Chairman General Sonthi Boonyaratglin will appoint Colonel Sansern Kaewkamnerd and Captain Siriya Khuengsirikul as assistant spokesmen. Sansern is deputy director at the Army Directorate of Civil Affairs and Siriya a public relations officer. They will report progress on CNS's post-coup goals.

Oversight committees :30 panels planned

The National Legislative Assembly (NLA) will appoint 30 oversight committees and allow members to file impromptu motions when examining the government, NLA procedure committee secretary Wallop Tangkananurak said yesterday.

The group would propose approval for the committees today, he said. The 30 committees are to oversee the work of ministries as well as examine meeting reports and closed-door meeting reports. They will also keep an eye on consumer protection, graft suppression, people's participation, examination of independent organisations, state enterprise privatisation, women's, youth and elderly affairs, religion and culture, drug suppression and the budget, Wallop said.

Ad hoc committees could be appointed to watch over urgent issues, he said.

NLA member Akapol Sorasuchart said he would propose the formation of ad hoc committees to oversee the southern border provinces and to receive people's opinions on the government and the Council for National Security (CNS).

Press conferences :Surayud's schedule

Prime Minister Surayud Chulanont will hold his formal "Meet the Press" sessions on the second Monday of each month, a government official announced yesterday.

The premier wants to exchange opinions with and hear suggestions from the media, the official said.

The first session will be held on November 13.