May invite outsiders to join new cabinet

YUWADEE TUNYASIRI & AMPA SANTIMATANEDOL

Thai Rak Thai party leader Thaksin Shinawatra will have absolute say over the new cabinet line-up, including bringing in professional outsiders.

He will forego the common practice of allowing factions within the party to dress up their proxies to become ministers.

Amid growing concern that Thai Rak Thai's enormous parliamentary majority would emasculate watchdog agencies, there have been calls for Mr Thaksin to exclude individuals with a questionable past from the new cabinet.

Mr Thaksin said the party has given him a free hand in selecting the next batch of ministers, from within and outside the party.

He had talked with faction leaders and sounded out their ideas on potential ministers.

He would look at the candidates proposed before assigning them cabinet portfiolos.

He expected the new line-up to be announced in the middle of next month, in time for parliament's opening and the Election Commission's endorsement of the MPs.

Mr Thaksin made it clear there would be no more selection through the "old way" of allocating a specific ministerial quota to each faction.

He promised an infusion of capable hands in the executive branch.

Caretaker Finance Minister Somkid Jatusripitak is slated to remain the key player on the economic team while other prominent names have cropped up such as former finance minister Thanong Bidaya, former central bank governor Chaiwat Wiboonsawat and former chairman of the Thai Bankers' Association Olarn Chaipravat.

Leading forensic pathologist Khunying Porntip Rojanasunan was also said to be in line for a justice portfolio, although this report could not be verified.

Stalwarts of Thai Rak Thai factions including the Wang Bua Ban, Wang Nam Yen and the Newin group were calling for their core figures to be made ministers.

Sources said caretaker Education Minister Adisai Bodharamik had asked to be moved to another ministry while caretaker Justice Minister Pongthep Thepkanchana had indicated he was ready for a reassignment.

Mr Thaksin has told his party factional jockeying for posts would not be tolerated.

"The same old mindset of strugging in politics at any cost no longer applies," he said.

He vowed to straighten out the rules to save himself from hassles because there were many people in the party.

The party has prepared three lists from which to draw the ministers.

Deputy Thai Rak Thai leader Suwat Liptapanlop said Mr Thaksin had the freedom to choose the ministers as he saw fit.

Mr Suwat heads a faction comprising members from the defunct Chart Pattana party.

Another deputy leader, Gen Thammarak Isarangkura na Ayudhaya, advised the factions to stop making noises for cabinet appointments.

He and Mr Suwat stand a good chance of serving in the new cabinet, a source said.

Suriyasai Katasila, of the Campaign for Popular Democracy, hinted at the possibility of pro-democracy organisations setting up a shadow government to monitor the new ministers.

Meanwhile, prominent social commentator Prawase Wasi urged Mr Thaksin not to let down his guard and get carried away with power.

He said Mr Thaksin had become perhaps the most powerful prime minister in Thai history, with parliamentary majority, money and resources at his disposal. There was tendency for a leader who had everything to become complacent and let power go to his head.

"There's an old saying that success breeds failure," Dr Prawase said.

Mr Thaksin should not hesitate to screen out potential minister candidates with dubious backgrounds.

Dr Prawase recommended Deputy Prime Minister Chavalit Yongchaiyudh be put back in charge of the Defence Ministry since he was a believer in peaceful resolution of the security crisis in the far South.

Dr Prawase said Mr Thaksin must also "invest" in democracy and promote civil society where people come together to contribute ideas and take part in national administration.

He said social problems were complex and becoming harder to solve because of injustices. He suggested Mr Thaksin take an integrated approach in dealing with national problems and not focus only on economic matters.

Maj-Gen Chamlong Srimuang, the prime minister's adviser, said Mr Thaksin must drop individuals people scoff at from the list of likely ministers. He could now afford to ignore the demands from factions.

Respected elder Sem Pringpuangkaew said people should withhold their criticism of Thai Rak Thai's parliamentary majority and let the new government work before passing judgement.