Thaworn denies stealing the scene

Deputy Interior Minister Thaworn Senneam said on Friday he had no intention to steal the show in mediating talks between the Hat Yai rail union and the State Railway of Thailand management on Wednesday, and was only performing his duty as an MP for Songkhla.

Mr Thaworn was commenting on Transport Minister Sohpon Zarum's dissatisfaction with his intervention.

Mr Sohpon said he was afraid conditions raised during the talks without his consent could be cited by the union in future talks, and this could put him in a difficult position.

The deputy interior minister said he stepped in to mediate the talks because Hat Yai is within his constituency and Democrat Party chief adviser Chuan Leekpai wanted the party's MPs to help resolve the problem.

Moreover, Mr Thaworn said he knows some of the union leaders personally, including Prachaniwat Buasri, deputy chairman of the SRT labour union's Hat Yai branch.

The minister said he talked to Wiroon Sakaekhum, chairman of the union's Hat Yai branch, Mr Prachaniwat and other union members for about an hour before the talks started.

It was agreed at the meeting that after locomotives had been repaired and inspected by senior engineers they would be put in service.  Concerning possible legal action against the union members, Mr Thaworn said he told them they had to go through the legal process, and they agreed.

"The unionists did not raise any new conditions that Mr Sohpon need be worried about.

''After the union leaders learned that six of them had been sacked, I made an appointment for them to meet me again at Wat Kho Hong where a funeral rite for my younger brother Winai was held.

 ''There, I asked them whether they still stood by the agreement to resume train services.  They said they would," Mr Thaworn said.

Mr Thaworn said Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva, the Democrat Party leader, told him to call Mr Sohpon.  He did as advised, and Mr Sohpon did not make any objection, he added.