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Published on October 4, 2007

Reporter: "Aren't you psychologically worn out?"

PM: "Not that much. It's my duty and I am ready to respond to all questions related to facts."

Reporter: "Aren't you worried that before you step down, you could be torn to pieces by the critics?"

PM: "I simply consider it a fact that I have assumed the role of a public figure and I am willing and ready to listen to all kinds of criticism. I have said it before and I am saying it again: I am not a good man. I am only a repentant convert."

What a pity. Reporters at Government House just let PM Surayud Chulanont off the hook too easily. They should have squeezed a full confession from the premier. This must be the first time that the "reluctant, gentleman prime minister" even remotely suggested that he wasn't such a good man after all.

Was he admitting to some wrong deeds that had never come to light? Or was he simply reacting (with a touch of sarcasm) to the motion by a group of 26 legislators demanding to grill him on his overall performance and his personal ownership of Khao Yai Tiang - a piece of land in a hilly resort - whose acquisition might have been somewhat questionable?

Or was he feeling somewhat vulnerable because at least eight of his Cabinet members have been found by the Assets Examination Committee to be holding more than 5 per cent of stocks in some private firms - raising the conflict of interest question (although this is technically not a violation under the new constitution).

It's not clear who wants him out of office at this time - or who would take over the top executive post if he should decide to throw in the towel at the last minute just to confirm that he never wanted the position in the first place.

Of course, if you lend any credence to the conspiracy theory being bandied about, then you would cast a suspicious eye at Gen Sonthi Boonyaratglin, the coup-leader, who quit on Monday as chairman of the Council of Security Council (CNS) before being named deputy premier the next day.

It's too mind-boggling and far-fetched for me, but the conspiracy theorists have come up with the suggestion that Sonthi may want to ease out Surayud so he can oversee the December 23 election - his goal being to make sure that the old power clique led by ex-premier Thaksin Shinawatra doesn't make a comeback through the electoral process.

The story, of course, is fairly juicy. It's the kind of speculative stuff that keeps the rumour-mill busy. But you have to hear enough conspiracy stories to balance things out. Other gossip has it that the group of law-makers who are moving for a censure debate against PM Surayud (and presumably leaning towards Gen Sonthi) also wants to postpone the election date to allow the anti-Thaksin groups more time to fight the battle. You can't believe one story without pooh-poohing the other.

The only credible information, then, is from the horse's mouth - the PM's very own statements. "I am not such a good man, after all. I am only a bad man who has repented."

A "bad man" wouldn't give in to pressure to give up power, however averse he is to getting involved in a power struggle. A bad man who has converted to good through his repentance would resist any attempt to oust him even more forcefully.

Perhaps, all he wants is to be remembered as a "a good man who used to be bad", and now won't let any other bad man threaten to turn him into a saint.

Some saints used to be bad, too.

By Suthichai Yoon

(Share your opinion in my blog http://blog.nationmultimedia.com.)