From: yongyuth@ipied.tu.ac.TH (Yongyuth Pahirah)
Newsgroups: soc.culture.thai
Subject: (none)
Date: 5 Oct 1992 12:58:47 +1000
Organization: Mail/News gateway
NNTP-Posting-Host: munnari.oz.au


  

Remember the May Crisis says King

The Nation Oct 2 edition

  His Majesty the King yesterday told the new Cabinet to remember that the May
  crisis resulted from political problems and to carry on their political
  determination to meet the people's expectation.

  His Majesty delivered the message in response to an oath taking by the new
  Cabinet led by Prime Minister Chuan Leekpai, a procedure which gave the
  ministers the full legal status to start running the country.

  He did not spell out what he described as the ministers' determination,
  saying that they should know what they should do.

  Such a Cabinet comprising elected politicians was not the first, but this
  one was formed shortly after the political turmoils in May, His Majesty
  remarked.

  This was good in a way that the ministers would not forget how the crisis
  was triggered by political problems, he said.

  HIs Majesty said if the ministers forgot their determination, then they
  could become careless in running the country.

  ``Now that you have acquired the full status as government, you should
  follow up on your determination and strengthen it. If you achieve it, then
  you would make great contributions to the country in accordance with the
  people's expectation.

  ``The people hope for happiness, safety, progress and a better life and
  whether that would materialize or not would depend on you because you have
  the great responsibility and duties,'' His Majesty said.

  He said that if the Cabinet made it, then they could be proud of themselves
  and their achievements.

  Speaking after the ceremony, the prime minister said that His Majesty told
  the Cabinet to follow through their election promises.

  Chuan's campaign thrust was to strengthen the parliamentary system and prove
  to the public that a government of elected politicians can be credible and
  efficient.

  Chuan said that after the oath taking ceremony, his government would set out
  on the task of putting together the partners' politices to make a policy
  statement for delivery to the House.

  The urgent task after that, he said, was for the coalition Cabinet to revise
  the budget bill for the fiscal year which began yesterday.

  Chuan said drawing up the policy statement of the coalition would be top on
  the agenda of first meeting of his Cabinet today.

  The coalition partners would take next week to put together their divergent
  policies and platforms in the Cabinet's policy statement, which should be
  ready for delivery to the House the following week, the prime minister said.

  Chuan said that he would also give the ministers guidelines on such
  procedural matters as keeping classified documents confidential and the
  release of Cabinet resolutions.

  The proposal for all Cabinet members to declare their assets to the public
  would also be raised, he said. Palang Dharma Party took the initiative by
  resolving on Wednesday that all their ministers would publicize their
  financial positions in addition to reporting them to the Counter Corruption
  Commission in accordance with a standing Cabinet resolution.

  Division of the four deputy prime minister's responsibilities would be
  settled after the Cabient meeting, he said. Chuan has four deputies, deputy
  Democrat leader Banyat Banthadthan, Dr Supachai Panitchpakdi appointed on
  the quota of the Democrat Party, Dr Amnuay Viravan on the quota of New
  Aspiration and Palang Dharma's Boonchu Rojanastien.

  Chuan said that improvements to the budget bill, done by the Anand
  government, was an urgent matter because it would take about three months
  before the new House can pass it.

  ``The new fiscal year begins today [yesterday] and the House has yet to
  deliberate it. If we dilly-dally, it would have adverse effects on our
  administration,'' he said.

  Finance Minister Tarrin Nimmanhaeminda had earlier indicated that the
  surplus reserve in the government's coffer, estimated at about Bt200
  billion, could be used to narrow the yawning gap between the capital and
  provinces and reduce income disparities.

  This comment by the minister, which is in line with Chuan's policy ideas,
  ran into objection by bureaucrats and academics who fear that free-wheeling
  spendings from the reserve could weaken fiscal discipline pledged by the
  minister.