Thailand ponders postponing ASEAN summit to March

BANGKOK, Nov 30 (TNA) -- Thailand's Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Sompong Amornvivat said Sunday that he would ask the cabinet at its meeting this week regarding possible postponement of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) summit to March due to the current political turbulence in the country.

Speaking during a weekly government programme telecast live on television, Mr. Sompong said he would ask the Cabinet at its Tuesday meeting on postponing the summit, scheduled to be held in Chiang Mai December 15-18, to March next year.

"I want to postpone the meeting (as long a)s it is unknown when the (current political) situation could end. This (the ASEAN summit) is a major meeting and is the face of the country. It could be postponed to March," Mr. Sompong said, "but it depends entirely on the Cabinet."

He was referring on theshut down of Suvarnabhumi international airport and Don Mueang domestic airport on Tuesday and Wednesday respectively by anti-government protesters of the People's Alliance for Democracy (PAD), forcing tens of thousands of foreign tourists and businessmen stranded in Thailand and Thais overseas unable to return just yet.

The protesters have demanded that the coalition government of Prime Minister Somchai Wongsawat resign unconditionally and that the 2007 Constitution, written by appointees of the coupmakers, to remain unchanged.

Presently, more than 10,000 Thais are stranded overseas, he said. The Thai government will pay Bt2,000 per person per day for their accommodations and meals just like foreign tourists stranded in Thailand, said Mr. Sompong. Stranded Thais overseas should contact the nearest Thai embassy or consulate to receive assistance.

Mr. Sompongh said over 200,000 foreigners are now stranded in Thailand. The Thai government, he said is expected to spend about Bt1 billion in helping both foreigners and Thais.

Asean summit will go on

Nov 27, 2008
AFP

BANGKOK - THAILAND'S foreign minister said on Thursday that a key regional summit was scheduled to go ahead despite concerns from countries all over the world about protests that have shuttered the main airports.

Sompong Amornviwat, who is stranded in Germany after Bangkok's main international airport was stormed by protesters, said he had been inundated with queries from other foreign ministers asking about the turmoil.

'Several countries are seriously concerned with the incidents happening in our country now - there is no rule of law,' the foreign minister told AFP by telephone.

'Many countries are afraid that their embassies may be seized by protesters. Foreign ministers have repeatedly asked me what's happening.'

Mr Sompong said the final decision over whether Thailand would host the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) summit scheduled for December in the northern city of Chiang Mai lay with Prime Minister Somchai Wongsawat.

'As of now I insist that the summit will proceed as planned but I will discuss this issue with the prime minister and he will make final decision,' he said from Frankfurt.

Laos, Cambodia and Vietnam have raised the possibility of postponing the Asean summit due to the worsening political crisis in the country.

Mr Sompong had been in Peru with Somchai for the APEC summit. During their absence, protesters stepped up their six-month campaign to topple the government, swarming Suvarnabhumi Airport on Tuesday and shutting it down.

Mr Somchai returned to Thailand on Wednesday on a special flight that landed in Chiang Mai, where he has called a cabinet meeting to address the escalating turmoil.

He has rejected calls by the army chief to hold new elections.

Cambodian, Thai foreign ministers hold new border talks

PHNOM PENH, Nov. 12 (Xinhua) -- The foreign ministers of Thailand and Cambodia held fresh talks Wednesday to try to resolve a long-running and deadly border dispute.

Cambodian Foreign Minister Hor Namhong met with his Thai counterpart Sompong Amornvivat at a luxury hotel in Siem Reap province, home to the famed Angkor Wat temple complex.

In a press release issued ahead of the meeting, Cambodia's Foreign Ministry said it hoped both countries will be committed to achieving a "peaceful and just solution" to the border problem as soon as possible without any further delay.

The ministers were scheduled to discuss issues including clearing land mines along the border, troop redeployment and demarcation of the border, said Sin Bunthoeun, a Cambodian Foreign Ministry spokesman.

Koy Kuong, a secretary of state at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, told the Phnom Penh Post that the foreign ministers' meeting would build on the progress made since the start of the week between Cambodian and Thai border committees.

In October, Cambodian and Thai troops exchanged fire on their disputed border area, killing at least two and wounding a dozen.

Prior to the clash, the ownership of the Preah Vihear Temple caused both sides to maintain military stalemate near the border for weeks.

During this period, rounds of meetings were held, but all failed to find common ground on the border issue to break the stand off.

The two countries have 790-km-long border line, but only with 73 border posts which were planted in 1907.

In 1962, the International Court of Justice decided that the Preah Vihear Temple and its surrounding area belong to Cambodia.

Thai, Cambodian ministers in new border talks

2008-11-12

PHNOM PENH, Cambodia (AP) - The foreign ministers of Thailand and Cambodia held fresh talks Wednesday to try to resolve a border dispute near an ancient temple that sparked a deadly clash last month and raised concerns of a war between the neighbors.

Cambodian Foreign Minister Hor Namhong met with his Thai counterpart, Sompong Amornvivat, at a luxury hotel in Siem Reap province, home to the famed Angkor temple complex.

In a statement issued ahead of the meeting, Cambodia's Foreign Ministry said it hoped both countries will be committed to achieving «a peaceful and just solution to the border problem as soon as possible without any further delay.

The ministers were scheduled to discuss issues including clearing land mines along the border, troop redeployment and demarcation of the border, said Sin Bunthoeun, a Cambodian foreign ministry spokesman.

The fighting that erupted last month was the latest flare-up in a decades-old dispute over a stretch of jungle near the 11th-century Preah Vihear temple. The World Court awarded the temple to Cambodia in 1962, but sovereignty over the surrounding land has never been clearly resolved.

Troops on both sides of the border exchanged fire Oct. 15, leaving two Cambodian soldiers dead and 10 from both sides wounded. A Thai soldier died later from a wound sustained during the clash.

The two countries share a 500-mile (800-kilometer) land border, much of which has never been clearly demarcated because the countries refer to different maps.

[Thai] FM to visit Siem Reap for border talks

November 4, 2008
By Supalak Ganjanakhundee
The Nation

Foreign Minister Sompong Amornwiwat will join his Cambodia counterpart Hor Namhong in Siem Reap on November 12 for another round of talks on resolving the Preah Vihear border dispute.

It would be the third such meeting following the two in July and August between former foreign minister Tej Bunnag and Hor Namhong.

Sompong, who succeeded Tej more than a month ago, would discuss the areas with overlapping claims near the Khmer sanctuaries of Ta Muen Thom and Ta Muen Kwai Krabey.

The agenda was set at the second ministerial meeting in Thailand's resort beach town of Cha-Am in August, ministry spokesman Tharit Charungvat said yesterday.

"We are glad to see the restoration of a good atmosphere and resumption of negotiations between the two countries," he said.

Thailand and Cambodia have been engaged in a war of words since July after the Preah Vihear Temple was inscribed on the list of world heritage sites. The tensions escalated into a border skirmish last month that claimed the lives of four soldiers on both sides and wounded many others.

A new round of ongoing boundary demarcation talks with Cambodia would be held from November 1014 after Parliament gave the goahead.

Vasin Teeravechyan, former ambassador to South Korea and co-chairman of the Thai-Cambodian Joint Commission on Demarcation for Land Boundary (JBC), would lead the Thai team.

The JBC might pick the disputed area near Preah Vihear Temple as a priority, Tharit added.

[Thai FM] Sompong to visit Siem Reap for border talks

November 3, 2008
The Nation

Foreign Minister Sompong Amornwiwat will join his Cambodia counterpart Hor Namhong in Siem Reap on November 12 for another round of talks on resolving the Preah Vihear border dispute.

It would be the third such meeting following the two in July and August between former foreign minister Tej Bunnag and Hor Namhong.

Sompong, who succeeded Tej more than a month ago, would discuss the areas with overlapping claims near the Khmer sanctuaries of Ta Muen Thom and Ta Muen Kwai Krabey.

The agenda was set at the second ministerial meeting in Thailand's resort beach town of Cha-Am in August, ministry spokesman Tharit Charungvat said Monday.

Cambodia proposes 4 measures to resolve Thai-Khmer border issues [... none of which involves troops removal from Preah Vihear, unfortunately]

BANGKOK, Oct 26 (TNA) -- Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen has proposed four measures aimed at solving the Thai-Cambodian border conflict following bloody clashes between the militaries of the two neighbours earlier this month, Thai Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Sompong Amornvivat said on Sunday.

Speaking during the first 'weekly television programme, its first since the present government assumed power on September 25, Mr. Sompong said Premier Hun Sen's proposals were made to his Thai counterpart Premier Somchai Wongsawat on the sidelines of the Seventh Asia-Europe Meeting (ASEM) in Beijing on Saturday.

Cambodian Prime Minister proposed that peaceful negotiations must be held between the two countries and there must not be future clashes. Problems must be solved through bilateral talks, he emphasised, and the two counties must accelerate their peace negotiations under the framework of the joint border committee, and restore bilateral trade and investment.

Buoyed by Mr. Hun Sen's remarks that peace is at hand on the Thai-Cambodian border as the soldiers of the two countries posted there have exchanged food and otherwise socialised with each other, Mr. Sompong said he is confident that the conflict would be settled after the progress registered in last Friday's initial agreement.

The tentative agreement reached by senior army officers from both countries in Cambodia's historic Siem Reap will be given to the Thai parliament for its consideration on Tuesday.

Latest border skirmishes occurred on October 15 when Thai and Cambodian military units exchanged gunfire near the ancient Preah Vihear temple with one Thai and two Cambodians dying and a number of troops from both sides wounded.

Efforts to end border row progress well: Govt [-Can stalemate be considered good progress?]

Sunday October 26, 2008

(BangkokPost.com) - The efforts to work out the Thai-Cambodian border dispute have progressed considerably, Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Affairs Minister Sompong Amornvivat said on Sunday morning.

During the Government of the People programme on the state-run National Broadcasting Services of Thailand (NBT) channel, Mr Sompong said he planned to ask the parliament to consider the framework of the Thai-Cambodian Joint Border Committee (JBC) this Tuesday.

Mr Sompong said Prime Minister and Defence Minister Somchai Wongsawat had informal talks with Cambodia’s Prime Minister Hun Sen at the 7th Asia-Europe Meeting (Asem). He said both sides would like to cooperate and work out the border row peaceful through bilateral talks to spur investment of the two countries.

No forces will be used to solve the problem, the foreign minister added.

Meanwhile, he said the Thai premier had the opportunity to exchange views and ideas with foreign delegates at the Asem and they discussed ways to prepare for and deal with the global economic crisis.

As for the Asian Summit, which will be in Thailand in December, Mr Sompong said the meeting could be moved from Bangkok to the northern province of Chiang Mai, but there will be further discussions on this issue.

Thailand to Act in Self-Defence If Cambodia Uses Force - Thai Foreign Ministry

Tuesday, 14 October 2008
The Nation

If Cambodia resorts to use of force, Thailand will have to exercise its right of self-defence as provided under the Charter of the United Nations: Thai FM

Tensions along Thai and Cambodian border have flared up again on Tuesday after Thailand refused to follow Cambodia's threat to withdraw its troops from an area near Preah Vihear Temple.

Thai Foreign Ministry's statement said, ""If Cambodia does resort to the use of force in accordance with its so-called ultimatum, Thailand will have to exercise its right of self-defence as provided under the Charter of the United Nations."

Cambodia's Prime Minister Hun Sen issued the ultimatum on Monday, saying Bangkok could face large-scale conflict if Thailand failed to abide by his threat.

He issued the threat after Thai Foreign Minister Sompong Wongsawat met with his Cambodian counterpart Hor Nam Hong in a border meeting in Phnom Penh on Monday. "The Veal Intry area is the dead or alive point for us "The situation at the Veal Intry area is too hot. They have to remove tonight or tomorrow. If they don't remove from the Veal Intry area, war will be waged," he said.

Meanwhile Thai Prime Minister Somchai Wongsawat on Tuesday chaired an urgent meeting to discuss about the matters Cambodia's threat to start war if Thailand did not evacuate its troops from an area near the Preah Vihear Temple.

Somchai reiterated that it is not possible for the Thai troops to withdraw from the area. "It is like you are asked to retreat from your own house," he said.

Thai premier quoted Sompong as saying that he was surprised that Hun Sen made such a threat after the meeting. "During the meeting, Prime Minister Hun Sen seemed to have no problems on the matters. It was surprising that he came out of the meeting room to say that," Sompong said.

Sompong told the meeting in Phnom Penh that Thailand will not have any problem to withdraw if Cambodia did the same to avoid any confrontation.

Asked whether he will telephone Hun Sen about the issue, Somchai said he will look into details and surrounding circumstances before deciding the next step.

Anupong, PM call urgent meetings on border row

Tuesday, October 14, 2008

(BangkokPost.com) - The Commander-in-Chief of the Royal Thai Army, Gen Anupong Paochinda, on Tuesday morning held an urgent meeting with relevant army officials to discuss the deepening border row between Thailand and Cambodia. The meeting was held at the Royal Thai Army Headquarters.

Prime Minister and Defence Minister Somchai Wongsawat, meanwhile, called another urgent meeting with armed force commanders and officials from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to assess the situation after Cambodia told Thailand to withdraw troops from the disputed border area before noon Tuesday.

On Monday, the Cambodian authority said a "large-scale" armed conflict may happen, if Thai troops fail to be withdrawn from the border area near the ancient temple of Preah Vihear immediately.

In the meantime at Khao Phra Wihan (Preah Vihear) National Park, many Cambodian soldiers with full arms were dispatched near the temple and most of them were former troops of Khmer Rouge who were very familiar with the border surroundings and environment.

Thai armed forces consequently had tightened security around the national park.

However, the Commander of the Second Army Region, Lt-Gen Wiboonsak Neeparn, on Tuesday morning claimed that the situation at Preah Vihear had returned to normal, as troops from both sides engaged in more talks and shared a better understanding.

The Thai soldiers will do their best to protect the country’s sovereignty, Lt-Gen Wiboonsak added.

Meanwhile, Foreign Affairs Minister Sompong Amornvivat affirmed that Thai soldiers were patrolling with the Thai border and did not trespassed into Cambodia's territory.

He said Thai troops will not abandon the border area despite the neighbouring country's threat to launch an offensive attack.

"We are in our homeland. How can they expect us to leave our home," Mr Sompong told the reporter.

The minister believed the border dispute can be alleviated through dialogues between Prime Minister Somchai and his Cambodian counterpart Hun Sen.

Thailand FM has admitted international affairs are not his cup of tea, and it shows ... how can Cambodia expect to negotiate with Thailand?

Sompong: Over-awed

Saturday October 11, 2008
ABOUT POLITICS
Bangkok Post

Diplomatic patois a bit off-key for bemused foreign minister - Prawase refuses to give up his fight for a national unity government - Disenchanted Chavalit refuses to lie down and looks for new roles

The reluctant minister

The appointment of Sompong Amornvivat as foreign minister caught everyone off guard, including Mr Sompong himself.

He had no chance to meet the media after the oath-taking ceremony before His Majesty the King last month because he had to rush off to New York for the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) meeting, his first official engagement outside the country after assuming his ministerial post.

When he was asked by Prime Minister Somchai Wongsawat to become foreign minister, two different thoughts went through his mind.

The offer left him rather confused as to why Mr Somchai offered him the job.

''I will give it a try. If I cannot do it, I will bow out,'' said the minister.

Mr Sompong has admitted international affairs are not his cup of tea, and it shows. He was the first minister in the Somchai cabinet to be criticised by the media about his inaction at the UN.

He was supposed to deliver a speech to the UN General Assembly, but changed his mind and decided not to do it. He came to the decision not to speak after his plane touched down in New York and he also cancelled bilateral talks with more than 20 countries because he said that at the time the government had not yet announced its policy to the parliament.

''When [one is] debating in parliament, the person [from the opposition party] will not consider the content of the speech because delivering a speech in the UNGA session will always involve talking about the country's policies,'' he said.

''To play it safe, I decided not to speak. And in bilateral talks there is always a discussion on policy. I was afraid of making an authorised commitment while policy had not been announced to the parliament yet,'' he said.

''I understand it might be seen as a waste of money [to go to New York and do nothing], but I think doing something we are not confident about could backfire on the government,'' he said.

Mr Sompong, 67, accepts that diplomacy is not his turf - he is more at home dealing with local issues.

''I am inexperienced in foreign issues. So when I talk about international issues, I have to be careful and change the tone of my language,'' he said on his first day in office before meeting a large group of media at the Foreign Ministry after returning from New York.

''Diplomatic language is not music to my ears,'' Mr Sompong, a former justice minister, said.

He said some of the demands of the foreign affairs job worried him.

''It's no piece of cake. I beg to disagree with anyone who thinks this job is easy,'' he said.

Thai FM still hopes to talk to Hor Nam Hong in New York on border dispute

Thai foreign minister leaves for General Assembly late Friday

BANGKOK, Sept 26 (TNA) - Newly-appointed Thai Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Sompong Amornwiwat leaves here late Friday to attend the United Nations General Assembly now taking place in New York.

Mr. Sompong, who assumed his duties Friday, told journalists he would represent the Thai government in addressing the world body which is scheduled on Monday.

He said his speech would not relate to any Thai government policy because the government is scheduled to present its policy to the House of Representatives in Parliament on October 8 and 9.

Major issues to be informed at the UN General Assembly, Mr. Sompong said, are Thailand's current role as chairman of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and talks with Cambodian Foreign Minister Hor Nam Hong on the sidelines of the UN meeting regarding disputed ancient temples on the unclear border of the two neighbours.

Also, Mr. Sompong said he would assure Cambodia as well as other ASEAN members that Thailand could definitely hold an ASEAN summit late this year as planned in this country.

He said he planned to pay official visits to both Cambodia and Laos on October 10 before Prime Minister Somchai Wongsawat visits the two neighbouring countries.

On the sensitive issue concerning revocation of the so-called 'red' or diplomatic passport of ousted prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra, now seeking political asylum in Britain, he said the decision must be made by Mr. Somchai.

Thailand: King endorses new cabinet; Opposition abandons hope for new administration

BANGKOK, Sept 24 (TNA) -Thailand's King Bhumibol Adulyadej on Wednesday gave royal approval to new cabinet under Prime Minister Somchai Wongsawat.

The new cabinet ministers -- most of whom were ministers in the outgoing administration of Samak Sundaravej -- will have an audience with the king for an oath-taking ceremony on Thursday evening at his palace in Hua Hin district before officially undertaking their new duties.

The 61-year-old prime minister, royally appointed Thailand's 26th prime minister last Thursday, will concurrently hold the defence minister's portfolio in the new cabinet.

Surprisingly, former prime minister Gen. Chavalit Yongchaiyudh was appointed deputy prime minister along with Chavarat Charnvirakul, retired Maj-Gen. Sanan Kajornprasart, former banker Olarn Chaipravat, and Sompong Amornwiwat who will also be foreign minister.

Mr. Sompong, justice minister in the outgoing administration, faces an uphill task holding the foreign ministerial portfolio because he lacks international relations experience, and is asked to resolve Thailand's border problem with neighbouring Cambodia and chair the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) until the end of 2009.

Suchart Thadadamrongwej was elevated from deputy finance minister to minister, with Pradit Pataraprasit as his deputy, retaining his post. Another deputy finance minister is Ranongrak Suwanchawee.

Chaiya Sasomsup retained his commerce ministry portfolio as did Pol. Gen. Kowit Wattana who was able to cling to the interior ministerial portfolio but lost his deputy prime minister post in the new cabinet.

Another surprise -- considered unwelcome by some -- sprang up in the new administration when former interior minister Chalerm Yoobamrung returned as public health minister. The outspoken politician with no knowledge of medical affairs is known to be a close ally of ousted, fugitive ex-prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra, now seeking political asylum in Britain.

Former national police chief Pol. Gen. Pracha Promnok was appointed industry minister.

The new cabinet received lukewarm response from opposition Democrat Party leader Abhisit Vejjajiva soon after it was announced on television and radio stations.

Mr. Abhisit said there were hardly any new faces in the new administration and it would be difficult for it to gain confidence from the public which is looking to solutions for the country's prevailing problems.

"Many of the ministers were criticised earlier and they're still in this cabinet," said Mr. Abhisit, adding that earlier criticisms that the cabinet would be formed by those engaged in politics and efficient persons would be left out.

The new cabinet should not think of a honeymoon period because the country is already facing a palatte of problems including floods in widespread parts of the country, political turmoil and economic problems, said Mr. Abhisit.

"Hopes for improvements by the prime minister are misplaced," said Mr. Abhisit, sarcastically. "It's not going to happen,"

No honeymoon [for Somchai Wongsawat]

Even before it is official, the cabinet is coming under strong criticism, despite a plea from Prime Minister Somchai Wongsawat to judge their performance, not the nominations.

Wednesday, September 24, 2008
By Bangkok Post Reporters

Critics ignored a plea from Prime Minister Somchai Wongsawat on Tuesday to give his cabinet nominees time to prove themselves. Their main targets are Sompong Amornwiwat, who is to become foreign minister, and Suchart Thadathamrongvej, who will be promoted to finance minister.

Controversial former interior minister Chalerm Yubamrung will come back into the administration, this time as public health minister.

Prasong Kosittanond, who has been nominated as a deputy interior minister, could stir up trouble in the Puea Pandin coalition party as he is not an elected MP.

On Tuesday, the cabinet list was forwarded to His Majesty the King for endorsement.

The prime minister boasted that all 36 members of his cabinet were well-qualified for their posts, although others might think differently.

"Let's wait and see their performances," Mr Somchai said, adding he could justify the nomination of all his prospective cabinet members.

A source in the People Power party (PPP) said the list was approved by ousted prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra, who wants to curb the influence of the faction led by Newin Chidchob.

Another party source said Mr Sompong was nominated to become foreign minister because PPP core members wanted him to handle hot issues like the Preah Vihear temple and the revocation of Mr Thaksin's diplomatic passport.

Mr Sompong's preference was either staying on as the justice minister or being moved to the Interior Ministry. However, he had to succumb to pressure from inside the PPP, the source said.

Mr Sompong wasted no time on Tuesday in saying goodbye to officials at the Justice Ministry, telling them he was leaving for the Foreign Ministry.

The decision to put him at the Foreign Ministry surprised and worried officials as he has two key issues waiting for him.

He has to resolve the spat with Cambodia over the border dispute and handle Southeast Asian affairs as Thailand now chairs the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean).

Mr Sompong will not have much time to learn about his new job because his first assignment is to attend the United Nations General Assembly in New York and chair an informal meeting of Asean foreign ministers on Sept 29, a Foreign Ministry official said.

Political analyst Panitan Wattanayagorn of Chulalongkorn University was worried about the appointment of Mr Sompong as the foreign minister, given the difficulties of the Thai-Cambodian dispute.

It required a capable person specialising in foreign affairs, the analyst said. He urged Mr Sompong to show his courage by revoking the diplomatic passport of Mr Thaksin.

Historian M.L. Walwipa Charoonroj of Thammasat University said Mr Sompong was not suited to the foreign affairs portfolio. The post required a person well-versed in international policies, not a protector of politicians' interests, she said.

Chart Thai leader Banharn Silpa-archa said he was concerned about Mr Suchart handling finance policy.

When Mr Suchart was a deputy finance minister in the Samak Sundaravej administration he had once criticised the Bank of Thailand, Mr Banharn said. That could lead to problems in the administration.

Mr Chalerm, who was earlier forced out of the interior post by public pressure, has been given some breathing space by health experts.

Kriengsak Watcharanukulkiat, head of the Rural Doctors' Society, said he had no expectations from the new public health minister as the government will not last long. But he said the new minister could be given a chance to prove his qualifications.

Saree Ongsomwang, manager of the Foundation for Consumers, said the new minister in charge of public health had to improve access to medicine and the universal healthcare scheme.

Puea Pandin also had its own problem after the cabinet line-up was completed as the nomination of Mr Prasong could threaten its unity.

Dissident MPs in Puea Pandin warned of turmoil after party leader Suvit Khunkitti nominated Mr Prasong, a non-MP and reportedly the party's financier, to the post of deputy interior minister again.

Yasothon MP Ronritthichai Khankhet said he and the other seven MPs in the party disagreed with Mr Prasong's nomination as he was not an MP and lacked political experience.

The eight MPs are from the Ban Rim Nam faction and another faction led by party-list MP Sarudej Yasawat.

Mr Ronritthichai said the two factions had eight MPs altogether but none of them were included in the cabinet list.

Correction: Sompong, not Chavilit, is the new Thai FM

Sompong, New Thai Foreign Minister

By D.Arul Rajoo

BANGKOK, Sept 23 (Bernama) -- Justice Minister and veteran politician Sompong Amornwiwat is set to helm the Foreign Ministry in Prime Minister Somchai Wongsawat's Cabinet.

The deputy leader of the ruling People Power Party (PPP) told reporters today that Somchai had asked him to be foreign minister in the new Cabinet which is awaiting royal endorsement.

Sompong, 67, one of the front-runners to replace prime minister Samak Sundaravej after he was disqualified by the Constitution Court on Sept 9, said he woul d be ready to assume the post which was last held by former diplomat Tej Bunnag.

Sompong's confirmation today also ruled out former prime minister Chavalit Yongchaiyudh as speculated by the media or former ambassador to France Saroj Chavanaviraj who was nominated by Samak to replace Tej but was left out in the cold after Samak's departure.

Thai officials said Sompong, who hailed from the northern city of Chiangmai, was favoured over other career diplomats due to the party's close link with ousted premier Thaksin Shinawatra.

"In the previous Thaksin government until he was ousted in the 2006 coup, his party was not concerned much with the foreign ministry. But now they need a politician in control as there are lot of issues about Thaksin, his exile abroad and his red (diplomatic passport)," said a government source.

Sompong's immediate task would be to reduce the border tension with Cambodia, as well as taking charge of the country's preparation to hold the Asean Summit in December.

Somchai, a brother-in-law of Thaksin, said the Cabinet line-up had been completed, including nominees from five other parties in the coalition government.

The former judge is expected to hold the Defence Minister post as well.

The new cabinet is expected to have several new faces, including for the coveted Finance Minister post where the current deputy finance minister, Suchart Thadathamrongvech is likely to replace PPP secretary-general Surapong Suebwonglee who declined reappointment due to an ongoing court case.

Suchart is the leader of the Puea Thai, a party formed recently with the aim of absorbing members of parliament from PPP in case the party is disqualified for alleged election fraud.