Lee's remark 'troubling'
Thailand is "troubled" by having last month's coup called a "setback" for democracy in this country by Singaporean Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loon, the Foreign Ministry said yesterday.
Ministry spokesman Kitti Wasinondh said the two countries had worked closely together in many areas over the years so Lee's description of the regime change came as a jolt. Kitti expressed hope that Singapore would have a better understanding of the situation here and avoid drawing conclusions that could impede future cooperation between the countries. Lee told a gathering of editors from Asia and Europe in Singapore that Thailand lacked both firmly established democratic institutions and a tradition of civilian rule, although he was not advocating Western-style liberal democracy. He gave a vote of confidence in newly appointed Prime Minister Surayud Chulanont, saying the former Army chief would live up to his responsibilities. Singapore was one of the first countries to send Surayud a formal congratulatory letter. But Lee's recent speech appears to have struck a raw nerve among Thai officials.
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