Deputy Prime Minister and Social Development and Human Security Minister Paiboon Wattanasiritham said yesterday Prime Minister Surayud Chulanont hadn't sent any sign about Cabinet reshuffle. He only talked about changes in its work and people just interpreted his words as what they wanted to hear.

The Cabinet is expected to discuss changes in its work tomorrow (Wednesday April 18). No minister is expected to be removed but it was uncertain if new ministers would be appointed, he said.

The government could talk to protesters who faced farming and agricultural problems to find solutions to help them. However, it would keep an eye on political protesters.

"If we have a chance to talk to the groups, I believe we will be able to fix problems together. There's no need to pressure us with forces because this government wants to help people, not to take power," he said. "Rumours about a new prime minister is not so surprising. There are such rumours in every government."

Secretarygeneral to the prime minister Pongthep Tesprateep said had Prime Minister Surayud Chulanont wanted to appoint PM's chief adviser General Watanachai Chaimuanwong a deputy minister in charge of national security, he would have done last time as appointing new ministers too often could have bad effect.

He said Surayud also take charge of national security himself and the government was close to the Council for National Security (CNS).

Besides the violence in the South which had been chronic, the country face no severe security problems, he said.

Pongthep said, basing on Surayud's behaviour, he expected Surayud would just urge ministers and staffs to be more active. Reshuffling would waste too much time.

Staffs have been helping ministers and Surayud could talk to them to improve the work, Pongthep said. Appointing ministers would only attract people to criticise and find their faults.

While denying he was contacted to accept the post, General Watanachai said a deputy prime minister in charge of national security was necessary to cooperate the work as many agencies and many ministries were in charge including Ministry of Defence, Interior Ministry, Justice Ministry, Ministry of Foreign Affairs and even economic ministries.

He said Surayud was currently in charge but he had no enough time to meet the agencies.

On antigovernment protesters concern, Pongthep said the military coup on September 19 last year was different than others in the past. The rifts in society were too severe and could have led to unimaginable damage without military intervention.

People could distinguish good people and bad people. They wouldn't accept the latter.

Protesters against the government usually were people who have been protesting for 2030 years. They also had widelyknown financial supporters. Meanwhile, the People's Alliance for Democracy (PAD) should have been more humble as the prime minister had been patient, he said.

"The Prime Minister has tried to be patient, strong. He's never been desperate or distracted. Little time is left. People should encourage him, not colour lies. May I warn people with bad thought to the country won't live happily nor die happily," he said.

Piyanart Srivalo,

Panya Thiewsangwal

The Nation