Deputy Prime Minister and Industry Minister Kosit Panpiemras worships in front of the Brahman figure at Government House yesterday.

With 200 Thai and foreign press members eager to report the new Cabinet's first meeting, security was tight at Government House. The prime minister arrived at 9am with members of the Cabinet arriving shortly after for the meeting scheduled for 10am.

Ministers appeared to be in a good mood and some paid their respects to the shrines of the guardian spirits at Government House and their ministries.

When the prime minister arrived at the Thai Koo Fah Building he walked past the waiting reporters and photographers and headed straight to the Cabinet meeting room.

Security measures were at the same level after the report of the assassination plot on ousted prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra.

However, many Cabinet members came in their private cars without police or security officers accompanying them.

Despite criticism of the ageing Cabinet there was no ambulance from Vajira Hospital on stand by at Government House as usual.

After the 90 minute meeting the Cabinet had lunch together before leaving for their offices. Surayud held a brief five-minute press conference and said they had discussed policy proposals, flood problems and the promulgation of martial law. He did not take any questions.

PM's Office Minister Thirapat Serirangsan, the youngest minister in the Cabinet, gave a jasmine garland to the prime minister before attending the meeting. He said he had wanted to give him the garland since Monday - to both thank and encourage him.

Thirapat also paid respects at the Brahma image and spirit house at Government House, as did Deputy Prime Minister and Industry Minister Kosit Panpiemras.

Kosit said his office was on the fourth floor of Banchakarn Building, the office of former deputy minister Suchai Charoenratanakul. He quipped that he used to spend his free time there helping deputy ministers when he was deputy agriculture minister in the Anand Panyarachun government.

Deputy Interior Minister Banyat Jansena also went to the ministry to pay respects to the statue of Prince Damrong Rajanupab, the first interior minister, and the ministry's guardian spirit. He was wearing a jacket that displayed the message: "Being born, a man has to pay back for the good of the country." A saying often repeated by Privy Council chairman Prem Tinsulanonda.

Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister Pridiyathorn Devakula brought a Buddha image from his office at the Bank of Thailand to his new office on the third floor of Banchakarn Building.

Pridiyathorn left Government House in the same car as Commerce Minister Krirkkrai Jirapaet. Neither spoke to reporters.

However, when Krirkkrai saw the crowd of reporters, he said, "How scary!"

Piyanart Srivalo,

Woranaree Kosajan,

Samatcha Hoonsara

The Nation