Minister Teerakiat apologizes Gen Prawit over wristwatch remark

 

 

Education Minister Teerakiat Jaroensettasin has offered an apology to Deputy Prime Minister Prawit Wongsuwon over his criticism of the latter’s “borrowed” wristwatch controversy that he made to Thai students and businessmen at the Thai embassy in London last Friday.

 

In his interview with the BBC Thai-language service in London, Dr Teerakiat was quoted to have said that if he was exposed in the media of just one wristwatch, he would have already resigned.  He also said that Thai politicians and top administrators would never resign like Michael Bates who resigned as a member of the House of Lords because he felt ashamed for being late at a parliamentary meeting.

 

The education minister who returned from England this morning (Feb 13) met Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha at the Government House in the afternoon.  He did not attend the cabinet meeting.

 

After the private meeting with the prime minister and Gen Prawit, he told a press conference at the Government House that he had apologized Gen Prawit about the wristwatch remark he made in London, admitting that he broke the etiquette.

 

Full Story: http://englishnews.thaipbs.or.th/minister-teerakiat-apologizes-gen-prawit-wristwatch-remark/

 

-- © Copyright Thai PBS 2018-2-13

he said it so he thought it, might not be etiquette thai style but it was a fair comment and under the circumstances prawit should of resigned or been thrown out, the farce has really shown the junta and buck banana for what they truly represent and it not good viewing :-/

Yea! Sorry you got caught, boss. 

 

Talk about having your cake and eating it. 

17 minutes ago, snoop1130 said:

"After the private meeting with the prime minister and Gen Prawit, he told a press conference at the Government House that he had apologized Gen Prawit about the wristwatch remark he made in London, admitting that he broke the etiquette."

I'd go as far as to suggest that should read:

After the private meeting with the prime minister and Gen Prawit, he told a press conference at the Government House that he had been told to apologize to Gen Prawit about the wristwatch remark he made in London, admitting that he had also be told to say he broke the etiquette.

yeah... Bah Mak to them using the 'etiquette' word.

 

Should have used 'protocol'

 

 

as Teerakiat was a 'pro'  'to'  'col' (call) out the General in the first place!

Its like Basil Faulty don't mention the war I did but I think I got away with it.

                                                                  

Politics here are getting more and more depressing by the minute....

Simply being real, he would have collected 19 watches and then resigned to lead a wealthy life, he was just saying at 19 my boots are full and it seems others have much much larger boots.

4 minutes ago, JOC said:

Politics here are getting more and more depressing by the minute....

Thing is its not politics, its (cant even say on a 99.9999% frang board) its so sensitive..

41 minutes ago, sammieuk1 said:

Its like Basil Faulty don't mention the war I did but I think I got away with it.

                                                                  

It Siberian hamster Mister Fawlty, not election rat.

'Prawit declined to speak to the press - as he had a sore throat' - yes, from that non-existent horrendous pollution in BKK, which the Thai Government tells us is nothing special, perfectly normal - ha ha!

 

Seriously, though, the way these Ruling Class criminals can just refuse to answer any questions - and NOTHING HAPPENS TO THEM - is shocking and appalling.

 

Yet I still meet 'hi-so' (really scum) Thais who think that the junta is doing a fine job. So very, very sad, isn't it? Fortunately, the number of those junta enthusiasts is diminishing by the day. There may prove to be a God in Heaven yet!

Yes. Speaking the truth always breaks etiquette for this self-appointed government.


Sent from my iPhone using Thaivisa Connect

 

1 hour ago, snoop1130 said:

The education minister who returned from England this morning (Feb 13) met Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha at the Government House in the afternoon.  He did not attend the cabinet meeting.

 

After the private meeting with the prime minister and Gen Prawit, he told a press conference at the Government House that he had apologized Gen Prawit about the wristwatch remark he made in London, admitting that he broke the etiquette.

Quickest re-education  session ever. 

 

Interesting to note he didn't say he had changed his views.  

I'll wager even part of Michael Bates full title caused some confusion amongst the top two .. " Why he called Right Honourable and why he resign just for being late " He crazy or something .? 

Not a good time to speak out the truth !!...even for the alumini, intellectuals or honest public figures....!!....Hopefully, things will change for the better...they always do at some point !!

the wristwatch saga rolls on. lying out of the hole in his ass.are the Thai public that fkin stupid. *oh a mate gave me 25 watches, then he dropped dead, bugger, i cant remember his name offhand *  lol !!

"A R S E licker alert"

The Junta has a great sense of humour! Not the one taking flak apologizes, but the one that says he would have done the honourable thing and resigned over this issue. 555555 

Quote

He also said that Thai politicians and top administrators would never resign like Michael Bates who resigned as a member of the House of Lords because he felt ashamed for being late at a parliamentary meeting.

 

It's a pity almost none of them resigned over defrauding the taxpayer via their expense accounts.

Teerakiat eats humble pie after criticising Prawit

By Wasamon Audjarint 
The Nation

 

 

Education Minister apologises after being summoned by Prayut over comments.
 

EDUCATION MINISTER Teerakiat Jareonsettasin offered an apology to a key junta figure yesterday for criticising the latter’s collection of luxury watches, after a short-lived period during which he appeared to be bravely speaking openly about issues confronting the government.

 

Teerakiat also said he would not resign from his post and would continue working with the junta government, which also includes Deputy Premier and Defence Minister General Prawit Wongsuwan.

 

“I apologised to the deputy prime minister for a breach of etiquette. There is no problem between us, at present or in the future,” he said during a press briefing at Government House.

 

“I still maintain 100-per-cent trust in the prime minister and this government,” Teerakiat added. “I have to choose the best way to maintain the government’s stability. You just cannot tender your resignation whenever something comes up. 

“I’m responsible for continuing to work.”

 

It was also a “lesson learned” for him when giving official interviews, he added.

 

However, the minister had considered resigning over the controversy, according to a source from the Education Ministry. 

 

Teerakiat’s press conference was called after BBC Thai published an interview and audio recording on Monday, in which he apparently criticised Thai society in general and Prawit in particular.

 

While attending a reception at the Thai Embassy in London last Friday, the minister said that if he were shown to be inappropriately in |possession of even a single luxury watch, he would step down from his post.

 

Although Teerakiat did not mention a name, it was perceived as a direct attack against Prawit, who has been under pressure after being seen wearing at least 25 expensive watches. As a result, the deputy prime minister has been under fire not only for his unusual wealth but also for allegedly concealing his assets.

 

Prawit did not declare any watches or assets worth more than Bt200,000 when he first joined the government in 2014, but has subsequently told the National Anti-Corruption Commission that he had borrowed the watches from wealthy friends and already returned them.

 

Teerakiat’s remarks came as a shock to the Cabinet, but members of the public generally expressed support for the education minister.

 

Earlier yesterday, Teerakiat stood firm on his comment but reiterated that the matter “should not create further conflicts”.

 

He also admitted that the voice in the recording belonged to him, but said that it had been recorded without his knowledge. Contrary to BBC Thai’s account, Teerakiat said he had raised the point during a one-on-one conversation with a BBC Thai reporter, and not in his speech in front of reception guests.

 

However, he said he did not plan to take further action against BBC Thai.

 

Stonewalled

 

Teerakiat returned from the United Kingdom on Monday and skipped yesterday’s weekly Cabinet meeting, saying he was jet-lagged after his long flight.

 

After arriving at his office in the morning, the education minister refused to speak with the media, while a person who identified himself as Teerakiat’s secretary said in a phone call that the minister “is not comfortable to speak on the matter and will not talk about it again”.

 

Teerakiat kept himself shut in his office for the morning before heading to Government House for a private meeting with Prawit and Prime Minister General Prayut Chan-o-cha.

 

The afternoon meeting, which Prayut jokingly said lasted “five minutes and 15 seconds”, was described by Teerakiat as “the PM being really nice, asking what happened. The deputy PM nodded with acceptance though he didn’t say anything. I feel more relieved”.

 

Prawit also dodged media interviews yesterday, saying briefly: “I have a cough. I can’t talk properly.”

 

Prayut said his Cabinet was still united while encouraging and forgiving each other. “We have to settle all conflicts,” he said.

 

Other Cabinet members yesterday declined to comment on the matter. Some simply walked away when asked by reporters for their opinions.

 

Source: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/detail/politics/30338774

 

-- © Copyright The Nation 2018-02-14

Gen P' must've borrowed one of Prawits sorry Prawits friends chronograph watches to time the meeting to 5 mins and 15 secs .. 

8 minutes ago, webfact said:

EDUCATION MINISTER Teerakiat Jareonsettasin offered an apology to a key junta figure yesterday for criticising the latter’s collection of luxury watches, after a short-lived period during which he appeared to be bravely speaking openly about issues confronting the government.

 

"...after a short-lived period during which he appeared to be bravely speaking openly about issues..."

 

There is the problem; enough of this "bravery" nonsense!

 

Doesn't this guy know that you cannot be 'bravely' speaking about issues? What's next? Will this idiot be saying that the government needs legitimacy? Will he expect ministers to accomplish things? Will he expect the PM to be accountable? Will he be expecting an election?

 

Good thing he got slapped down before it got out of hand...

 

(sorry- there are a few members who might not realize that I am being sarcastic, so...)

 

Edited February 13, 20188 yr by Samui Bodoh
Lack of coffee

He was in London seeing how things work and watching working democracy in action, he got carried away and thought he was free for a moment, he made a mistake and will pay for it.

He only spoke what many are thinking. But he never had permission to and it was against one of the most powerful of Junta members.

 

Sadly, he'll be toast at the next cabinet shuffle and blamed for all sorts of education failures that have been around for decades! 

 

Pity, because he seems like a decent guy.

 

I bet that 5 mins and 15 seconds was the longest in his lifetime! 

I wonder what he was threatened with? Being ostracized, or his entire family?

Why should he apologise for having a view different to Mr Watchsmith ...

More like he was ordered to apologise or he would face the 'adjustment bureau'....long term. 

13 hours ago, Eligius said:

'Prawit declined to speak to the press - as he had a sore throat' - yes, from that non-existent horrendous pollution in BKK, which the Thai Government tells us is nothing special, perfectly normal - ha ha!

 

Seriously, though, the way these Ruling Class criminals can just refuse to answer any questions - and NOTHING HAPPENS TO THEM - is shocking and appalling.

 

Yet I still meet 'hi-so' (really scum) Thais who think that the junta is doing a fine job. So very, very sad, isn't it? Fortunately, the number of those junta enthusiasts is diminishing by the day. There may prove to be a God in Heaven yet!

agreed,  like the use of 'ruling class criminals', nice:

this is what you get when the military is not answerable to the civilian public

11 hours ago, mercman24 said:

the wristwatch saga rolls on. lying out of the hole in his ass.are the Thai public that fkin stupid. *oh a mate gave me 25 watches, then he dropped dead, bugger, i cant remember his name offhand *  lol !!

Most Thais I speak to can see through the lies - they don't believe Prawit's nonsense. There is hope yet!

How many watches does this man have?