Thai military urges govt of national unity

Thailand’s army chief urged the caretaker government today to lift a state of emergency and backed a proposal to form a government of national unity that would include all the country’s parties.

“It is time to lift the state of emergency,” army commander General Anupong Paochinda told reporters, noting he had conveyed that view to Thailand’s interim leadership. “Keeping it in place will damage the country’s economy.”

Former prime minister Samak Sundaravej, who was removed by the courts on Tuesday, had imposed a state of emergency in the capital Bangkok on September 2 after violent clashes between his supporters and opponents.

Mr Samak was ordered to resign by Thailand’s Constitutional Court, which found him guilty of violating the constitution by receiving money for televised appearances on cooking shows.

His ousting was the latest political embarrassment for Thailand, where anti-government protesters have occupied the prime minister’s office compound since August 26.

Protesters initially demanded Mr Samak’s resignation and now say they will stay put until a suitable replacement is appointed.

Parliament is due to vote tomorrow on a new prime minister, sparking heated debate among the six-party ruling coalition and the opposition.

Mr Samak’s People’s Power Party has vowed to re-nominate him to the post – a move unlikely to find favour with all members of the coalition.

Gen Anupong threw his support behind an opposition proposal to form a national unity government in which all political parties join together.

“A national unity government is the best way to end the ongoing political crisis,” Gen Anupong told reporters. “Politicians should sacrifice personal interests ... for the sake of peace and national interests.”

Gen Anupong’s comments were likely to fuel speculation of a possible coup to end the crisis, despite his repeated denials of any military intervention.

Democracy in Thailand has been interrupted by 18 military coups since the country became a constitutional monarchy in 1932.

The most recent was in 2006, when the army ousted then Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra, who recently fled to Britain to escape corruption charges.

The anti-Samak movement, known as the People’s Alliance for Democracy, calls Mr Samak a puppet of Mr Thaksin and accuses him of running the government as a proxy for Mr Thaksin while he is in exile.

In the end, it was not the protesters that brought down the 73-year-old Mr Samak. A court ruled that appearances Mr Samak made on a popular TV cooking show, 'Tasting and Complaining', after becoming prime minister violated a constitutional prohibition on private employment while in office.