The Generals Hold On

The thousands of Thais who took to the streets in the name of democracy last month had two objectives: to force the resignation of an unelected army officer as Prime Minister and, more broadly, to end the military's dominance of politics. After great bloodshed, the demonstrators won on the first score when Suchinda Kraprayoon stepped down from the premiership. The official count of those killed when troops opened fire on protesters stands at 53 but an Interior Ministry spokesman said last week that more than 500 people are still unaccounted for.

Parliament met the day after Suchinda went into hiding, and it quickly approved a constitutional amendment requiring future Prime Ministers to be elected members of the national legislature. Another provision would limit the powers of the military-controlled Senate. Final action on the constitutional reforms will be taken next week.

Still, the goal of breaking the military's grip on political life is not yet within reach. The leading candidate to succeed Suchinda as Prime Minister is Somboon Rahong, a member of parliament but also a former air force officer. Opposition politicians said he was simply fronting for the supreme commander, Air Chief Marshal Kaset Rojananil, and therefore was unacceptable. They warned that his appointment would set off more street demonstrations. Another potential flash point is the last-minute amnesty Suchinda handed himself and his military cronies, a step many Thais believe is illegal.