Anand Panyarachun

In a move apparently aimed at averting further bloodshed in Thailand, a respected businessman was named caretaker prime minister Wednesday instead of the candidate who had the tacit backing of the military. State television's announcement that King Bhumibol Adulyadej had appointed as prime minister Anand Panyarachun, who served in the job after a military coup last year, was a political surprise.

No matter who emerges as prime minister after Thailand's national elections Sunday, the nation's most respected leader won't be in the government. "I'm not cut out to be a public figure," outgoing Prime Minister Anand Panyarachun said in an interview Friday night as his second brief term as Thailand's highly popular head of government drew to a close. Many Thai commentators have described Anand as the most effective leader in modern Thai history.

No matter who emerges as prime minister after Thailand's national elections Sunday, the nation's most respected leader won't be in the government. "I'm not cut out to be a public figure," outgoing Prime Minister Anand Panyarachun said in an interview Friday night as his second brief term as Thailand's highly popular head of government drew to a close. Many Thai commentators have described Anand as the most effective leader in modern Thai history.

In a move apparently aimed at averting further bloodshed in Thailand, a respected businessman was named caretaker prime minister Wednesday instead of the candidate who had the tacit backing of the military. State television's announcement that King Bhumibol Adulyadej had appointed as prime minister Anand Panyarachun, who served in the job after a military coup last year, was a political surprise.

This nation's military rulers Saturday named a former ambassador to the United States to serve as Thailand's interim civilian prime minister until elections are organized for a new Parliament. The prime minister designate is Anand Panyarachun, 58, a prominent Thai businessman who heads the Federation of Thai Industries. Before moving into the private sector he had a successful career as a diplomat and was permanent secretary of the foreign ministry after serving as the ambassador to Washington.

Interim Prime Minister Anand Panyarachun announced Monday that Parliament will be dissolved today and general elections will be held Sept. 13.

President Bush will meet with Thai Prime Minister Anand Panyarachun here Dec. 17 to discuss the Cambodian peace settlement and other issues, the White House said Wednesday.

Thai Airways International Ltd. has postponed its decision on whether to order six additional Boeing 777s and seven Airbus Industrie A330s. Thai Airways told the Thailand stock exchange that its board agreed last week to defer booking the planes for an unspecified time.

A U.N. committee on Friday issued a resolution expressing great concern over Myanmar's "grave human rights situation." The resolution was adopted by consensus in the Third Committee, which considers human rights and social issues, despite objections by diplomats in Myanmar that it constitutes interference in internal affairs. The resolution also welcomes the award of the 1991 Nobel Peace Price to human rights champion Aung San Suu Kyi.

This nation's military rulers Saturday named a former ambassador to the United States to serve as Thailand's interim civilian prime minister until elections are organized for a new Parliament. The prime minister designate is Anand Panyarachun, 58, a prominent Thai businessman who heads the Federation of Thai Industries. Before moving into the private sector he had a successful career as a diplomat and was permanent secretary of the foreign ministry after serving as the ambassador to Washington.

Thailand's prime minister has ordered the completion of a natural gas pipeline between Thailand and Burma, long stalled by human rights and environmental groups, newspapers reported Sunday. Premier Chuan Leekpai halted work on the project after protests by environmental activists, who say the pipeline will destroy areas of Thailand's remaining virgin forest and endanger wildlife. Some have been camping out in the forest for two months to block construction.

For four days last May, hope for democracy in Thailand appeared doomed. Soldiers in Bangkok turned their guns on unarmed demonstrators protesting against the appointment of a military official as prime minister. The showdown ended in the slaughter of at least 50 civilians; hundreds of other demonstrators are still missing. Today, amazingly, Thailand--a U.S. ally and significant player in Southeast Asia--has a new "pro-democracy" government, elected by the people last month.