Deputy PM Suthep won't accept CRES chief post

BANGKOK, Nov 20 -- Re-appointed Deputy Prime Minister Suthep Thaugsuban said Saturday that he would be responsible for national security affairs only and would not accept the post as head of the Centre for the Resolution of the Emergency Situation (CRES), the post that he had held previously before his resignation and to contest a by-election in the southern province of Surat Thani.

Mr Suthep, who was elected Oct 30 and was received in an audience with Thailand's revered monarch, King Bhumibol Adulyadej, to be sworn in on Friday, said Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva had told him beforehand that government officials were preparing the order naming the reinstated minister as being responsible for national security and supervising the Royal Thai Police Bureau.

Mr Suthep quoted the prime minister saying that Defence Minister Gen Prawit Wongsuwan will continue as CRES chief as he has performed well in his duty.

Apart from overseeing national security affairs, Mr Suthep said he had requested the prime minister to help provide rehabilitation to flood victims, to which the premier agreed.

Meanwhile, Mr Abhisit said he would consult with Gen Prawit late Saturday in which he planned to appoint Mr Suthep to become an adviser to CRES.

The prime minister said Mr Suthep would also be in charge of rehabilitation programmes, conducted by both the interior and defence ministries, for providing shelter to flood victims
whose homes were destroyed in recent floods that had devastated provinces mostly in the Central, Northeast and Southern regions. (MCOT online news)