• 
• 

Published on July 13, 2007

Prime Minister Surayud Chulanont says he agrees that former military officers are not very successful in politics.

The PM was responding to a question about a comment by Constitution Drafting Comm-ittee chairman Prasong Soonsiri that there were no true friends or permanent foes in politics.

But Surayud said Council for National Security chief General Sonthi Boonyaratglin had the right to enter politics after retiring. "It's his personal affair and he has the right after he is free from military duty," he said.

"It will be his own decision and the outcome will depend on the people."

Surayud declined to comment on whether it would be appropriate or not for Sonthi to enter politics now. He said the junta leader would have to make that decision himself.

Surayud said any decision by Sonthi on whether to enter politics would have nothing to do with the referendum on the draft constitution. People would understand it was personal. Reports on the possibility of Sonthi entering politics after his retirement in September have been in the news, but the CNS chief has said he still had a few months to make a decision.

Sonthi said he had not spread any rumours about entering politics to test people's reactions.

Meanwhile, a source in the Cabinet who is close to Sonthi and asked not to be named said Sonthi is studying related laws. He was worried about legal issues as he will still be CNS chief after he retires from the Army.

Khajit Tappananon, a former executive of One-Two-Go Airlines and former Lions Clubs International president, said he was preparing to set up a new party, but he would not say anything about its policies before the Council for Democratic Reform's announcement prohibiting party registration is lifted.

Khajit is being criticised for his party, Rak Chat, being a vehicle for coup leader and Army chief Sonthi to enter politics.

He said he was close to Sonthi but has not talked to Sonthi or invited him to join the party. It is up to Sonthi to decide.

Moreover, he would have to talk with Sonthi to determine if their political goals were in line with each other's, Khajit said. If they have different goals, they can't work together.

He said Sonthi still had some obligations to the country. When he was free and if he wanted to enter politics, he must remove his uniform, Khajit said.

Democrat Party leader Abhisit Vejjajiva, meanwhile, said he had not asked Sonthi to join the party. "If General Sonthi enters politics and follows the rules, that's fine. Prolonging power is not as terrifying as destroying democracy. For example, issuing security laws is more worrying," he said.

Matchima Group leader Somsak Thepsuthin said his group was not a political base for military officers who planned to enter politics. He had never talked to Sonthi or CNS secretary-general Winai Phattiyakul. Military officers who were members of his group only included those who had retired.