Help me, so I can do the job quickly: PM
Prime Minister Surayud Chulanont said yesterday he wanted to quit the post as soon as possible but first had to be certain of people's opinions about the new constitution, judicial reform and an improvement in moral standards.
Surayud was speaking at a meeting on a project for the General Prem Tinsulanonda Statesman Foundation. Also attending were Army chief and chairman of the Council for National Security (CNS) General Sonthi Boonyaratglin, Interior Minister Aree Wongsearaya and Deputy Interior Minister Banyat Jansena. He said PM's Office Minister Thirapat Serirangsan said on Tuesday the interim government would have to work for a year and five months before an elected government is formed instead of one year, as originally thought. Acting leader of the Thai Rak Thai Party, Chaturon Chaisang, warned the interim government to think carefully about the length of its time in office as the longer it clung on, the more pressure it would have to face. Surayud said: "I don't want to carry on with this job. Since the Army chief talked to me, to be straight, I don't want to handle this job more than is necessary, so I want to complete it as soon as possible. "I want a new government to come from a people's election to administer the country correctly. I also hope to see a good government continuing the work that this interim government has set for the future. My way is not so complex - just learn from the past to improve the present and make a better future. It's as simple as that." Surayud said he would ask people to comment on the new constitution, improve the judicial process and promote a moral society. "Education permanent secretary Khunying Kasama Varawarn and everybody understands that the issue [of promoting morality] will take a long time and people's opinions are needed. "Our country has many religions and we need to bring morality to the education system. I want to listen to and compile people's opinions, which might be in the form of research or seminars. The government is open to hearings. It depends on people's cooperation. If you want me to [step down] quickly, you have to help me," he said. Surayud said the CNS had discussed lifting the CDR Announcement No 7, which prohibited political assembly in public places. He would propose it to the National Legislative Assembly after its opening today. Sonthi said it was the PM's decision whether to lift the ban on political gatherings. Piyanart Srivalo The Nation
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