"Women have a lot of influence on their husbands. They can offer useful ideas to the heads of families," he said.

Without an active role by women, the country could not overcome the political and social crises witnessed recently.

"The combined power of all of you is very valuable to the country," he said.

The interim premier was speaking to more than 200 people at an alumni reunion for Saint Francis Xavier School held last night at the Arnoma Hotel in Bangkok.

He graduated from the now all-girls school.

At one point he appeared to mimic the well-known slogan of the Thai Rak Thai Party - "Think anew, do anew".

"Political conflicts will still exist but we can solve them by thinking and doing good in order to prevent new ones from emerging."

The sectarian violence in the deep South was singled out for causing "the most serious concern for people in this country".

Social divisions of any form could be remedied by giving more education to people, he added.

Pravit Rojanaphruek

The Nation