Prime minister rules out security tsar, economic changes in Cabinet moves
Prime Minister Surayud Chulanont gives Songkran blessings to a resident of the Ban Metta Detention Centre along with 400 others from three juvenile centres
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Prime Minister Surayud Chulanont yesterday insisted there would be no deputy prime minister in charge of internal security or any change in the economic portfolios in a Cabinet reshuffle.
Surayud was responding to reports he had rejected a suggestion from Council for National Security chief General Sonthi Boonyaratglin to appoint a qualified military officer as a deputy prime minister for internal security. "It is not necessary because we work together closely and always give each other advice," he said. Reports earlier suggested a coming Cabinet reshuffle could involve interior and agriculture deputy ministers. Agriculture Minister Thira Sutabutra said he would be happy if he had a deputy to handle some workload and that person had expertise in farm debt. Democrat Party leader Abhisit Vejjajiva dismissed any significance in Surayud's decision against appointing a security deputy. He said he personally believed "work methodology" was more important than the appointment of an individual. "The prime minister says the work can be done without appointing anyone," he said. He pointed out the government had problems executing policies in the South. "The method of implementing policies there is more important than appointing a deputy prime minister to oversee security," he said. Abhisit disapproved of Sonthi's statement that he would attend a Cabinet meeting, saying the junta leader should not disrupt or confuse officials over who was in charge.
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