Thai foreign minister believes government will complete term

BANGKOK, Dec 30 (TNA) - Thailand’s Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Affairs Minister Surapong Tovichakchaikul said on Sunday that he believes political problems in the country would end in 2013 and the coalition government would be able to complete its four-year term. However, Mr. Surapong said, the most important political factor is plans by the government to amend the charter which is also demanded by members of parliament and senators while it is one of the policies of the ruling Pheu Thai Party announced during its election campaign. Charging that the now enforced 2007 constitution, written by a panel and appointed by coupmakers following the bloodless coup in September 2006 which topped the elected government of prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra, Mr. Surapong said the major opposition Democrat Party has continued charging that attempts by the government to amend the constitution, especially Article 309 is to help Mr. Thaksin alone which is not true. He attacked Article 309 which helps protect the now defunct Assets Scrutiny Committee (ASC) which has charged Mr. Thaksin of corruption while in power, saying that ASC did not give justice to the ousted prime minister, now living in self-imposed exile in overseas. Attempts by the opposition party to oust the coalition government which has come into power since August 2011 are still continuing, but the government still has more than enough of its MPs and does not need to persuade opposition members to join it, Mr. Surapong said. Asked whether the government would be able to bring Mr. Thaksin home from exile in 2013, he said the government has never thought of helping the ex-prime minister to return home and Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra, younger sister of Mr. Thaksin, has said clearly that the government wants to work for the country and the people as well as creating unity in the country. (TNA)