From: clarinews@clarinet.com (PAUL WEDEL)
Newsgroups: clari.news.gov.international,clari.news.military,clari.news.election,biz.clarinet.sample,clari.news.top.world
Subject: Coup leader named prime minister in Thailand
Keywords: international, non-usa government, government, military, election,
	politics
Date: 7 Apr 92 15:40:41 GMT
Article-I.D.: clarinet.thailand-governmentU2A71135ae
Followup-To: biz.clarinet.sample
Location: thailand, southeast asia
ACategory: international
Slugword: thailand-government
Priority: major
Format: regular
X-Supersedes: <thailand-governmentU2A7905ae@clarinet.com>
ANPA: Wc: 619; Id: z3550; Sel: xxigf; Adate: 4-7-1135aed; Ver: ld; V#: 1
Codes: yigfrxx., yim.rth., yiperxg.
Note: (complete writethru -- statments from suchinda, details, media blackout
 on opposition)


	BANGKOK, Thailand (UPI) -- Gen. Suchinda Kraprayoon, the army
commander who masterminded last year's military coup, was appointed
prime minister Tuesday after parliamentary elections won by a coalition
of pro-military parties.
	The move drew immediate protests from civilian political parties and
student groups, which called the appointment undemocratic.
	In a ceremony telecast by military television, Suchinda, 58, was
appointed prime minister by King Bhumibol Adulyadej on recommendation of
Gen. Sunthorn Kongsompong, leader of the military junta that seized
power Feb. 23, 1991.
	The appointment followed general elections March 22 that were meant
to return the country to civilian government, but five pro-military
parties won a majority and apparently gave in to pressure to name the
army leader as premier.
	An earlier nominee was tainted by U.S. charges of involvement in
narcotics trafficking.
	Suchinda, who had previously vowed to decline the premiership, said
later he accepted the job to save the nation from a fragmented political
situation.
	``I don't believe that the political party leaders were inappropriate
for the post. It's just that they couldn't agree,'' Suchinda said.
	``This caused a delay in forming the government which could cause the
economy to stumble. That was why I decided,'' he said.
	Suchinda said he had not yet spoken to any political leaders on the
composition of the Cabinet. Military sources, however, said several more
unelected military men and respected technocrats are expected to be
brought into key posts.
	He said he realized he might not receive full support from the
political parties.
	Suchinda's power base is his control of the military, consolidated by
promoting fellow classmates from the fifth graduating class of the Royal
Military Academy into key positions.
	He becomes Thailand's 19th prime minister since the end of the
absolute monarchy in 1932 and the seventh army commander-in-chief to win
the premiership.
	Prasong Soonsiri, former secretary general of the National Security
Council, said the army leader, who has no civilian administrative
experience, was likely to face a difficult time because of opposition
several political parties and lack of discipline of the political
parties supporting him.
	``He could also face some disaffection from groups within the
military which have been left out of choice positions,'' said Prasong
who had urged Suchinda to decline the appointment.
	A statement issued by four civilian parties which control 163 of the
360 seats in Parliament deplored the forces ``outside the democratic
system'' which pushed for Suchinda to head the government.
	``We affirm that we will join together with the people to fight to
restore parliamentary democracy,'' said the statement signed by the
leaders of the Democrat, New Aspiration, Dharma Force and People's
parties.
	The state-controlled media, however, blacked out all coverage of
statements opposed to Suchinda.
	Following the appointment, military television stations broke into
their regular broadcasts to show civilians offering flowers at Army
headquarters and making statements supporting Suchinda.
	The five pro-military parties previously endorsed Narong Wongwan,
leader of the Justice Unity Party.
	But Narong's nomination ran into immediate trouble, however, when it
was disclosed that the U.S. State Department had rejected his visa
application in 1991 because of suspicions of involvement in narcotics
trafficking. He denied the allegations.
Xref: sparky clari.news.gov.international:258 clari.news.politics:558 clari.news.hot.east_europe:86 clari.news.hot.ussr:68 clari.news.gov.officials:23 clari.news.economy:40 biz.clarinet.sample:1209