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Published on October 10, 2007

 Prime Minister Sura-yud Chulanont faces a tough grilling today from a Prasong Soonsiri-led faction in the National Legislative Assembly (NLA), which intends to censure the premier over allegations that he owns land and a residential resort in a national forest preserve.

In a tactical defence, Surayud plans to not get directly involved in the censure discussion. Instead, he has assigned PM's Office Minister Thirapat Serirangsan to answer allegations on his behalf. This represents a surprise move by the prime minister, because Thirapat is considered to belong to Prasong's camp.

"I have given all the documents and information involved to Thirapat. As for me, I will listen to the debate. As for other ministers, they may need to answer questions by themselves," Surayud said.

Over the past three weeks, Surayud has been reeling under tremendous political pressure as five of his Cabinet members have resigned after the National Counter Corruption Commis-sion (NCCC) exposed that they each own more than 5 per cent in various companies. Although these stake holdings do not violate current provisions, the controversy is part of a political ploy with Surayud as the ultimate target.

Prasong, a powerful member of the National Legislative Assembly dubbed "Thai CIA", has been zeroing in on Surayud in earnest, hoping to force his resignation. Prasong's faction, which represents the former People's Alliance for Democracy by proxy, believes that Surayud has been soft on the old-power clique of ousted prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra.

Moreover, faction members have been denied any significant role in the Surayud government, although they played a key role in removing Thaksin from power.

Last week Prasong led more than 20 NLA members to submit a censure motion against the government to Speaker Meechai Ruchuphan. But because the NLA is not an elected body, it does not have the power under the Constitution to vote on a censure motion, and is limited to debating the motion during session.

 The highlight of the censure debate is the allegation that Surayud is in breach of the Forestry Act and the National Forest Reserves Act because he owns 20 rai of land and a resort in the forest preserve of Khao Yai Thiang, in Nakhon Ratchasima.

A political source said the censure might also include Surayud's ownership of a house in Bangkok's Soi Aree and his huge bank account.

"These issues will force the prime minister to answer the questions on his own," the political source said.

Late last year Surayud vowed to resign from office if it was found that his ownership of the plot in Khao Yai Thiang was illegal. Lately, he has declined to discuss the matter. But he reportedly considered resigning from office after learning about the plot to grill him over the Khao Yai Thiang affair.

It remains to be seen whether Surayud will decide to trade blows with Prasong in the debate after both waged a war of words over the weekend. Prasong will lead the debate today.

A source from the Cabinet said Education Minister Wijit Srisa-an told the Cabinet meeting yesterday that the debate would be among NLA members, so the government was not obliged to attend.

However, Surayud told Cabinet members that he would personally listen to the debate as a show of respect for the assembly. The prime minister also urged other ministers who are not otherwise busy to attend or give Thirapat information to help the government answer any questions raised.

Thirapat told the meeting that he would wait for all NLA members to finish their debate before he proceeded to answer questions, according to the source. But Thirapat added that if there were complicated issues that needed detailed clarification, he would ask the ministers to answer the questions on their own.

Asked why the premier chose Thirapat to respond to the censure on behalf of the government, Surayud said that Thirapat had no shares in any company exceeding the 5-per-cent shareholding cap.

Thirapat is known to be an ally of Prasong and the anti-Thaksin People's Alliance for Democracy.

The prime minister said yesterday that he was not concerned that a police subcommittee and a human-rights committee, which is chaired by Prasong, have launched investigations into his possession of the Khao Yai Thiang land.

"I'm not worried. But please formally tell me first if they want to inspect my house. Don't sneak into it," he said.

The subcommittee will go to Nakhon Ratchasima today to request information from the local agencies regarding Surayud's land.

"After we have seen the information provided by those who have made complaints, we think there will be grounds to investigate whether Surayud has encroached on the forest reserve," said Kritsakda Wattanapong, the secretary of the subcommittee. He added that he had to wait for evidence before asking Surayud to explain the matter to the subcommittee.

According to the National Forest Act, a person guilty of encroaching on a national forest can be imprisoned for six months to five years, he said.

 Meanwhile, Prasong called on Surayud to attend the NLA meeting today, saying there is no need to worry because it is not a censure motion that is on the table.

He said that although he cannot force the premier to attend the meeting, he hoped Surayud would see its significance because the assembly wanted to question the government about its ethics. "It is not a censure motion. There is no need to fear,'' Prasong said.

He also questioned the offer by Deputy Prime Minister General Sonthi Boonyaratglin to bridge the gap between him and Surayud, asking what role Sonthi planned to fulfill. "If Sonthi calls a meeting as deputy prime minister, it is not the right role for him. Had he called the meeting when he was with the Council for National Security, then it might have been easier. I am not saying that I dismiss talks, but they have to know their roles,'' he said.

Prasong rejected comments from NLA chairman Meechai Ruchupan that if he is going to grill Surayud Cabinet members over share ownership, he could attack other NLA members who have more than 5-per-cent shareholdings in media companies. "NLA members should have a conscience. If they break the law, they must take responsibility,'' he said.

Intriguing plot

A brief history of the controversial Khao Yai Thieng land plot

In 1993-94 Bao Sinnok sold two plots of land to Noppadol Pitakvanich for Bt600,000. The first plot covered 14 rai; the second plot was seven-and-a-half rai. Both plots were linked to each other.

In 1997, the land was sold to Lt Gen Surarit Chandrathip.

In 2002, Lt Gen Surarit sold the land to Col Chitravadee Chulanont, the wife of Prime Minister Surayud Chulanont. She has been paying the local tax through the Phor Thor Bor 5 form all along. (Phor Thor Bor 5 is a kind of land title deed, issued temporarily

to an owner)

The land plot is situated

at No 6, Tambol Khlong Phai, Amphoe Si Khiew, Nakhon Ratchasima. The Forestry Department announced it as a national forest preservation area in accordance with the Royal Gazette of B.E. 2007.

Under this Royal Gazette of B.E. 2007, the land covered by the national forest preservation area extends from Khao Tieng, Khao Khuen Lan, and Khao Yai Thieng.

In 1992, the Forestry Department categorised the forest areas into different zones so that local people would be allowed to use the land for their own living.

The land and forest on Khao Yai Thieng have been categorised as Zone C (for preservation), which is reserved as forest area. The authorities forbid local people to use land in this area to live on.

Woranaree Kosajan,

 Piyanart Srivalo,

 Nerisa Neuykiew

 The Nation