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Thai Military May Retain Power To Appoint PMTHAILANDS National Peoples Assembly meets today to begin creating a new post-coup constitution amid concerns that Thailand will not return to full democracy next year. Ahead of the assembly, senior leaders refused to dismiss the possibility of an appointed, rather than elected, prime minister. Interim Prime Minister Surayud Chulanont, appointed by the military after the September 19 coup, said the issue should be decided by the people in a referendum. "On the part of the Government and the CNS (Council of National Security, the coup council), we have no flag as to whether the prime minister should be elected or not," he said. The prospect of an appointed prime minister would take Thailand back to the semi-democracy of the 1980s, Dr Thitinan Pongsidhurak, a political analyst at Bangkoks Chulalonghorn University, said. Opponents of deposed prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra have argued that, despite a strong constitution drafted in 1997, he was able to subvert the system. "The military may have come to the view the Thai democracy cannot be entrusted in the hands of the rural masses," he said. "You start with a good constitution and you end up with Thaksin." Chaturon Chaiseng, Mr Thaksins replacement as head of Thai Rak Thai Party, said the idea of an appointed prime minister was being discussed within the CNS and the army. Tag CloudExternal InformationAdditional InformationMogadishu Death Toll Rises After Reprisals...US bishop defects to Catholic Church in row over gays... 9 U.S. Soldiers Killed in Sunni Strongholds... Parties Press Pakistan Leader to Convene Assembly... Where Am I?News Main Page - Business - Thai Military May Retain Power To Appoint PM |
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