Faction war hinders plan for new govt

Faction war hinders plan for new govt
Puea Pandin holds out on Democrats’ alliance

MANOP THIP-OSOD
PRADIT RUANGDIT

A faction of the Puea Pandin party is hampering the Democrat party’s coalition-building efforts by fighting for cabinet seats and refusing to commit to the alliance, sources say.

Democrat leader Abhisit Vejjajiva, secretary-general Suthep Thaugsuban and other key party figures yesterday sought to resolve the problem by visiting Puea Pandin leader Pracha Promnok at his home on Vibhavadi-Rangsit road with a bouquet of red roses.

They were joined at the one-hour talks by key Puea Pandin members Phinij Jarusombat, Preecha Laohapongchana, Mun Patanotai, Pichet Tancharoen and Nimuktar Waba, as well as list-MP M.R. Kittiwatana Chaiyant.

On Saturday and again on Tuesday, members of the Chart Thai Pattana, Ruam Jai Thai Chart Pattana and the dissolved Machimathipataya and Puea Pandin parties, and a faction controlled by Newin Chidchob declared their intention to join the Democrats.

However, Puea Pandin was represented by deputy leader Ranongrak Suwanchawee. Pol Gen Pracha did not take part.

Chart Thai Pattana was set up to replace the dissolved Chart Thai party.

Pol Gen Pracha yesterday sidestepped questions about whether his party would support the coalition-building efforts of the Democrats, or its rival Puea Thai, which is also trying to stitch together a new government.

He said the former coalition parties had yet to consult each other.

He denied Puea Pandin remained undecided because he was demanding cabinet seats.

Sources in the proposed new coalition said Puea Pandin had actually decided to back the Democrats but publicly remained uncommitted because key figures in the party were still fighting for cabinet portfolios.

The factions belonging to Mr Phinij, Mr Preecha and Suvit Khunkitti had approached the Democrat secretary-general for cabinet seats, the sources said.

In the meantime, the factions led by Pol Gen Pracha and Mr Mun were bargaining for portfolios through former foreign minister Surakiart Sathirathai, they added.

‘‘The whole Puea Pandin party backs the Democrat party’s attempt to form a government and supports Mr Abhisit as prime minister. But we don’t want Mr Phinij’s group to have sole authority in allocating [cabinet] positions,’’ another source in Puea Pandin said.

‘‘We will take the issue to the party’s executive board so a majority can make a decision instead of leaving it with Mr Phinij’s group alone. This is all about games within the party,’’ the source said.

hinder – to stop someone or something from making progess or developing; to hamper
alliance – a coalition; an arrangement to work together
cabinet – the group of government ministers who make and approve government policy
key – most important
dissolved – officially ended as a group
intention – a plan in your mind to do something
replace – to put a new person or thing in the place of someone or something แทนที่
sidestep – to avoid something difficult or unpleasant
stitch together – to put together, especially with some difficulty
consult – to ask for information or advice from someone
source – a person who gives information
back – to support
uncommitted – not willing or ready to support an idea, group or person
sole authority – the only one with the power to do something
allocate – to official give something to someone
issue – a subject that people discuss or argue about
majority – more than 50 percent of a group

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Fresh violence in Athens, man hurt

Listeng Here

At least 70 people have been injured since Saturday when the rioting broke out within hours of the killing of 15-year-old Alexandros Grigoropoulos. Hundreds of stores have been damaged or destroyed.

Prime Minister Costas Karamanlis has ignored opposition calls for early elections and promised shopkeepers affected by riots generous compensation, including 10,000 (464,300 baht) handouts to cover short-term needs.

Although no major protests were planned yesterday, tension persisted in Athens and the northern city of Thessaloniki, students occupying their high schools and university faculties. They planned a demonstration in Athens today.

Authorities have renewed appeals for calm, with influential church leaders joining in attempts to ease tension.

While being generally tolerant of occasional outbreaks of violence during frequent demonstrations, Greeks have been shocked by the ferocity displayed by teenager rioters and the extent of the destruction.

‘‘Is this our youth?’’ exclaimed an elderly woman as she picked her way past the rubble of a burned out shop near the Athens Polytechnic, where some of the most severe rioting took place. ‘‘Who needs youth like this? Why don’t they go and burn the prime minister’s house? What fault was it of these people [who lost their store]?’’

Two separate opinion polls published on Wednesday, before the aid package was announced, showed 68% of Greeks disapproved of the government’s handling of the crisis, and gave a nearly 5 percentage-point lead to the opposition Socialists.

The exact circumstances of the death are disputed.

Two police officers charged in the shooting said they had come under attack by rock-throwing youths, and that one of the officers fired warning shots. Witnesses who have spoken to the media disputed that account.

A prosecutor ordered the two officers remanded in custody late on Wednesday, pending trial. No date has been set.

hurl – to throw something with a lot of force
pelt – to throw objects with force at someone or something
sporadic – not regular or frequent
scores – a large number of people or things (one score is 20)
ignore – to not consider something, or to not let it influence you
generous – more than is usual or expected
compensation – money that someone receives because something bad has happened to them
handout – an amount of money or goods given to people who need them
tension – the feeling caused by a lack of trust between people, groups, or countries who do not agree about something and may attack each other
persist – to continue to exist
demonstration – an occasion when a large group of people protest about something
appeal – an urgent request
tolerant – willing to accept
occasional – happening sometimes but not frequently or regularly
outbreak – the sudden start of war, disease, violence, etc.
ferocity – violence or extreme force
extent – the size or degree to which something happens
rubble – broken pieces of stone and brick from buildings, walls, etc. that have been destroyed
crisis – an urgent, difficult or dangerous situation
circumstances – facts or conditions that affect a situation
disputed – not in agreement
witness – someone who sees something happen
account – a written or spoken report on something that has happened ย
prosecutor – a lawyer whose job is to prove in court that someone accused of a crime is guilty
remand in custody – to keep under police control until a trial is held
pending – waiting for something to happen

Posted by Terry Fredrickson at 09:36 AM

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