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Published on December 22, 2007

Deputy Prime Minister General Sonthi Boonyaratglin insisted yesterday he could accept an election result that let the People Power Party (PPP) take power and its leader Samak Sundaravej become the new premier.

"I want the whole nation to keep in mind a wish of His Majesty the King that appeals for unity," he told reporters invited to interview him at a special meeting at Government House.

All parties should accept the results and respect the winning candidates because they were elected by the people, he said. Then the country can move forward, he added.

The leader of the junta that ousted then prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra in a coup last year, Sonthi said he would not feel humiliated if Samak, who has declared that he is Thaksin's nominee, led PPP to victory and formed the government.

"We shouldn't live with the past. We should look to the future," he said.

If Samak became prime minister, it would be the mandate of the people, he said.

Sonthi does not believe there will be civil unrest if PPP wins the election, as some observers fear. People will not cause trouble as they will heed His Majesty's call for unity, he said.

However, Sonthi did not rule out the possibility of another coup in the near future. He warned that the new administration should be transparent and honest.

The deputy premier called on voters to support "people with good quality and integrity who are patriotic and loyal to the country's institutions".

Sonthi refused to comment on whether he was pleased with the performance of Prime Minister Surayud Chulanont, whom the coup leaders picked to lead the military-installed government. The people should evaluate Surayud, he said.

Meanwhile, Sonthi has reportedly ordered security units under his command to watch out for the possibility that some groups might cause unrest after the election.

Commenting on the reports that Thaksin was now in Hong Kong to observe the election, Sonthi said he did not think the ex-PM's presence would have any impact on the polls. "I think the psychological effect might be anticipated," he said.

Piyanart Srivalo

 The Nation