Trakul Meechai, a Chulalongkorn political science professor, said he gave the government only a C+.

"The government has many weak points, especially in public relations, which is inadequate," he said.

The government spokesman needs to increase awareness so that people will better understand what the government is doing, otherwise it will lose popularity, he said.

However, Trakul admired the government's efforts towards reconciliation in the turbulent South.

"A distinctive point of the government is its handling of the problems in the three southernmost provinces, which it has tried very hard to solve. I think the government has done well."

Khanin Boonsuwan, an architect of the 1997 Constitution, said he thought the government was successful only in its performance in dealing with southern prolems, which he said was quick and earnest.

But the government had failed in stamping out corruption, writing a constitution and forging a democratic system, he said, because officials didn't understand real democratisation.

The government fumbled with administration as it allowed members of the National Legislative Assembly - who were also government officials - to receive salaries for both positions.

This was illegal, so the government had failed on this point, Khanin said.

The government paid less attention to constitution drafting, and the process for selecting members of the Constitution Drafting Assembly was not clear as the public was left out, he said.

"Because this government was born out of the coup, people hope it has transparency, is neutral and isn't involved in any of conflicts of interest. More

importantly, they must not try to

perpetuate their power in politics," he said.

Noppadon Kannika, director of the Abac Poll Research Centre, said the first thing the government should do is get its act together.

Then, solve people's problems and crack down on corruption. It shouldn't fashion any new policies yet.

"Now all the systems and organisations of the government are in a state of confusion and the government isn't ready. So, it should manage the systems and organisations first."

Thaweekiat Prasertcharoensuk, deputy dean of the Social Innovation College at Rangsit University, said the government should come up with urgent policies, committees and a budget to solve the country's crises.

It has to adjust its way of working as quickly as possible or it will face criticism, he added.

Wannapa Phetdee

The Nation