'I have confidence in Surayud'
Singaporean prime minister Lee Hsien Loong yesterday described Thailand's military coup as "a setback" for the Kingdom and its democracy but expressed confidence that new Thai premier Surayud Chulanont would live up to his responsibility.
"This is a setback for Thailand, which has been trying to establish a democratic system after a long series of 17 coups since 1932," Lee said in his keynote speech to a group of journalists from Asia and Europe in which he explained Asian political systems."But this time, there was a political situation, and in the end this is how Thailand has resolved it. We accept that. Is it good for Thailand? I think it is a setback for Thailand. Did they have to do it? Well, they have to judge," he said. Lee said that instead of waiting for the verdict by the voters, which would have come in the election previously scheduled for next month, the military decided to remove Thaksin Shinawatra through a coup. Lee said Thailand lacked both firmly established democratic institutions and a tradition of civilian rule. However, he believes Western-style liberal democracy is not necessarily the answer. "It is not a magic formula for success," he said, adding that in Asia, democracy had not always delivered stable, legitimate and effective government. Lee told The Nation he had met Surayud in the past and expressed a desire to work with him. Both will attend the Asean-China Summit in Nanning, China, from October 30-31. Singapore was one of the first countries to send a congratulatory letter to Surayud on his appointment.
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