Govt mum on Sultan staying in Thaksin's home

Surapong

Pheu Thai MP Surapong Towijakchaikul yesterday claimed that Hassanal Bolkiah, the Sultan of Brunei, chose to be a guest at former premier Thaksin Shinawatra's seaside home in Cha-am, close to the summit venue.

Surapong provided no evidence to back up his claim. He went on to attack Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva for being a bad host by trying to lecture the Asean leaders.

A twitter question was sent to Thaksin around 7 pm but remained unanswered at press time.

Government spokesman Panithan Watanayakorn side-stepped the question about the Sultan's accommodation during the summit.

The government, as the summit host, was obligated to arrange accommodation as specified and approved by respective Asean leaders but it was up to each leader to decide on private activities without having to inform the host, Panitharn said.

He said all leaders at the summit stayed at the designated accommodations for safety reasons although he was unaware of activities done in private.

Foreign Minister Kasit Piromya said ill-intentioned people were trying to spread rumours about the summit to discredit the government.

Regarding the Sultan's absence from the opening ceremony, Kasit said he had confirmed that it was due to fatigue.

The Sultan had a long engagement in Russia and then proceeded to attend the inaugural ceremony for the Indonesian president, hence he was feeling unwell to attend the opening ceremony of the summit, he said.

Meanwhile, Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva confirmed yesterday that there were attempts to overthrow his government.

Abhisit said he was trying his best to prevent such attempts from obstructing his government's work in tackling the country's problems, such as low prices of farm produce and the economic recession.

"The political process is continuing on its natural course. We stick to the system and go on with our work," the premier said after the weekly Cabinet meeting.

"Certain groups of people are making every possible effort [to bring down the government] and my duty is to do my best to prevent any impact on the public. Regardless of their goals, those people should not cause trouble for the country," he added.

The anti-government red shirts, supporters of fugitive ex-premier Thaksin Shinawatra, have threatened to oust the Abhisit government before the year-end through their street rallies.

When asked to comment on Thaksin's remark that there would be dissolution of the House of Representatives within this year and a general election would be held early next year, Abhisit said: "Does this have anything to do with him?"

When asked to comment on a prediction that it would be a tight contest between the Democrat and Pheu Thai parties in the next election, the Democrat leader said: "That's my business."