PM, Abhisit prepare to face off in parliament
ANUCHA CHAROENPO
Siege fatigue
The long wait for the government to resign proved too tiring for this woman, a People's Alliance for Democracy supporter, who took a nap against the fence outside Government House yesterday. |
Prime Minister Samak Sundaravej has brushed aside the political threat posed by the Democrat party as he and opposition leader Abhisit Vejjajiva prepare to take centre stage for the no-confidence debate tomorrow.
Mr Samak will return to Government House today, his first visit to his office since the People's Alliance for Democracy (PAD) began its siege on Friday.
"I can tell you that on Monday I will work at Government House because the entrances are still open. No problem," he said in his weekly broadcast yesterday.
However, national police chief Pol Gen Patcharawat Wongsuwan will tighten security around the government leader.
Police still control two entrances to the government offices, one opposite the Education Ministry and another near Klong Phadung Krung Kasem.
The other entrances are blocked by the PAD.
"If they enter the Government House compound, severe measures will be implemented immediately with no more negotiation," the police chief warned the anti-government group.
PAD coordinator Suriyasai Katasila assured the prime minister there would be no objection to his returning to Government House and said the PAD will not encourage protesters to enter the grounds.
The prime minister and his ministers will be grilled during the Senate general debate today. But the focus is on the House tomorrow when the debate begins on the Democrat party's two no-confidence motions, one targeting the prime minster and the other seven cabinet members.
The Democrats' decision to focus only on Mr Samak and seven ministers of the People Power party effectively isolates the PPP from the five other parties in the coalition government.
The prime minister remained confident yesterday of strong backing from his coalition allies and that he will survive the censure attack led by Mr Abhisit.
The opposition was underestimating the strength of the coalition ties, he said.
"I'm not disturbed. All six parties have been working together with no problems," he said.
Other parties in the government are Chart Thai, Puea Pandin, Ruam Jai Thai Chart Pattana, Pracharaj and Matchimathipataya. The Democrat party has 164 seats.
The prime minister attacked his Democrat rival, saying Mr Abhisit was trying to unseat the government at a bad time with the sole motive of wanting to become prime minister while there were no issues which could be used to attack him.
"If I lose, I'll step down," he said. "But over the past four months not a single contract has been signed."
PPP spokesman Kudep Saikrachang said the party and its coalition partners will not allow government members a free vote.
The coalition parties must remain united to keep the government going.
"The only way for the Democrat party to win is to convince some People Power party members to vote for it," the spokesman said.
Political analyst Sombat Thamrongthanyawong believed all government MPs will stay in line and express confidence in Mr Samak to continue running the country.
The key factor in winning public support was the reliability of the evidence the two camps present.
If the government can clearly answer all the Democrats' questions, especially about the decision to support Cambodia's bid for Preah Vihear temple to be listed as a World Heritage Site, it will probably regain public trust and confidence, said Mr Sombat, who is also rector of the National Institute of Development Administration.
But if the opposition party can convince people its information is correct, many more people could take to the streets and join the PAD rally.
"This would affect the government's stability in the long run and could lead to a House dissolution," he said.
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