Bangkok Post
The government has performed well in tackling the economic crisis but is not successful in solving continuing unrest in the far South and corruption problems, Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva said on Wednesday.
Commenting on the government's overall one-year performance since it took office on Dec 15 last year, the prime minister said his administration was in charge when the country had to face the global economic crisis, but the economic policy had allowed the country's economy to recover gradually.
"The economy has become less negative while the number of tourist arrivals continues rising, causing the economy to rebound in a V shape," Mr Abhisit said.
He said unemployment also went down from 700,000-800,000 people in the beginning of this year to 400,000 this month. The unemployment rate nationwide was below 1.2 per cent.
"I am proud of Thailand's unemployment rate. I've frequently attended meetings abroad and world leaders told me that the government has succeeded in overcoming the economic crisis after seeing the unemployment rate moving down to a normal level," he said.
But the global political impasse could impede economic growth next year, he said.
"I won't oppose the parliamentary dissolution proposal because I just want to see the economy moving forward and all political parties abiding by the law," he said. "Other parties must stop all their undemocratic activities."
The prime minister said he was not happy with the situation in the violence-plagued South.
He said the government will continue tackling insurgency problems in the deep South and developing special economic zones in the region.
The southern violence has claimed at least 3,860 lives since the separatist rebellion erupted in January 2004.
"I'm also not happy with how the government is tackling corruption. It must be more stringent," he said.
He said the government had changed the administrators for the self-sufficiency village project to ensure its transparency.
On the Thai-Cambodian diplomatic row, he said the Thai-Cambodian ties were normal until fugitive former Thaksin Shinawatra was appointed as economic advisor to Cambodia's government and Prime Minister Hun Sen. Cambodia's refusal to extradite Thaksin and its criticisms on Thai politics and justice system also made the situation worse.
"The rift between the two countries was not caused by this government, but we have to maintain our stance and restore the pride of the country. We have to solve it through diplomatic channels," he said.
However, former supreme commander Chaisit Shinawatra said he graded the Ahbisit government at only three out of 10 for its first year in office.
Gen Chaisit, an elder cousin of ousted former prime minister Thaksin, also called on the government to call a general election. He predicted the Democrat Party would win less than 100 seats.
The retired senior general suggested the government try to bring reconciliation by seeking ways to hold peace talks with Thaksin.
“The government must be broad-minded and Thaksin justice if it is to achieve this goal," Gen Chaisit said. If the government fails to do this it should let the people who were the root cause of the political conflict hold talks.
Gen Chaisit said he was ready to act as a mediator in truce talks, but he did not think the government would trust him to perform this role.
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