PM Abhisit To Take Over Suthep's Security Affairs Post

[webfact]

BY-ELECTION

PM to take over Suthep's security affairs post

By The Nation

Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva said yesterday that he would assume Suthep Thaugsuban's post of deputy PM in charge of security affairs, as Suthep would resign to contest the upcoming by-election in Surat Thani.

When asked whether Suthep would be reappointed to the Cabinet after the election, the Democrat leader said it was "a matter for the future".

Abhisit denied Suthep acted under pressure, but said the social mood had been taken into consideration regarding the decision. In the past there were cases where former Cabinet members from the Democrat Party resigned their posts to contest elections, he said.

"This will be a precedent for the party. Cabinet members disqualified as MPs for unconstitutional shareholding who seek re-election will have to resign their Cabinet posts first. This has always been the practice" for the Democrat Party.

Suthep had said earlier that he would retain his deputy PM's post while contesting the by-election.

He appeared to change his mind after senior Democrats agreed that legal problems could arise if he contested the by-election while retaining his Cabinet position, a Government House source said yesterday.

Abhisit said Suthep would resign his Cabinet post some time before registering his candidacy to contest the by-election.

Candidacy registration is open from October 4-8, and the Surat Thani by-election is scheduled for October 30.

The ruling Democrat Party's executive board convened a meeting yesterday afternoon to endorse Suthep's nomination as the party's candidate in the by-election.

The executive board resolved that Suthep, as the Democrat secretary-general and "the government's manager", needed to be an MP for closer coordination with both the government and the party's MPs and executive members, according to Democrat deputy secretary-general Chamni Sakdiseth, who attended the meeting.

The board did not resolve that Suthep must step down as deputy prime minister before registering his candidacy, but he voluntarily offered to resign "to prevent criticism", Chamni said.

He said he believed that Suthep would be reappointed to his current position after being elected an MP.

Suthep, a former Democrat MP for Surat Thani, resigned his seat in July last year while being tried by the Constitution Court for unconstitutional shareholding. His resignation prompted the court to drop the case against him.

The by-election was called to fill the seat left vacant after Democrat MP Chumpol Kanchana was removed from office by court order for failing to report a debt to the national anti-graft agency.

Chumpol told yesterday's meeting he favoured Suthep as the party's candidate in the by-election because he believed Suthep's election would benefit the country, party deputy spokesman Warong Dejkitvikrom said after the meeting.

Meanwhile, the opposition Pheu Thai Party yesterday introduced Worawuth Wichaidit, a relative of party leader Yongyuth Wichaidit, as its candidate to contest the Surat Thani by-election.

Pheu Thai spokesman Prompong Nopparit said the party's executive board resolved in a unanimous vote to select Worawuth, who was nominated by southern region chief Chavalit Yongchyiyudh, as its candidate.

Deputy party leader Apinan Wiriyachai said Worawuth, a red-shirt leader, was picked because of his fight for democracy. He said the party did not expect to win because of the Democrat Party's strong support base, but it simply wanted to offer itself as an alternative for the electorate.

-- The Nation 2010-09-29

[chantorn]

Dem have no better choice than Suthep?

[RogueExpat]

Dem have no better choice than Suthep?

It's not about who would be a better a choice in Surat Thani, as Surat Thani is a one horse race.

[rubl]

Abhisit denied Suthep acted under pressure, but said the social mood had been taken into consideration regarding the decision. In the past there were cases where former Cabinet members from the Democrat Party resigned their posts to contest elections, he said.

"This will be a precedent for the party. Cabinet members disqualified as MPs for unconstitutional shareholding who seek re-election will have to resign their Cabinet posts first. This has always been the practice" for the Democrat Party.

Suthep had said earlier that he would retain his deputy PM's post while contesting the by-election.

He appeared to change his mind after senior Democrats agreed that legal problems could arise if he contested the by-election while retaining his Cabinet position, a Government House source said yesterday.

Abhisit said Suthep would resign his Cabinet post some time before registering his candidacy to contest the by-election.

Candidacy registration is open from October 4-8, and the Surat Thani by-election is scheduled for October 30.

The ruling Democrat Party's executive board convened a meeting yesterday afternoon to endorse Suthep's nomination as the party's candidate in the by-election.

The executive board resolved that Suthep, as the Democrat secretary-general and "the government's manager", needed to be an MP for closer coordination with both the government and the party's MPs and executive members, according to Democrat deputy secretary-general Chamni Sakdiseth, who attended the meeting.

The board did not resolve that Suthep must step down as deputy prime minister before registering his candidacy, but he voluntarily offered to resign "to prevent criticism", Chamni said.

Don't know the finer details of Thai law, but with K. Jatuporn watching and ready to sue anyone he doesn't like, it seems a good choice for K. Suthep to resign before registering as candidate MP.

But then k. Jatuporn is not easily satisfied. On the 10th of May when k. Suthep reported to the DSI as UDD leaders had demanded initially, k. Jatuporn c.s. changed their mind (again) and said "If he goes there just to listen to his accusations or to have a few pictures taken, then it really means nothing to us. The protesters want police to issue an arrest warrant for Suthep." Maybe he has changed his mind on that by now?

[webfact]

PM Might Also Resume Deputy PM Post if Suthep Resigns

Deputy Prime Minister Suthep Thaugsuban's fate is at a crossroads as the primem minister is asking him to choose between maintaining his deputy prime minister post or competing for the Surat Thani by-election.

The prime minister has prepared for Suthep's likely departure, asking the deputy to list out his responsibilities for which the prime minister will have to take over upon his exit.

Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva has said that if Deputy Prime Minister in charge of the national security, Suthep Thaugsuban, resigned from his candidacy in Surat Thaini's by-election, it will be his duty to take over all of the Suthep's responsibilities, including national security matters.

The prime minister has already asked Suthep to compose a list of his duties.

Abhisit stated that it is uncertain whether Suthep will be re-appointed once the election is over.

Abhisit believes that the reason Suthep is planning to quit has to do with the constituency and local politics in Surat Thani.

He has also pointed out that there have been many Cabinet members who have done the same in the past.

The prime minister also talked about security measures for the prevention of ongoing strings of bombing attacks, indicating that the police are planning to be more aggressive in order to bring those responsible to justice.

Abhist said that he has already been informed of the details of the attack on the Attorney General's Office in Bangkok.

The prime minister has also claimed that based on ongoing investigation, the recent bombing attacks were not isolated and that it is possible they were politically motivated.

When asked about the warning issued by the director-general of the Department of Special Investigation that the attacks will continue on through the year, the prime minister responded that it is the security authorities' responsibility to prevent such thing.

-- Tan Network 2010-09-29

[monkfish]

How did he get the position in the first place??

http://en.wikipedia....thep_Thaugsuban

1995 Corruption Scandal

The Democrat Party won elections in 13 September 1992, shortly after Black May, and formed a government. Suthep became Agriculture Minister. As part of the Sor Por Kor 4-01 (สปก.4-01) land reform scheme, Suthep gave title deeds to 592 plots of land in Khao Sam Liam, Kamala and Nakkerd hills of Phuket province to 489 farmers. It was later found that members of 11 wealthy families in Phuket were among the recipients. Unrepentant, Suthep addressed a huge crowd in his Surat Thani constituency a month before a no-confidence debate and called on his supporters to march on Bangkok in the hundreds of thousands to defend his reputation.^[1] The scandal led Prime Minister Chuan Leekpai of the Democrat Party to dissolve the House of Representatives in July 1995 in order to avoid the no-confidence debate. In subsequent elections, the Chart Thai party won a majority, leading to the downfall of Chuan Leekpai's Democrat Party-led government.^[2]

[edit] 2009 Disqualification as MP

In 2009, Suthep was accused of violating the Constitution of Thailand by holding equity in a media firm that had received concessions from the government. Under the 1997 Constitution of Thailand, which Suthep had supported, Members of Parliament are banned from holding stakes in companies which have received government concessions. In July 2009, the Election Commission announced that it would seek a ruling by the Constitutional Court to disqualify Suthep and 12 other Democrat MPs for having allegedly violated the charter. Suthep held a press conference a day later, announcing his decision to resign from Parliament. Suthep's resignation as an MP did not affect his status as Deputy Prime Minister and as a Cabinet member. If his case had been submitted to the Constitution Court, he would have been suspended from duty as Deputy Prime Minister. He insisted that his resignation was not a proof that he had done something wrong but that he was worried about status as Deputy Prime Minister.

[yesdavy]

PM Might Also Resume Deputy PM Post if Suthep Resigns

Deputy Prime Minister Suthep Thaugsuban's fate is at a crossroads as the primem minister is asking him to choose between maintaining his deputy prime minister post or competing for the Surat Thani by-election.

The prime minister has prepared for Suthep's likely departure, asking the deputy to list out his responsibilities for which the prime minister will have to take over upon his exit.

Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva has said that if Deputy Prime Minister in charge of the national security, Suthep Thaugsuban, resigned from his candidacy in Surat Thaini's by-election, it will be his duty to take over all of the Suthep's responsibilities, including national security matters.

The prime minister has already asked Suthep to compose a list of his duties.

Abhisit stated that it is uncertain whether Suthep will be re-appointed once the election is over.

Abhisit believes that the reason Suthep is planning to quit has to do with the constituency and local politics in Surat Thani.

He has also pointed out that there have been many Cabinet members who have done the same in the past.

The prime minister also talked about security measures for the prevention of ongoing strings of bombing attacks, indicating that the police are planning to be more aggressive in order to bring those responsible to justice.

Abhist said that he has already been informed of the details of the attack on the Attorney General's Office in Bangkok.

The prime minister has also claimed that based on ongoing investigation, the recent bombing attacks were not isolated and that it is possible they were politically motivated.

When asked about the warning issued by the director-general of the Department of Special Investigation that the attacks will continue on through the year, the prime minister responded that it is the security authorities' responsibility to prevent such thing.

-- Tan Network 2010-09-29

Must be very comforting for citizens to hear that the CEO has to ask a VP what his duties are. "I am number one. I am your boss. I hired you. Would you please be so kind as to tell me what your duties and responsibilities are?"

[yellow1red1]

"This will be a precedent for the party. Cabinet members disqualified as MPs for unconstitutional shareholding who seek re-election will have to resign their Cabinet posts first. This has always been the practice" for the Democrat Party.

huh?

His resignation prompted the court to drop the case against him.

HUH?

called on his supporters to march on Bangkok in the hundreds of thousands to defend his reputation

aha!

sheesh if there ever was a time for a fair election, no vote buying.............

btw What minister is charged with airport terrorism?

[asiawatcher]

There is no truth for anyone in Thai politics.

[mca]

"This will be a precedent for the party. Cabinet members disqualified as MPs for unconstitutional shareholding who seek re-election will have to resign their Cabinet posts first. This has always been the practice" for the Democrat Party.

Well that's alright then isn't it. (Do we have a ruefully smiling and shaking the head emoticon)?

Edited September 29, 2010 by mca

[chantorn]

Pass the hot potatoes, and keep the seat warm. PM will be the place holder PM?

Edited September 30, 2010 by chantorn

[Buchholz]

Meanwhile, the opposition Pheu Thai Party yesterday introduced Worawuth Wichaidit, a relative of party leader Yongyuth Wichaidit, as its candidate to contest the Surat Thani by-election.

Pheu Thai spokesman Prompong Nopparit said the party's executive board resolved in a unanimous vote to select Worawuth, who was nominated by southern region chief Chavalit Yongchyiyudh, as its candidate.

Will Red Shirt Leader Worawuth (right) be taking electioneering tips from his fellow Red Shirt Leader, and failed Bangkok election candidate, Korkaew Pikulthong (left)?

and if he is elected, will try to resign from the position as many times (four) as his uncle, Yongyuth Wichadit, has from his position as Pheu Thai Party Leader?