BANGKOK - Thailand's ruling junta has picked a former army chief to be
the new prime minister, local media and a government official said, more than a
week after the coup that ousted Thaksin Shinawatra.
At the same time, the military -- which refused to confirm or deny the name
of their reported pick -- said it was reserving the right to sack the premier
under an interim constitution due to be published this weekend.
General Surayud Chulanont, 63, now an advisor to the revered king, had been
chosen as the successor to Thaksin, state-run Radio Thailand reported on its
website citing auditor general Jaruvan Maintaka.
The choice was "quite certain," it quoted her as saying, adding that he "is
the most suitable for the job, given his qualification and his seniority."
Surayud's name was also splashed across the Thai media, although a military
source, who asked not to be named, said he had in fact turned the offer down.
The junta's secretary general threw his support behind Surayud and said he
figured "on the list" but that no names had been sent for royal approval.
"If it is General Surayud, I like him and I respect him," General Winai
Phattiyakul said. "He may be my choice, but I do not have the power to choose
the prime minister."
Winai indicated Surayud's army past would not be a bar to getting the post of
premier. "We really consider that a retired general is a civilian," he said.
Thailand's new military leaders pledged after taking power on September 19 to
appoint a new premier within two weeks to guide Thailand towards elections in
October 2007.
"The endorsement of the prime minister and handing down of the Royal Command
is expected to take place on Sunday at Government House," said junta spokesman
Palangoon Klaharn Friday.
The other main candidate has been former World Trade Organization chief and
current head of the UN Conference on Trade and Development, Supachai
Panitchpakdi, who has refused to comment.
Whoever their choice, the generals have reserved the right in their interim
constitution to sack him.
"The power is in reserve, as it were," said the permanent secretary of the
foreign ministry, Krit Garnjana-Goonchorn.
The junta already plans to rename itself the Council for National Security
and keep a close eye on the premier and his government.
"If things didn't work out the Council for National Security would not have
to resort to non-peaceful means to effect change," Krit said, although adding he
did not foresee any condition where they would have to use their power.
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