PPP makes concessions to Allies

Opposition leader Abhisit Vejjajiva greets Prime Minister Samak Sundaravej at one of the Parliament canteens yesterday morning before the voting session to censure Samak and seven other ministers.

The other coalition parties pledged support for the People Power Party (PPP) government ministers grilled in the censure debate on condition there be a major Cabinet reshuffle and changes in Thailand's stance over the Preah Vihear controversy, sources said yesterday.

Leaders of the five smaller coalition parties met Prime Minister Samak Sundaravej, the PPP leader, on Thursday night towards the final hours of the three-day no-confidence debate.

They told Samak they all agreed that Foreign Minister Noppadon Pattama had failed to offer a clear explanation as to why he had to move hastily to support Cambodia's bid to register the Preah Vihear Temple ruins as a World Heritage site, said a source familiar with the matter.

Despite Samak's insistence that Thai territory would not be affected by the communique signed by Noppadon, the coalition leaders stood firm that the Cabinet would have to review its stance, in order to prevent any negative effects on the Kingdom.

They threatened to allow their MPs to vote freely or even pull out of the coalition, said the source. At that point, the prime minister became irritated and said if that was the case, he would be left with no other choice but to dissolve the House of Representatives.

But the source said Samak appeared to calm down after further discussion and agreed to reshuffle the Cabinet "if that is really necessary" and "make some modifications" regarding the Preah Vihear issue.

Chart Thai leader Banharn Silapa-archa, who was among the participants at Thursday night's meeting, told his party MPs yesterday about the conditions agreed by the prime minister in exchange for the party's support for the eight targeted Cabinet members, a party source said.

Banharn told Chart Thai MPs the conditions were a major Cabinet shake-up and a review of the government's Preah Vihear stance.

All eight Cabinet members managed to pass the vote yesterday, with strong support from government MPs.

Opposition Leader Abhisit Vejjajiva yesterday said the vote result was not beyond expectations. He urged Prime Minister Samak to look into the information offered by the opposition during the censure debate.

"He should determine if the facts shown during the debate can be put to use in improving the Cabinet's work. This reflects the value of the parliamentary system, which consists of the government and the opposition," said the Democrat Party leader.