Newspaper headlines these days remind political pundits of the turbulent days of deposed premier Thaksin Shinawatra before the coup of September 19.

From growing violence in the deep South to rifts among coup leaders, there has been no "positive" news about the new government - a key factor to garner public support and keep it alive amid mounting pressure.

Prime Minister Surayud Chulanont recently duplicated his ousted predecessor's style by blaming the media for picking out "only" bad news despite there being plenty of "good" initiatives under his administration.

Instead of searching for a scapegoat, he is recommended to look at what is wrong in his own office.

One of the people who should take the blame for this blunder is government spokesman Yongyuth Mayalarp, whose "loudspeaker" seems to be mostly turned off.

Compared with the outspoken spokesmen of the Thai Rak Thai government, Yongyuth has really lost direction in his new role. He cannot distinguish between being a TV host, his previous job, and a spokesman for the government.

The Thai Rak Thai's men would speak out on behalf of Thaksin or the party whenever they were questioned or challenged by the press and the opposition. Day after day, they never let other parties steal the headlines or criticise the party without issuing reactions.

It was only during the crisis months of Thaksin's premiership that his spokesmen were unable to cope with the storm of anti-Thaksin sentiment.

Yongyuth is not a man of that category, though. Without prompting from his bosses, he has somehow managed to vanish from public attention.

He apparently believes his job is to hold a press conference once a week after the Cabinet meeting on Tuesdays. And for the rest of the time, he makes no sound. He is so unassertive that many people would be unable to say who the government spokesman was.

This inactive stand puts his bosses in the hot seat because, without any statements from the government, the press has more space for those of its critics or enemies.

It was not until recent weeks that Surayud and Gen Sonthi Boonyaratglin, chief of the Council for National Security (CNS), realised the government spokesman was pushing their "ship" towards disaster.

Several surveys showed that people felt the Surayud government had

produced no impressive performance, contrary to its promise shortly after

the coup to move the country

forward.

Surayud has responded by taking a public-relations blitz directly to the public via state television and radio with the "Direct from Government House" programme to be broadcast every Saturday.

The CNS, in the meantime, will soon distribute more than 10,000 copies of its "White Paper" - describing Thaksin's wrongdoings - in a bid to convince the public that the former premier was so evil that the military had no choice but to send tanks onto the streets.

In other words, the junta is asking the public to be patient and give them a chance.

Deputy Premier and Finance Minister MR Pridiyathorn Devakula recently told reporters that the government spokesman had failed to clearly explain the government's budget allocation for the 2007 fiscal year at a press conference, forcing him to meet the press himself.

Going by the recent moves of the new rulers, Yongyuth is really in trouble. A rumour spreading among Government House officials is that he will be removed soon.

Although Yongyuth has tried to score points in recent days after hosting the first meeting of all ministerial spokesmen to strengthen the government's public-relations network, it might be a bit late for him to turn his "loudspeaker" on.

Political Desk

The Nation