Tej Bunnag Appointed New Thai Foreign Minister

[george]

Tej Bunnag appointed new Thai foreign minister

BANGKOK: -- Tej Bunnag, currently advisor to the Office of His Majesty's Principal Private secretary, was on Saturday appointed Thailand's new minister of foreign affairs, succeeding Noppadon Pattama who resigned mid-July as a casualty of the row over the the ancient Khmer temple of Preah Vihear with Cambodia.

His Majesty King Bhumibol Adulyadej gave the royal endorsement to Mr. Tej as foreign minister Saturday afternoon.

Mr. Tej, a former permanent secretary for foreign affairs, is expected to have an audience with His Majesty the King on Sunday at the palace for a traditional swearing-in ceremony before officially taking up his post.

The most urgent task for the new foreign minister is to hold official talks with his Cambodian counterpart Hor Namhong next Monday in the Cambodian province of Siem Reap regarding the 4.6-square-kilometre contested area at Preah Vihear temple, which gained a World Heritage site listing from UNESCO for the Cambodian government earlier this month.

While hopes are improved for a positive outcome of Monday's talks between the two men, the issue remains complex and emotion-laden for both countries.

The two ministers have had a long acquaintance, including a period during the 1990s when men represented their countries as ambassador to France.

Tej, 64, studied at Oxford and Cambridge and began his career with the Foreign Ministry in 1969.

Mr. Tej was formerly a co-chairman of the Thailand-Cambodia Commission for Promotion of Cultural Cooperation to boost friendship and cooperation between the two countries.

The post of foreign minister was left vacant since Mr. Noppadon resigned on July 14, days after the Constitution Court ruled that his signing of a joint document backing Cambodia's bid to list the long-disputed Preah Vihear temple as a World Heritage site without endorsement by the Thai parliament was in breach of the country's supreme law.

-- TNA 2008-07-26

[george]

Anand welcomes Tej's appointment

BANGKOK: --Former prime minister Anand Panyarachun Saturday welcome the appointment of former ambassador Tej Bunnag as the foreign minister.

He said it was the government's luck to have Tej as the foreign minister.

"The government is fortunate to have Tej as the foreign minister. He lifts the government image," Anand said.

Anand said Tej has good knowledge and background and an outstanding foreign ministry official.

-- The Nation 2008-07-27

[GeorgeKi]

Anand welcomes Tej's appointment

BANGKOK: --Former prime minister Anand Panyarachun Saturday welcome the appointment of former ambassador Tej Bunnag as the foreign minister.

He said it was the government's luck to have Tej as the foreign minister.

"The government is fortunate to have Tej as the foreign minister. He lifts the government image," Anand said.

Anand said Tej has good knowledge and background and an outstanding foreign ministry official.

-- The Nation 2008-07-27

Interesting the closely coordinated reaction from Anand.

[Scott]

Well, one thing is for sure, it doesn't take much to lift this gov't's luck!

[TAWP]

Smart choice. A few more well selected people and no-one will be able to touch them without upsetting both sides of the fence...

[Shah Jahan]

I am ignorant of the details of Thai Politics - but as I understand it - Nopadon and the ENTIRE cabinet were/are Thaksin Appoitease working for the good of Khun Thaksin?

correct?

Now this gentleman; Khun Tej - being appointed is actually NOT a Thaksin appointease and will work for the good of the Kingdom of Thailand?

Is that correct? Or at least the right direction?

[Plus]

Yes.

[Johpa]

Now this gentleman; Khun Tej - being appointed is actually NOT a Thaksin appointease and will work for the good of the Kingdom of Thailand?

Is that correct? Or at least the right direction?

Let's just say that the Bunnag family and the Chakri dynasty have worked co-operatively for many generations.

[jbowman1993]

Now this gentleman; Khun Tej - being appointed is actually NOT a Thaksin appointease and will work for the good of the Kingdom of Thailand?

Is that correct? Or at least the right direction?

Let's just say that the Bunnag family and the Chakri dynasty have worked co-operatively for many generations.

Looks like Johnpa fell out of the idiot tree and hit more than his share of branches on the way down. Violating the #1 rule here in TV>

[Johpa]

Looks like Johnpa fell out of the idiot tree and hit more than his share of branches on the way down. Violating the #1 rule here in TV>

Well the road of life has had its ups and downs and I am sure I have bumped my head plenty of times going in both directions, but at least I have read a number of historical tomes about Thailand, written by both Thais and foreigners, where the influence of the Bunnag family in both the historical times of the absolute monarchy as well as more modern times is openly noted and discussed. One can make the argument that outside the Royal Family, the Bunnag family has been the next most influential family in Thailand over the past two centuries.

Edited July 28, 2008 by Johpa

[samran]

Now this gentleman; Khun Tej - being appointed is actually NOT a Thaksin appointease and will work for the good of the Kingdom of Thailand?

Is that correct? Or at least the right direction?

Let's just say that the Bunnag family and the Chakri dynasty have worked co-operatively for many generations.

In addition some of the current young generati0n of Bunnag lasses are mighty attractive as well....

[Shah Jahan]

Now this gentleman; Khun Tej - being appointed is actually NOT a Thaksin appointease and will work for the good of the Kingdom of Thailand?

Is that correct? Or at least the right direction?

Let's just say that the Bunnag family and the Chakri dynasty have worked co-operatively for many generations.

In addition some of the current young generati0n of Bunnag lasses are mighty attractive as well....

pictures please...

[quiksilva]

The Bunnags are also just about the largest family here, the majority of which have never met. Some are vastly wealthy, whilst others are dirt poor.