Ministers have said talk about a reshuffle appears to be little more than hope, largely because the government has just another seven to eight months in office.

Deputy Prime Minister and Social Development and Human Security Minister Paiboon Wattanasiritham said yesterday that Prime Minister Surayud Chulanont had sent no sign of reshuffling the Cabinet.

The Cabinet is expected to discuss changes in its work tomorrow. No minister is expected to be moved, but it is uncertain whether new ministers will be appointed, Paiboon said.

The government could talk to protesters who have farming or agricultural problems in order to find solutions to help them. However, it will keep an eye on political protests.

"If we have a chance to talk to the groups, I believe we will be able to fix problems together. There's no need to pressure us with force because this government wants to help people, not take power," he added. "Rumours about a new prime minister are not so surprising.

"There are such rumours in every government," he said.

General Watanachai Chaimuanwong has denied being contacted to accept a new post, but he said a deputy prime minister in charge of national security was needed to coordinate the work of many agencies and ministries - including the defence, interior, justice, foreign affairs and even economic ministries.

He said Surayud was currently in charge, but did not have enough time to meet all these agencies.

However, Pongthep Tesprateep, secretary-general to the premier, said if Surayud had wanted to appoint chief adviser Watanachai as a deputy PM in charge of national security, he could have done that earlier, and appointing new ministers too often could also have negative effects.

Pongthep said Surayud could take charge of national security himself because the government was close to the Council for National Security. Besides violence in the South, which had been chronic, the country faced no severe security problems.

He said that, based on Surayud's nature, he expected the PM would just urge ministers and their staff to be more active.

A reshuffle would waste too much time. Officials have been helping ministers and Surayud could talk to them to improve the work.

Appointing ministers would only attract people to criticise and find fault, he added.

Piyanart Srivalo,

Panya Thiewsangwal

The Nation