Reconcile or face ruin: Suranand
Prime Minister's Office Minister Suranand Vejjajiva yesterday called on the ruling Thai Rak Thai Party to make an effort to bring about reconciliation between the various bickering groups embroiled in the ongoing political turmoil.
In a rare move contrary to his usual belligerent stance against government opponents, Suranand said if the current political uncertainties were allowed to continue, the country would be headed for ruin. "We must hurry up. We can't let things go on like this, or uncertainties will continue forever. Every weekend, we have a feeling that [rival] mobs may clash. This is definitely not good for Thai society," he said at Bangkok International Airport on his return from a US trip. The Thai Rak Thai executive member recently came under the media spotlight following speculation he would be the next Cabinet member to jump ship after Cabinet secretary-general Borwornsak Uwanno and deputy premier Wissanu Krea-ngam. Suranand yesterday said he "is still going nowhere else" when asked if he was leaving the caretaker government. He said he had phoned caretaker Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra to confirm he would continue to serve his administration. "If one day I feel unhappy, I will talk to him. I won't resign over the phone from here at the airport," he said. Suranand said bickering parties should reconcile and join efforts to solve the political crisis, rather than resorting to interpreting laws for their advantage or using force. "I want the [Thai Rak Thai] party to think hard about this. When I was in the US, I met both supporters and people who don't agree with [the government]," Suranand said. "I don't think the prime minister is too stubborn. If we discuss this at the party's executive and in the Cabinet, we will find a path of reconciliation for Thai society," he said. Earlier yesterday, Thaksin denied press reports that Suranand and deputy prime ministers Somkid Jatusripitak and Surakiart Sathirathai were about to quit. Thaksin said he had spoken with Suranand, who assured him reports of his departure were erroneous. He insisted nobody in his Cabinet had expressed a wish to resign. Transport Minister Pongsak Ruktapongpisal also rejected rumours he was ready to leave and said he would remain with Thai Rak Thai no matter what.
|
