as party nominees for Cabinet posts.
 
  NAP sources said the agreement reached yesterday calls for the party 
to nominate 11 instead of 12 people under the party's quota to assume 
Cabinet responsibilities in the Chuan coalition. 
 
The party will drop its nomination for a Prime Minister's Office 
portfolio.
 
Mr Phisan was originally slotted to hold the concurrent posts of PM's 
Office minister as well as the science, technology and environment 
portfolio.
 
Mr Narongchai and Mr Tawatwong had asked to withdraw as nominees 
following the conflict, the sources said.
 
NAP deputy leader Siri Thiwaphan said the 12th position -- the PM's 
Office Minister -- would be left vacant.
 
Gen Chavalit said after yesterday's meeting he had tried his best to 
find competent candidates to fill the NAP's Cabinet quota.
 
"The NAP wants to create a new dimension in politics by asking MPs to 
sacrifice their interests so we can have good Cabinet ministers who 
can work efficiently and effectively," he said.
 
He said this was why the NAP had decided to approach a person like Mr 
Narongchai.
 
"It's painful to lose several capable people from the list, including 
Mr Narongchai."
 
Gen Chavalit said the NAP had prepared its Cabinet list on the 
understanding that the Democrat Party would assume charge of the 
defence portfolio.
 
Under this scenario, the NAP would have been entitled to 13 Cabinet 
seats -- two of which would be under Gen Chavalit's personal quota.
 
  "But since things have turned out this way, Khun Narongchai has had 
to leave. But he has promised to continue helping." 
 
Gen Chavalit said the changes to the NAP list would not affect the 
stability of the coalition as a whole.
 
He said the full Cabinet list for the coalition would be presented to 
His Majesty the King later today for royal approval.
 
Mr Chuan is scheduled to fly to Narathiwat this morning where he is 
scheduled to receive an audience with His Majesty at Taksin Rajanives 
Palace.
 
The entire Cabinet is expected to receive an audience on Thursday for 
a swearing-in ceremony, also at Taksin Rajanives Palace.
 
Reliable sources said the NAP Cabinet list had been kept confidential 
yesterday to prevent more possible conflicts among MPs who may not be 
happy with the nominations.
 
Under the latest agreement, the party's Northeastern faction will be 
given five Cabinet seats instead of three.
 
The Southern faction will be given one Cabinet seat, the northern 
faction two seats instead of three, the central faction two seats and 
one seat will be allotted to a non-elected person.
 
It was speculated that Nong Khai MP Chatchai Iasakul may be appointed 
deputy finance minister in place of Mr Tawatwong.
 
The new nominee for the deputy agriculture minister could be either 
Ubon Ratchathani MP Surasak Thiamprasert or Si Sa Ket MP Sawat 
Suebsaiprom.
 
The new nominee for deputy industry minister could be Kiatichai 
Chaichawarat of Udon Thani, fellow Udon Thani MP Chalermpol 
Sanitwongchai, or Mr Surasak.
 
Mr Phisan confirmed yesterday that he would no longer hold concurrent 
Cabinet posts under the new arrangement.
 
The agreement reached yesterday will enhance the party's unity and 
will allow the new Government to work smoothly, he said.
 
The secretary-general yesterday personally handed the amended NAP 
Cabinet list to Mr Chuan at the Democrat Party headquarters.