From: yongyuth@munnari.oz.AU (Yongyuth Pahirah)
Newsgroups: soc.culture.thai
Subject: CAbinet list goes to King
Date: 29 Sep 1992 13:22:37 +1000
Organization: Mail/News gateway
NNTP-Posting-Host: munnari.oz.au


 
Cabinet list goes to King
 
NAP drops Narongchai, keeps Amnuay in final list
 
  
The Nation Tues Sept 29 edition
 
 
 
 
PRIME Minister Chuan Leekpai will submit the 49-member Cabinet list to His
Majesty the King this evening after New Aspiration Party leader Gen Chavalit
Yongchaiyudh made a last-minute concession yesterday to disgruntled
northeastern MPs demanding more Cabinet posts.
 
  Dropped from the list of NAP nominees were outsider Dr Narongchai Akrasanee,
chairman of General Finance and Securities Co, who had been tipped to become
deputy industry minister, and Th awatwong na Chiang Mai, a Chiang Mai MP
previously named deputy finance minister.
 
  They were replaced by two northeastern MPs, Chatchai Earsakul from Nongkhai
and Surasak Thiemprasart from Ubon Ratchathani, who were nominated deputy
commerce and deputy agriculture ministers respectively.
 
  As a result of the changes, which also involved a rotation of seats for some
remaining nominees to fit the qualifications of the two new nominees, the
number of nort heastern NAP MPs rose from three to five while the numb er of
northern MPs was cut back to two. The previously small number of northeastern
Cabinet nominees caused an uproar from the northeastern faction which
comprises 31 MPs, more than half of the NAP's total of 51.
 
  The other non-partisan outsider picked by Chavalit was however retained _
Bangkok Bank Executive Chairman Dr Amnuay Viravan, who will be a deputy prime
minister of the new coalition government. Both Narongchai and Amnuay are
supporters of NAP but the latter, according to party sources, has won mo re
recognition from the rank and file in the party.
 
  In addition, Chavalit as party leader has the special right to make one
nomination. The leader was given the interior portfolio under the quota of the
Central Region MPs.
 
  Prime Minister Chuan, receiving the final list of 11 NAP nominees from a
team of senior party members led by secretary general Phisarn Moolsartsathorn,
is scheduled to fly to Narathiwat late this morning for an audience with His
Majesty at Thaksin Rajanives, scheduled for 6 PM.
 
  Afte r the royal endorsement of the list, the new Cabinet appointees, to be
ushered in by Chuan, will be granted an audience with His Majesty in an
oath-taking ceremony tomorrow.
 
  Phisarn, speaking after submitting the list of NAP nominees at the Democrat
Party headquarters, also revealed that his party agreed to waive the right to
nominate 11 people to 12 Cabinet positions. The secretary general, previously
given dual posts as PM's Offi ce minister and science, technology and energy
minister, said that he would only take up the latter portfolio.
 
  The earlier plan for him to be PM's Office minister and science, technology
and energy minister had been criticized for being ``odd'' and
``unprecedented'' in Thai political history.
 
  At a news conference at NAP's head office, Chavalit, accompanied by senior
party members, said the abrupt reversal of the Democrat control of the defence
portfolio was because of the initial agreement for a non-partisan outsider' s
appointment to the crucial post. The Democrats, he said, i nformed NAP of the
change just last Sunday, resulting in the cutback of the party's quota from 12
nominees to 11.
 
 
The Democrats dropped the plan for secretary general Maj Gen Sanan
Kachornprasart to become defence minister last Saturday and later decided to
opt for Gen Vijit Sukmark, a career officer, who graduated from West Point
military academy and was outgoing Deputy Permanent Secretary General Gen
Pichitr Kullavanijaya's classmate.
 
  Army sources said that Viji t, who would have been promoted to Armed Forces
chief of staff on Oct 1 had he rejected the political offer, was on friendly
terms with Army Commander in Chief Gen Wimol Wongwanitch. Vijit, who
maintained a quiet profile in the military establishment as a career officer,
was edged out of the power orbits to pave the way for the rise of Class Five
graduates led by former premier Gen Suchinda Kraprayoon.
 
  Vijit is said to be a choice recommended by privy councillor Gen Prem
Tinsulanonda, who has the ears of Chuan, Chava lit, Chamlong and a few othe r
prominent politicians in the new ruling coalition.
 
 
Chavalit told reporters that Narongchai had been helping NAP for a long time
and even though he was dropped, he would continue to aid the party.
 
  He said that he selected Narongchai and Ammuay because he did not want to
fail the public expectation for a Cabinet no less capable than the outgoing
one led by acting premier Anand Panyarachun.
 
  Chavalit and senior party members revised the list at a party meeting
yesterday, relievin g growing tension in the party, marked by threats by some
dissident MPs that they would work with the Opposition unless the list was
reviewed.
 
  With Amnuay in, the Chuan Cabinet will include three leading bankers,
including Thai Military Bank President Dr Supachai Panitchpakdi, who will
become deputy prime minister under the quota of the Democrat Party, and Siam
Commercial Bank President Tarrin Nimanahaeminda, who will run the crucial
Finance Ministry. Boonc hu Rojanastien, a former chief executive at Bangkok
Bank before entering politics many years ago, becomes deputy prime minister
under the quota of Palang Dharma.
 
  Supachai and Tarrin yesterday called on Chuan at the Democrat Party office
to discuss their economic policy ideas.
 
  After a two-hour meeting, Supachai said he had discussed his economic ideas
with the prime minister, including the objective of turning Thailand into the
region's financial hub.
 
 
Tarrin, meanwhile, told reporters he called on Chuan t o confirm his
acceptance of the finance post.
 
  He said he was not con cerned that the present Cabinet would comprise
several bankers with different ideas.
 
  Tarrin declined to comment on the governments' finance policy, saying a
consensus was needed from the five coalition partners over the matter.
 
  ``But I don't expect any major disagreements because everyone wants to see
our economy improve,'' he said.
 
  He said that turning Thailand into the financial centre of the region would
take time.