Key Justice Posts Have Thaksin Links

[webfact]

Key justice posts have Thaksin links

By Piyanart Srivalo,

Piyanuch Thamnukasetchai

The Nation

The Cabinet yesterday approved a Justice Ministry reshuffle of high-ranking officials, with key positions assigned to those close to fugitive ex-prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra, as expected.

After the transfer orders take effect on October 1, Suchart Wong-anantachai will be the new Corrections Department director-general, a position with the authority to seek a pardon for Thaksin, who was convicted to two years in jail in 2008 in connection with a 2003 land purchase by his then wife. Thaksin has not returned to the country since his conviction.

Such a pardon could be granted through a major amnesty scheme later this year to mark His Majesty the King's 84th birthday.

Suchart handled a party-dissolution case against the Democrats in connection with the TPI company when he was a deputy head of the Department of Special Investigation, before being transferred to the Information and Communications Technology Ministry as an inspector-general during the Abhisit Vejjajiva government.

Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra, speaking after the Cabinet meeting, said the Justice Ministry would have to field any questions as to whether Suchart was being made the Corrections Department chief to help secure a pardon for Thaksin. She declined to comment on the matter herself.

Former Senate Speaker Ukrit Mongkolnawin is the chairman of a new independent body on national justice reform, which will "take a look at legal enforcement under the rule of law", according to the order appointing him.

Seehanart Prayoonrat, acting secretary-general at the Anti-Money Laundering Office, will head this powerful office.

Seehanart was indicted by the National Anti-Corruption Commis-sion for unlawfully inspecting the assets of non-governmental organisations and 200 politicians during one of Thaksin's administrations, but was eventually pardoned in an amnesty marking the King's 80th birthday four years ago.

Deputy national police chief Pol General Adul Saengsingkaew will be acting Office of Narcotics Control Board (ONCB) secretary-general for one year, with a view to putting in place the anti-drug operations promised by Yingluck's government. Adul said he expected no resistance from ONCB officials, as many active police officers had in the past served as its chief without any problems.

The Cabinet also approved reshuffles at the Tourism and Sports, Transport and Agriculture ministries, besides promoting Chattra-phong Chattrakhon to be the new National Intelligence Agency director-general. It also agreed on a number of political appointees. Among them is Pasit Sakdanarong, former secretary to the Constitution Court who was dismissed for involvement in a scandal that tarnished the judiciary's public image. He is being made an adviser to the Public Health Ministry, along with three others.

Pasit had secretly filmed conversations among judges and leaked the clips, which were later used by Pheu Thai to smear the judiciary for unfair verdicts against the then-Thai Rak Thai and People Power parties. He fled the country, before later joining in the red-shirt rallies.

Rights and Liberties Protection Department chief Suwanna Sara-jootha is promoted to the post of deputy permanent secretary. She dismissed reports suggesting her transfer had resulted from her dismay at being criticised for being slow in seeking the release of red shirts from prison, saying that it was the courts that would permit their release.

In the reshuffle, Suphattra Thanaseniwat will be the new Agriculture Ministry permanent secretary, with Suwat Sitthilor set to hold a similar post at the Tourism and Sports Ministry.

At the Transport Ministry, Worradej Harnprasert is the new Civil Aviation Department chief and Somchai Sirichoke is the new Land Transport Department head.

-- The Nation 2011-09-14

[Buchholz]

Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra, speaking after the Cabinet meeting

She declined to comment on the matter herself.

but, of course she did.

Pasit Sakdanarong, former secretary to the Constitution Court

He is being made an adviser to the Public Health Ministry

but, of course by fraudulently attempting to discredit the courts, the former fellow fugitive is rewarded by Thaksin.

It was also revealed that the fugitive Pasit, who surrendered last week, re-entered Thailand in the south without going through immigration.

He'll also need a further assist to get out of LM charges:

2011-04-12

Edited September 13, 2011 by Buchholz

[Bizz]

We may complain the injustice of Crony ism , it is what we live in our own jurisdictions. For me as I'm Irish I can see clearly where this has impacted on our society.

Whereas in our own countries speaking out would get you a news headline. I dread to look at what speaking out here would have.

[webfact]

Justice reshuffle fair and satisfactory: Chartchai

By The Nation

Outgoing Corrections Department director general Chartchai Suthiklom on Wednesday dismissed the allegation that the reshuffle effecting him and other top justice officials had hidden political motive.

"I will not appeal my job assignment since there is no reason to do so as I just got a promotion," he said.

Chartchai said the Cabinet's decision on Tuesday to move him to the position of deputy permanent secretary for Justice was actually a boost in his career.

The Justice reshuffle will take effect on October 1.

He said critics had no justification to claim that he got his new job assignment in order to pave way for a pardon for fugitive former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra.

The processing of the pardon petition filed by the red shirts on Thaksin's behalf was now under the review of Justice Minister Pracha Promnok, he said, arguing the rotations of justice officials would have no impact on pardon review.

"I want to remind parties concerned that the Justice reshuffle was a routine matter," he said, in reference to the new line-up involving him and other seven senior officials.

-- The Nation 2011-09-14

[hammered]

Suchart handled a party-dissolution case against the Democrats in connection with the TPI company when he was a deputy head of the Department of Special Investigation, before being transferred to the Information and Communications Technology Ministry as an inspector-general during the Abhisit Vejjajiva government.

Noting the article highlights a little political punishment by the previous regime. It is one way in which they are all exactly the same although the true converts on both sides dont see it or maybe just dont fess up to it