A local newspaper called the military-installed government led by Prime Minister Surayud Chulanont an "oyster cabinet" recently when it failed to make a clear decision to lift martial law and for relying too much on the Council for National Security.

Such a headline reflects growing disillusionment and declining support for the government after high expectations by the people and media for the coup makers who brought down what they considered was an evil regime.

Calling any government an oyster cabinet is an insult to its capabilities and implies it is as weak as the military-backed government led by law professor Thanin Kraivixian, who came to power after a military coup on October 6, 1976. Thanin compared the relationship between his government and the military to that of an oyster and its shell. A vulnerable government is the oyster while a strong military is the shell that protects it.

Usually, a coup-installed government is not at liberty to use its own judgement, but needs to listen to the military junta. Such governments are generally subject to the whims of the military coup makers that put them in power.

Governments installed after a coup have different characteristics depending on the personalities of the principals and their counterparts in the junta.

Thai people got a bad impression of Thanin's administration due to his weak personality. It was totally dominated by the military, resulting in the formation of a military dictatorship which imposed brutal suppression on its opponents amid a communist threat.

The coup d'etat which toppled the elected government of Chatichai Choonhavan in 1991 was definitely different.

The Anand Panyarachun administration installed after Sunthorn Kongsomphong and Suchinda Kraprayoon's 1991 coup had a strong character, clear vision and straightforward direction in running the country. The visionary prime minister Anand set a very clear platform to liberalise the Kingdom at a time of rapid change in the globalisation era. He liberated many economic sectors at home and championed the Asean Free Trade Area in the international arena.

Personally, Anand did not know any of the coup leaders and his strong character dared to challenge the military, who knew very little about administration, especially economic liberalisation. So, Anand had a freed hand to run a "dream-team" cabinet. Anand's administration was regarded as one of the best Thailand has ever had.

The September 19 coup at first gave the impression that Thailand would have a better government compared to the ousted regime led by Thaksin. Thai people are often unrealistic as they expect the best for the Kingdom. Unfortunately, the world never develops that way.

The military-installed Surayud government is different from the Anand-led cabinet due to the different nature and character of the leaders in the government and in the junta. Unlike former career diplomat Anand and soldier Suchinda, Surayud and the coup leader Sonthi Boonyaratglin are former boss and subordinate. They have maintained their relationship.

Constitutionally, Sonthi is supposed to be Surayud's

boss as the former has the authority to fire the premier. He can dictate to the premier, although in Thai social norms, Surayud has a higher social status than Sonthi, not only as ex-boss but also as a member of the Privy Council, which acts as the king's adviser.

The junta leader has tried to illustrate to the public that he is a gentle soldier who would never exercise his raw power and dictate to the government, so he would never give any instructions to the premier.

But Surayud is also a soldier who knows and understands the nature of the military. He would not contradict his superior, the junta. Legally, the authority to lift martial law belongs to the government, not the junta, but Surayud will not make this decision either, as long as the junta gives him no instructions. So that's the reason why martial law remains and why so many confused and illogical explanations come from officials' mouths. Defence Minister Boonrawd Somtas said Thaksin's supporters were not really strong and the situation was very normal, but for unclear reasons, the government needs to maintain martial law. Many others suggest the law should not be lifted while Thaksin is flying around the region.

Such an indecisive situation reflects not only the dilemma of relations between the two soldiers but also blurs the vision of both the junta and the government. The junta claims it brought in a respectable government to replace an evil one, but has failed to show the public what its vision and mission in running the country is.

The Kingdom needs political reform. After two months in office, the junta and the government have not yet shown the public they are steering in that direction. Nobody is showing leadership in making a decision over the issue of lifting martial law, not to mention bigger tasks like who will lead political reform.  

Supalak Ganjanakhundee

The Nation