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Potential candidates for Surayud's Cabinet


Deputy Prime Minister/Culture Minister/Commerce Minister/Health Minister (updated)/Industry Minister/Agriculture Minister (updated)/Finance Minister/Energy Minister/Foreign Minister/ Interior Minister (updated)

Defence Minister

October 4, 2006

7pm -There hasn't been much speculation as to who would be the next defence minister because most were convinced that the next top boss from the ministry would have to be a man in uniform. The military council behind the coup has appointed a retired general,

Surayud Chulanont, as the premier and it's only logical that his defense minister is also a retired top brass.

Today Surayud called a retired army chief of staff Gen Boonrawd Somtat, who was his classmate in Chulachomkao Military Academy's class 12, to request for his help at the defence ministry. He did not say what position but rumour mill is sure that it would be the top post.

Education Minister

October 4, 2006

5pm - Privy Councillor member Dr Kasem Wattanachai today cancelled his meeting after receiving an urgent telephone call from the prime minister. This caused speculation that he would be in the cabinet and possibly as Education Minister, the position he held under Thaksin government.

Deputy Prime Minister

October 4, 2006

2.15pm

Executive chairman of the Bangkok Bank, Kosit Panpiemras, former Agriculture deputy minister during the Anand Panyarachun's administration, was seen meeting Prime Minister Surayud Chulanont on Tuesday. He refused to reveal the content of the discussion. Today he is tipped to be a deputy prime minister who will oversee rural development and decentralisation policies.

Culture Minister

October 3, 2006

6 pm : Former Bangkok Senator, Kraisak Choonhavan, known for his outspokenness, has emerged Tuesday evening as one of the top man for the top post at the Ministry of Culture. Kraisak was the chairman of the Senate Foreign Affairs Committee.

Two days ago, his name had emerged as the possible future foreign minister but the academicturnedpolitician was quickly edged out by career diplomats who could ensure continuity rather then provocative ideas.

Another top man in the spotlight was former permanent secretary at the Culture Ministry, MR Chakrarot Chithrabongse, whose name came up as a candidate.

Commerce Minister

October 3, 2006.

6.30pm : Former Commerce Ministry's permanent secretary, Krirkkrai Jirapaet, on Tuesday night emerged as one of the main contender to lead his former work place.

Health Minister

October 4, 2006

4.30pm - Network of medical personnel propose today their choices of candidate for Health Ministry. The network which has doctors, dentists, nurses and public health ministry officials throughout the country, as members, said that the new minister should not be politically attached to any party and has questionable background.

Their choices are Privy Councillor member Dr Kasem Wattanachai, Former Senator Dr Malinee Sukavetvorakit, or respectable anti-tobacco Dr Prakit Vatheesathokkit.

October 3, 2006.

7pm : Former Health Ministry's permanent secretary Vitura Sangsingakeo emerged as the leading candidate for the top post at the ministry.

Industry Minister

October 3, 2006

8pm - Ajva Taulananda, former president of the Thai Chamber of Commerce, emerged Tuesday evening as the leading contender to lead the Industry Ministry.

Agriculture Minister

October 4, 2006

2pm - Rumour mill of the day has it that the next Agriculture Minister will be Ajva Taulananda. The honourable chairman of the Thai Chamber of Commerce was tipped on Tuesday to be the Industry minister.

October 3, 2006

6.30pm - Executive Chairman of Bangkok Bank Kosit Panpiemras has initially emerged as the man to take up the top post at the Finance Ministry, deemed one of the most important portfolio for the Surayudh's Cabinet.

Kosit met Surayud at the Government House Tuesday afternoon for about 20 minutes. He later admitted he will join the new Cabinet in an economic ministry post but refused to elaborate, saying it depends on the prime minister. He also stated that chairman of the Bangkok Bank, Chatri Sophonpanich, has given him the green light to resign from his position at the bank and that he would be permitted to return to the institution when his mission is completed.

But by Tuesday afternoon it appeared that the military council behind the coup wanted him to head the Agriculture Minister. However, when confronted by reporters on Tuesday afternoon after meeting with Surayud, he deny the speculation that he would be the next Agriculture Minister.

Finance Minister

October 3, 2006

8pm - Bank of Thailand Governor Pridiyathorn Devakula is the likeliest candidate for the post. As his current position as head of the central bank is so prestigious, he would be unlikely to leave it for anything less important than the Finance portfolio. It has been reported that he might also be willing to accept the post of deputy prime minister.

Energy Minister

October 3, 2006

7.45pm Former National Energy Policy Office secretary-general Piyasvasti Amranand has emerged as an appropriate choice for the post, as his ideas about alternative energy sources are welcomed by the energy industry.

Foreign Minister

October 3, 2006

8pm - Former Foreign Ministry's permanent secretary Nithya Pibulsonggram appeared to at the forefront as the man to lead as the candidate as of Tuesday evening, squeezing out other candidates.

The name of former Foreign Minister's permanent secretary Saroj Chavanavirat was floated in a conversation in Tuesday morning between the current permanent secretary Krit Garnjanagoonchorn and Prime Minister Surayud Chulanont but the verdict is still out as to how will take up the ministry's top post.

4pm - Earlier in the day, HM's Deputy Principal Private Secretary Tej Bunnag and former permanent Nithya Pibulsonggram.

Last week, military sources told The Nation that the leader of the military council behind the coup, General Sonthi Boonyaratglin, was eyeing former Foreign Minister Surin Pitsuwan. Although Surin's nomination may be welcome by the international community, the generals are also acknowledged that his membership in the Democrat Party would hurt his chance of being nominated.

Also last week, former National Security Council's secretarygeneral Charan Kullavanit also emerged in the conservation among the inner circle. A colorful and outspoken security tsar, Charan climbed up the Army's rankandfile successfully - like hundreds of Thailan'd generals - but achieved stardom when he was appointed to head the NSC.

But the curtain has yet to fall. To the surprise of many, former Deputy Prime Minister Surakiart Sathirathai appeared to be putting his application for the job now that his chances of becoming the next UN Secretary General has hit rockbottom as the UN Security Council refused, for the forth time, to give him a passing grade.

Interior Minister

October 4, 2006

2.30pm - It is widely speculated today that Interior Ministry under the interim government will have its former permanent secretary Aree Wongaraya as deputy minister. Aree is an old hand in the ministry and his performance during his term was deemed acceptable to all parties.

October 3, 2006

8pm - Tuesday evening saw General Oud Buangbon coming out ahead as one of the man to assume the top position at the powerful Ministry of Interior. The retired soldier was the former permanent secretary at the Defense Ministry with close personal ties to General Prem Thinsulanonda, the president of the Privy Council.

The other person whose name also came up was General Somdhat Attanand, former Army chief who was instrumental in getting General Sonthi Boonyaratglin, the head of the military council who ousted Thaksin, to his current top post in the Army.

As for the post of the deputy interior minister, former Army chief Geneal Vichit Yathip, a career soldier with close personal ties to former premier Chavalit Yongchaiyudh.

2pm - One of the most talked about political figure in the post Thaksin, Privy Council member Plakorn Suwannarat, was touted as the next interior chief.

But the respected former civil servant, according to his close associate, will not take the offer and will continue to work as a member of the HM's Privy Council. He deemed the current posting the highest in his career as public service.

The close aide said Plakorn is aware that the public, as well as the media, has tossed his name out. He is also aware that expectations will be high with the line up of the new interim Prime Minister Surayud Chulanont who has taken the helm on Sunday.

Plakorn, the former director of the nowdefunct Southern Border Provinces Administrative Centre (SBPAC), has deep understanding of the situation the South where an ongoing insurgency has claimed more than 1,700 people have been killed since January 2004. He was Thaksin's first victim; the SBPAC was dissolved by the previous government in mid2001, just months after Thaksin came into power.

The Nation
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