Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister MR Pridiya-thorn Devakula's abrupt resignation has sent shock waves and raised worries about the survival of the Surayud government as a whole.

There is a clear and present danger over the country sinking deeper into political crisis as Prime Minister Surayud Chulanont appears to have a

difficult time managing the political infighting. There are rumours that Surayud is also standing on quicksand.

Pridiyathorn cited several reasons for his decision to call it quits by submitting a letter of resignation to the prime minister yesterday morning. He said he did not want to work with certain ministers who he said worked in favour of certain media.

It was not too difficult to crack Pridiyathorn's code. First, he was upset that Thiraphat Serirangsan, the PM's Office minister, had been working too closely for comfort with Sondhi Limthongkul of the Manager Media Group, who was allowed to run his "Yam Phao Phan Din" programme" on Channel 11. (However, on Tuesday Sondhi announced he would withdraw his programme in the wake of the government's dispute with the new cable TV station PTV, which is dominated by the remnants of the Thaksin regime and also trying to follow Sondhi's ASTV satellite television.)

Pridiyathorn had been trying to block Sondhi's arrival but to no avail. Pridiyathorn and Sondhi are sworn enemies. Sondhi's Manager Media Group has been going after Pridiyathorn ever since he served as governor of the Bank of Thailand. He was almost speechless when Prime Minister Surayud told him that Sondhi was getting the Channel 11 airtime.

Second, Pridiyathorn was still feeling disturbed by Surayud's move to appoint Somkid Jatusripitak, the architect of the Thai Rak Thai's populist policies, as the government's spokesman on the sufficiency economy. In Somkid, Pridiyathorn fathomed a diabolical link with Sondhi of the Manager Media Group.

Prem Tinsulanonda, the president of the Privy Council, and Surayud appeared to call the shots in the appointment of Somkid to the informal post as envoy for the sufficiency economy. They were concerned that foreign investors might not have a good understanding of the sufficiency theory, a philosophical concept that subscribes to moderation and self-immunity.

It was uncertain how Somkid managed to get the ears of Prem and Surayud. But Pridiyathorn must have felt that Surayud no longer found him an asset, but a liability to the government. From the capital controls to the amendment of the Foreign Business Act, Pridiyathorn had been singled out as causing damage to the credibility of the government.

At the same time, Somkid's appointment gave him the profile to gain political support to become Thailand's next prime minister. After an outcry over Somkid's arrival, because he was still being seen as a Thai Rak Thai man, Surayud quickly backed off by requesting that Somkid resign from the special envoy post. But the relationship between Pridiyathorn and Surayud had reached the point of no return. It would only be a matter of time before Pridiyathorn would have to go.

Third, Pridiyathorn also expressed his disappointment with a continuing link between this government and the previous one. He did not receive enough explanation why the government had to recruit Somkid.

"This (Somkid) issue has already ended but in an ambiguous way. And the connection with the previous government is still continuing. It is because a person with contacts with the Thaksin government is still holding a position in this government," he said.

Although he did not identify the name, the contact person Pridiyathorn referred to was Veerachai Veeramethikul, the deputy secretary to the prime minister. Veerachai is a confidant of Somkid. He served in several positions in the Thaksin government. His last position was vice minister for foreign affairs.

With the slowly proceeding cases against Thaksin Shinawatra and the influence of several Thai Rak Thai associates, it is difficult to analyse what the real situation is with the Surayud government or who is really in charge.

Lastly, there are rumours that Surayud might come under pressure to resign, leading to a wholesale reshuffle of the Cabinet. Traffic at TV Channel 5, an army channel, appears to be busier nowadays, with military officers moving in and out as if there were some manoeuvrings going on.

Pridiyathorn has jumped ship, but the ship might have already been leaking.

Thanong Khanthong

The Nation