August foreseen as turbulent time for Govt

He said August would be a rough month for the government and that Samak would be lucky to survive for two years in power.

The fortune-teller said the current junta-sponsored constitution was drafted at a bad time, astrologically, and any amendments should be made before August.

Luck said the prime minister should speak less and be more patient, while ousted premier Thaksin Shinawatra should never return to politics. Another coup would severely damage the Kingdom, said Luck.

Any amendment of the charter should start with non-political issues such as making Buddhism the state religion, Luck suggested. Those wanting to see constitutional amendments should display yellow flags at home and in their cars, he added.

As for predictions by another fortune-teller that a coup would be staged by Army chief Anupong Paochinda, and that Anupong would eventually become a prime minister, Luck's reaction was: "If any soldier becomes premier by staging a coup, no matter what the rationale, the country will immediately suffer."

Meanwhile in Chiang Mai, "CNS Soothsayer", Warin Buawiratlert, performed a rite Sunday to help bring peace to the country, with former members of the military junta and many senior officials, including an election commissioner, in attendance.

The ceremony was also attended by the wife of former chairman of the Council for National Security, Piyada Boonyaratkalin and former police chief Gen Seripisut Temiyavej, although Piyada evaded reporters and hid in a VIP room.

Twenty-five monks also participated in the ceremony, which was officially aimed at restoring peace to the nation.

Perhaps one of the most surprising attendees was current election commissioner Sodsri Sattayatham, who is believed to be a long-time follower of the fortune-teller. Also present were Air Force and Navy commanders Air Marshal Chavalit Pukphasuk and Rear Admiral Sathiraphan Keyanond.

Warin has been dubbed by the media as "CNS soothsayer" for his role in giving astrological advice to the military junta which staged the coup in September 2006 and ruled the country for a year and a half.

Some Bt1.2 million was raised in donation and would reportedly be distributed to 25 temples in the north. Six were also said to have been spared from the slaughterhouse. A Buddha statue built last year in the Lanna style was also paraded in the hope that it would help improve the political situation.

The Nation