Sunday, 16 November 2008

Opposition party says Cabinet reshuffle meaningless

BANGKOK, Nov 15 (TNA) -- Thailand's opposition Democrat Party leader Abhisit Vejjajiva said the cabinet reshuffle planned by Prime Minister Somchai Wongsawat would not improve the situation in the country because the coalition government is not serious about solving the problems.

A number of problems, the most critical being the October 7 violence when police suppressed anti-government People's Alliance of Democracy protesters, are still awaiting answers and the present government is not able to solve them.

Whether the planned cabinet reshuffle would improve the image of the government cannot be seen beforehand, Mr. Abhisit said.

Prime Minister Somchai said Friday that a cabinet reshuffle is likely after the royal cremation of Her Royal Highness Princess Galyani Vadhana, the elder sister of His Majesty King Bhumibol Adulyadej. The royal merit-making ceremony for the late princess began Friday and is scheduled to end Wednesday.

Addressing charges by the National Counter Corruption Commission (NCCC) that 28 ministers of the former government of then prime minister Samak Sundaravej violated Constitution Article 190 by illegally endorsing Cambodia's bid to register the ancient Preah Vihear temple as a UNESCO World Heritage site, Mr. Abhisit said those who were charged must explain it themselves, but he believed the charges would "not cause any changes" because several complaints still await investigation by the NCCC.

The United Nations body moved ahead with the approval action in July. (TNA)

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