Conflict Of Interest?

[RueFang]

Does Thailand not have such a thing in the political world regarding conflict of interests? Taksin's lawyer is now the Foreign Minister! Thinking about Taksin's Singaporean multibillion dollar deal whilst still PM, I'm guessing there's no such thing in Thailand. Do other people feel physical pain watching the news these days? I cringe every time I see Samak talking and every mention of a new minister that has a dodgey past get signed in.

[meom]

They're all endorsed by the man at the top so I guess that makes it alright then.

[sriracha john]

Does Thailand not have such a thing in the political world regarding conflict of interests? Taksin's lawyer is now the Foreign Minister! Thinking about Taksin's Singaporean multibillion dollar deal whilst still PM, I'm guessing there's no such thing in Thailand. Do other people feel physical pain watching the news these days? I cringe every time I see Samak talking and every mention of a new minister that has a dodgey past get signed in.

Indeed, Thailand does have a conflict of interest law. It is what Thaksin and his wife are charged with in their first arrest warrant. With the new constitution, there are even stricter laws .

It's causing much stress to the new government and they've also stated it's one of the first amendents to the constitution that they plan to make.

From:

http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/index.php?sh...=160602&st=

Prosecutors Vow To Arrest Thaksin Upon His Return To Thailand

Thaksin and his wife face corruption and conflict of interest charges in connection with her purchase of land bought from a state agency in 2003. Thaksin also faces charges of concealing assets in a separate case.

- Associated Press

From:

http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/index.php?sh...=168077&st=

New Cabinet Appointed

Surapong's abilities in doubt

PM Samak Sundaravej admitted for the first time yesterday that his PPP-led government could not find qualified candidates for the Finance Ministry portfolio, which was turned down by outsiders. As he was trying to curb growing doubts about the qualifications of Finance Minister Surapong Suebwonglee, his cabinet ministers ushered in their first day at work by bringing back the populist platforms of the Thaksin Shinawatra government and also giving the nod to big-budget megaprojects. Samak said many people approached by the PPP showed no interest in the top job at the Finance Ministry. "So we ended up choosing someone who can do the job with back-up from a team of six or seven people," he said. The team's identity could be revealed if they are not affected by this law [conflict of interest law], he said. Those affected by the law would provide ''secret advice'' without making public their names.

Continued here:

http://www.bangkokpost.net/News/08Feb2008_news01.php

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Transparency??? what's that????

From the same thread:

Samak Cabinet starts work

PM's Office Minister Choosak Sirinin said he believed he would be given responsibility to oversee agencies that involve legal work such as the Council of State, Office of the Civil Service Commission.

Asked if he thought about amending legislation that prevent ministers from having conflict of interest, he said he would make the decision after the law took effect.

He said the government would soon appoint a panel to consider Constitution amendment.

- The Nation

Edited February 8, 2008 by sriracha john

[chevykanteve]

Does Thailand not have such a thing in the political world regarding conflict of interests? Taksin's lawyer is now the Foreign Minister! Thinking about Taksin's Singaporean multibillion dollar deal whilst still PM, I'm guessing there's no such thing in Thailand. Do other people feel physical pain watching the news these days? I cringe every time I see Samak talking and every mention of a new minister that has a dodgey past get signed in.

Conflicts of interest in Thailand? There are many examples. For instance, coup leaders and/or cronies thereof who suddenly became directors of state enterprises; the many millions of baht in taxpayers' money expended by and for the people who set the coup into motion, etc. I suppose that if the majority of the voters of Thailand hadn't elected the PPP, I too would have felt "physical pain", only in terms of watching Abhisit's new ministers getting "signed in" and having to endure a continuation of the Bangkok "elitist morality" and its self-serving, hypocritical Weltanschauung.

[sriracha john]

Does Thailand not have such a thing in the political world regarding conflict of interests? Taksin's lawyer is now the Foreign Minister! Thinking about Taksin's Singaporean multibillion dollar deal whilst still PM, I'm guessing there's no such thing in Thailand. Do other people feel physical pain watching the news these days? I cringe every time I see Samak talking and every mention of a new minister that has a dodgey past get signed in.

Conflicts of interest in Thailand? There are many examples.

such as today's offering...

Drafters of the 2007 Constitution who introduced rules on conflict of interest had caused trouble for the new government, Prime Minister Samak Sundaravej said yesterday.

"What is written in the Constitution has damaged the families [of Cabinet members]," he said after the first Cabinet meeting.

More:

http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/index.php?s=...t&p=1808946

[RueFang]

Thanks for those links John. Poor Samak having constitution issues. Guess he just has to change it though since all it takes is a bit of hand raising.

[chevykanteve]

They're all endorsed by the man at the top so I guess that makes it alright then.

The "endorsement" is pro-forma, but didn't that apply to the coup leaders/their puppet government as well?