Surayud faces abundant problems.

BURNING ISSUE

'Nice guy' PM tested by a welter of problems

Interim govt needs to focus on its top priority - bringing ex-premier Thaksin to trial for his regime's many abuses

The country now seems like a car stuck in neutral because both state officials and the government haven't done what they should.

Prime Minister Surayud Chulanont recently repeated his mission to foster reconciliation in the country. Apparently, his words were a plea for sympathy from the public, as if the government couldn't do anything because it might cause a division.

Three months have passed. The "Old Ginger" government has been admired for being open-minded towards criticism but not for its performance. In fact, the only performance the public has wanted to see is a clean-out of deposed prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra's wrongdoings.

On Surayud's first day in office, he received overwhelming support because the public thought he was the most suitable person to clean up the mess left by Thaksin's regime and enhance reconciliation. But reality has clouded over the dream.

After the New Year's Eve bombings in Bangkok, Surayud's government has faced a crisis of faith. Last week, both a Bangkok University survey and an Abac poll underlined a plunge in popularity for the government. The first survey found the Surayud government scored 5.27 out of 10 for its overall performance. The latter poll said support had been slashed to 48.5 per cent, compared with the 90 per cent it enjoyed before the blasts.

Respondents to the polls urged the government to accelerate its scrutiny of graft scandals from the previous administration overseen by Thaksin. They wanted quicker action on national problems and for the interim leaders to quell lingering concerns that it will hold on to power.

The government needs to lay out some firm priorities promptly - and decide what it should or shouldn't do. It surely knows it has only one year to run the country, not the four years of an elected government. Those in charge shouldn't touch any long-term policies or matters that have no consensus - the plan for autonomous universities, or the two- and three-digit lotteries, for instance.

If the government didn't waste its time talking about what it has done, it then would have more time to concentrate on the public's main agenda - tackling Thaksin on the corruption allegations spelt out by the coup leader.

The top goal for the government must be demonstrating to the public Thaksin's wrongdoings and bringing him to justice.

Although some people were silent on the September 19 coup, it did not mean they agreed with the military takeover. Many hoped that, through the coup leader and interim government, they could topple Thaksin. But lack of zeal for this priority appears to be making the costly coup worthless. And that is putting pressure on leaders of the new regime.

The government has full power and authority to tackle Thaksin's scandals but it has let the Assets Examination Committee (AEC) oversee this duty. Its sluggish progress was highlighted by the revelation this week the government had yet to command state agencies to lodge complaints against former ministers, and others deemed responsible for corruption scandals that have caused them to suffer losses.

But the main problem is the AEC has concluded few cases and thus failed to lodge any petition against Thaksin, as of yet.

Unlike other military-installed governments, the Surayud government has faced more problems and pressures than an elected government. It is a nature of a government after a coup to face challenges from every direction. Surayud could not run away from this reality.

He faced ongoing violence in the deep South and political trouble created by subversive activity such as the burning of dozens of schools by suspected supporters of the former government, otherwise known as "undercurrents".

The government also got into economic problems because of its capital-control policy to stem the rising baht - to ensure Thai exports remain competitive.

Civil society has looked at the military with suspicion over whether it will return power to the people as quickly as promised.

The lack of a breakthrough in apprehending those responsible for the New Year's Eve bombings in Bangkok has also put pressure on Surayud to sack police chief General Kowit Watana. But Surayud, mindful perhaps that the police force is set for a major restructuring, rejected this.

Mr Nice Guy is now being sorely tested on his ability to manage a welter of problems - most created by his predecessor.

Somroutai Sapsomboon

The Nation