Could you evaluate the one-month-old government?

If we talk about the current government we have to talk about both parts - the government and the Council for National Security. They cannot be separated.

They seem to have not understood their responsibilities since they were formed.

It is not clear who is the mastermind who set up this organisation after the coup. We are likely to see the government relying on the CNS, while the junta has no idea what to do because they have no powers to run the country like the government.

Take the example of martial law. The government has the power to lift martial law, yet we saw that the premier said it would have to wait for the CNS's opinion. It means the government in truth cannot do anything, even though it has a lot of authority.

Neither the government nor the junta should ignore problems. If they do, finally both the government and the CNS will be in conflict.

What is main cause of the trouble?

The CNS was set up under the interim constitution. However, this format existed in 1976 when the military government appointed Tanin Kraivixien as prime minister. His administration lasted only a year because it was then removed by the military.

At that time the government was called an "oyster government" because it was under the protection of the military, However, Tanin and the junta had conflicts, which led to the junta deciding to seize power again even though it was they who appointed him.

The current government might be similar to the Tanin government. There might be another coup, though today is different from the past and I don't think people would accept it.

Another problem comes from the government. It should announce urgent policies according to its term. Don't forget it has only a one-year term, but it has declared a lot of policies as if it were an elected government with four years to run the country.

What are the urgent policies that the Surayud government should take up?

It should focus on two issues: political reform and the economy. With the previous constitution torn up by the coup-makers in order to make way for political reform, the government should be neutral to continue political activity after the coup.

Meanwhile, the government has to reinvigorate the Thai economy, or else the next government will find it difficult.

As for the situation in the deep South, even though it should be resolved, in my opinion it is not a priority because the government can't solve it just one year.

What is the framework of the party's working group to monitor the work of the government?

I have been chosen as the group chief by the party's acting leader [Chaturon Chaisang]. We aim to monitor both bodies, the government and the CNS, because the government lacks an opposition. The democratic system needs to have an efficient system of checks and balances, which is our task.

Mainly, we will closely monitor and evaluate the government's operation. After a study and analysis of its policies we will tell people whether they have benefited or not.

My group at the moment has more than 30 members. We will form three subcommittees: on security, social issues and politics.

What is the Thai Rak Thai's situation today?

When compared with the early days after the coup, the party's mood is better today. We are trying to find an opportunity from the crisis. However, the party can't set an agenda yet because we have to wait for the court ruling on the [possible] dissolution of the party and the new constitution.