Many Thai Senators Have Links To Coup

[webfact]

ANALYSIS

Many senators have links to coup

By ATTAYUTH BUTRSRIPOOM,

PRAPASRI OSATHANON,

PRAPHAN CHINDALERT-UDOMDEE

THE NATION

The opposition Pheu Thai Party branded them the "Demon Babies" - and the list of 73 newly chosen senators announced by the Election Commission yesterday did include many with strong links to the 2006 coup-makers' Council for National Security and defectors from Thaksin Shinawatra's group.

But the group was not deterred.

Registering at Parliament, General Somjet Boonthanom said he was proud to be selected. He could not deny his military soul but would prove his contribution to the country through his works.

"I would like to [be involved in] all senatorial work and I will do everything not to let bad people get a chance to administrate the country," he said.

Somjet was head of the CNS secretariat.

The EC yesterday endorsed the appointed senators chosen by the constitutional senator selection committee. The senators' terms will last six years while the current elected senator's terms end in the next three years.

Pheu Thai spokesman Prompong Nopparit said the selection was a result of the "Demon Baby" 2007 Constitution which emerged from the 2006 coup.

This Constitution marked seven members of the selection committee: Constitution Court president Chut Chonlavorn, Election Commission chairman Apichart Sukhagganond, Chief Ombudsman Pramote Chotemongkol, National Anti-Corruption Commission chairman Panthep Klanarongran, Supreme Court Justice Montri Sriiamsa-ard and Supreme Administrative Court Justice Kasem Komsattham.

Acting State Audit Commission chairman Pisit Leelavachiropas was supposed to be on the committee but excused himself to avoid problems related to controversy surrounding his holding of the post.

Kamnoon Sidhisamarn and Somchai Swangkarn were re-appointed.

Although they had a close relationship with the yellow-shirt People's Alliance for Democracy, like other members of the "40 Senators Group," they proved their performance against the old power group in the last term. Businessmen like Boonchai Chokwatana also had a close relationship with the CNS.

Selected senator and legal expert Sak Korsaengruang is the only member of the Assets Examination Committee, the panel investigating irregularities in the Thaksin Shinawatra government. He was marked for the post while tougher members, like former AEC chairman Nam Yimyam and Udom Fuangfung did not get in.

Some selected senators can be closely linked to government coalition parties. Admiral Sithawat Wongsuwan is a younger brother of Defence Minister Prawit who is close to the Bhum Jai Thai Party. Police General Pichit Kuandechakupt is also close to another brother, Pol General Patcharawat, who supports the recently founded Rak Santi Party.

Some names come from groups once closely related to Thaksin and Pheu Thai but who switched sides. Besides Som Jatusripitak - brother of former Thaksin close-aide Somkid, Police General Wongkot Maneerin, husband of Sirikorn, former deputy education minister under Thaksin, is another example. In the later period of the Thaksin government their political role faded. Reports say if Sirikorn returned to politics, the party she chose would no longer be Pheu Thai.

Likewise, the appearance of Watchara Tantranont's name in the Senate has signalled that no one in the Tantranont family- a big business clan in Thaksin's hometown Chiang Mai - is likely to represent the Pheu Thai Party in the upcoming election.

Among famous candidates |not selected as appointed senators were former Royal Thai Navy |commander Admiral Sathiraphan Keyanont, former Department of Special Investigation director-general Pol General Noppadol Som-boonsap, former National Anti-Corruption Commission member Krirkkiat Pipatseritham, former senators Sophon Suphapong and Wallop Tangkananurak.

Outgoing appointed senators who were nominated but not selected included Ruangkrai Leekitwat-tana, and General Lertrat Ratana-vanich.

The 73 appointed senators

1. Assoc. Prof. Kobkul Phancharoenworakul

2. Kirana Sumawong

3. General Kasemsak Plooksawat

4. Kamnoon Sidhisamarn

5. Police General Jongrak Juthanon

6. Jaktham Thammasak

7. Jarupong Geenapan

8. Jetn Sirathranont

9. Air Vice Marshal Chalermchai Kruangam

10. ACM Chalee janruang

11. General Chuchart Suksa-nguan

12. Dej-Udom Krairit

13. Professor Trungjai Buranasompob

14. Tuang Untachai

15. Thavorn Leenutaphong

16. Assoc. Prof. Tassana Boontong

17. Thawat Bovonvanitkul

18. Thanee On la-iad

19. General Teeradej Meepien

20. Thira Suwankul

21. Assoc. Prof Narewan Jintrakran

22. Ninlawan Petcharaburanin

23. Boonchai Chokwatana

24. Porathep Sujaritkul

25. Prajit Rojanaphruk

26. Pravit Jantraprapawat

27. Prasong Thanmaneewatthana

28. Prasong Nurack

29. Prasongsak Boondech

30. ML Preeyaphan Sridhavaj

31. Panya Benjasiriwan

32. Piyapan Nimanhemin

33. Assoc. Prof Porapan Punyaratabandhu

34. Police General Pichit Kuandechakupt

35. Pichet Soontornpipit

36. Philaipan Sombatsiri

37. Pisit Ketpasuk

38. Penpak Srithong

39. Monthian Buntan

40. Mahanop Dejwithak

41. Pol. Lt. Gen. Yootana Thaipakdi

42. Yuwadee Nimsomboon

43. General Ratchakij karnjanarat

44. GeneralLertrit Vejsawan

45. Police General Wongkot Maneerin

46. Watchara Tantranont

47. Wanchai Sornsiri

48. Wichai Prisangob

49. Wicharn Sirichai-Ekawat

50. Assoc. Prof Vichuda Rattanapian

51. Witawad Boonyasatid

52. Wiboon Kuhiran

53. Professor Viratt Panichabhongse

54. ACM Weerawit Kongsak

55. M.R.L. Wutilert Devakul

56 Admiral Sithawat Wongsuwan

57. Srisuk Rungvisai

58. Pol. Col. Sontaya Sangphow

59. Professor Som Jatusripitak

60. General Somjet Boonthanom

61. Somchai Swangkarn

62. Somboon Ngamlak

63. Sompol Panmanee

64. Maj General Somyod Deemak

65. Samack Chouvaparnante

66. Sak Kosaengreung

67. Sutham Pantusak

68. Sunan Singsomboon

69. Surachai Liengboonlerschai

70. Admiral Surasak Sri-arun

71. Anothai Rittiphanyawong,

72. Rak Niyomvaj

73. Anusart Suwanmongkol

-- The Nation 2011-04-13

[geriatrickid]

Ohhhh. Is that why they are such fervent defenders of the current Abhisit administration?

[khaowong1]

I don't understand... So you can be elected to public office and still be in the military or on the police force. Isn't this kinda like buying a fox to guard the hen house? at least a conflict of interest?

[londonthai]

in many parliamentary democracies senators are elected by the popular vote and not selected or co-opted.

still, the second chamber is an anti-democratic set up, for veteran politicians, to guard the state and the status quo

[Soutpeel]

in many parliamentary democracies senators are elected by the popular vote and not selected or co-opted.

still, the second chamber is an anti-democratic set up, for veteran politicians, to guard the state and the status quo

Bit like the house of lords in the UK.....

[anterian]

in many parliamentary democracies senators are elected by the popular vote and not selected or co-opted.

still, the second chamber is an anti-democratic set up, for veteran politicians, to guard the state and the status quo

Bit like the house of lords in the UK.....

the House of Lords has four components, Lords ancestral, Lords spiritual, Law Lords and life peers. Their political affiliations are also split 4 ways, Conservative, Labour, Libdem and Independent. Thus they cannot be compared to the Thai structure which is predominantly monolithic and politically uniform.

Edited April 13, 2011 by anterian

[SICHONSTEVE]

I don't understand... So you can be elected to public office and still be in the military or on the police force. Isn't this kinda like buying a fox to guard the hen house? at least a conflict of interest?

It's always been like this in Thai politics - Nepotism is a by-word, look no further than Thaksin's family involvement (even his brother-in-law Somchai Wongsawat was annointed prime minister after Thaksin's fall from grace) not that it lasted long thanks to the PAD's determination to terminate all things PPP (how they love their initials)!!! It is ironic that they are trying EVEN HARDER it seems to turf out Abhisit although their sway doesn't hold firm anymore and they are in a similar position to the Red Shirts now ie: ineffectual and obsolete, as pressure groups go.

[SteeleJoe]

So you can be elected to public office and still be in the military or on the police force.

No, that's definitely not possible. Well, except that the vast majority of Thailand's PMs (including Big T) were.

A conflict of interest? In Thai politics? No. Never.

[Oberkommando]

Jobs for the boys.

[animatic]

in many parliamentary democracies senators are elected by the popular vote and not selected or co-opted.

still, the second chamber is an anti-democratic set up, for veteran politicians, to guard the state and the status quo

Bit like the house of lords in the UK.....

Exactly. Except no Lordships handed down hereditarily.

[animatic]

So you can be elected to public office and still be in the military or on the police force.

No, that's definitely not possible. Well, except that the vast majority of Thailand's PMs (including Big T) were.

A conflict of interest? In Thai politics? No. Never.

Most ALL Thai males have been in the military.

Army generals get rotated out, and retired, but being men of action

or at least a need to control things, they gravitate to politics.

Same with retired police generals etc.

For many the kow tow aphrodisiac need for being a boss over others, stops getting scratched after retirement, and it seems to eat at them till they find another power structure to coast along in.

Edited April 13, 2011 by animatic

[whybother]

Many Thai senators have links to the coup.

Many Thai senators don't have links to the coup.

[SteeleJoe]

Most ALL Thai males have been in the military.

Army generals get rotated out, and retired, but being men of action

or at least a need to control things, they gravitate to politics.

Same with retired police generals etc.

For many the kow tow aphrodisiac need for being a boss over others, stops getting scratched after retirement, and it seems to eat at them till they find another power structure to coast along in.

You honestly think that explains the role of the military in Thai politics? (No offense, I think historically speaking there's considerably more to it. And Most ALL(sic)? I think might be overstating it.)

[animatic]

Most ALL Thai males have been in the military.

Army generals get rotated out, and retired, but being men of action

or at least a need to control things, they gravitate to politics.

Same with retired police generals etc.

For many the kow tow aphrodisiac need for being a boss over others, stops getting scratched after retirement, and it seems to eat at them till they find another power structure to coast along in.

You honestly think that explains the role of the military in Thai politics? (No offense, I think historically speaking there's considerably more to it. And Most ALL(sic)? I think might be overstating it.)

Mandatory conscription, or have you forgotten.

A few can get around it, but in general all males get some army service.

The lure of power is great.

And keeping face by maintaining power is part of an old generals inner make up.

It might be hard to find people with out some links to the coup if they don't side with Thaksins side. And the question also is who is willing and motivated to take the position. No doubt it IS an old boys club. And I would expect they are stacking it to counter a potential PTP win by Thaksin's stacked deck.

[SteeleJoe]

Mandatory conscription, or have you forgotten.

A few can get around it, but in general all males get some army service.

No, I haven't forgotten. I can't remember the percentages but I still think you are overstating things somewhat (I think not much more than half of military age Thai men are conscripted but I can't swear to that. And more than few get around it I think)*. One also has to consider just what constitutes "some army service"("it's similar to the idea of most Thai males spending some time as a monk: that by certainly doesn't mean that most Thai males are "monkish" or particularly spiritually enlightened. Nor do most of them consider themselves military men)

And it's not the conscripts who are winding up powerful generals.

The lure of power is great.

And keeping face by maintaining power is part of an old generals inner make up.

Again, I personally feel you are oversimplifying a bit. And that you have cause and effect in reverse order (ie What, in so many cases, is the reason Thai men often chose a a career as a military officer?)

*EDIT TO ADD: Are you aware that it's a lottery?

Edited April 13, 2011 by SteeleJoe

[ib1b4]

I don't understand... So you can be elected to public office and still be in the military or on the police force. Isn't this kinda like buying a fox to guard the hen house? at least a conflict of interest?

Sorry to disallusion you but they were not elected by the peoples vote . they are appointed to that position ,

[SteeleJoe]

Geez, I came back to the computer this is on the screen and I see left out a huge part of what I should have said earleir. What a dunce:

Quote

The lure of power is great.

And keeping face by maintaining power is part of an old generals inner make up.

You say they want political power because of face and having grown accustomed to power in the military. Well, as I rhetorically asked before, what, in so many cases, is the reason Thai men often chose a a career as a military officer? But what I also should have asked is, how is that they have been so successful at attaining that political power? Anything to do with the fact that were/are senior officers in the military? (We'll leave aside the fact that their political activities begin while still serving and the fact that by no means do they generally have some sort of gap where they are retired and decide to then get into politics)

Edited April 13, 2011 by SteeleJoe

[Buchholz]

I don't understand... So you can be elected to public office and still be in the military or on the police force. Isn't this kinda like buying a fox to guard the hen house? at least a conflict of interest?

None of them are still in the police or military.

They are all "former", eg. Police Lieutenant-Colonel Thaksin or Police Captain Chalerm.

[Buchholz]

I don't understand... So you can be elected to public office and still be in the military or on the police force. Isn't this kinda like buying a fox to guard the hen house? at least a conflict of interest?

Sorry to disallusion you but they were not elected by the peoples vote . they are appointed to that position ,

Yes, by committee.

The committee is made up of a variety of people in various positions.

President of the Constitutional Court

Chairman of the Election Commission

Chairman of the State Audit Commission

A Judge in the Supreme Court of Justice holding office not lower in rank than Judge of the Supreme Court of Justice as entrusted by the general assembly of the Supreme Court of Justice.

A Judge of the Supreme Administrative Court as entrusted by the general assembly of judges of the Supreme Administrative Court.

btw, the committee is the same committee that appointed the current senators.

[zzaa09]

Ohhhh. Is that why they are such fervent defenders of the current Abhisit administration?

Odd bedfellows. You know that is.....Thainess.:jap:

[SICHONSTEVE]

I don't understand... So you can be elected to public office and still be in the military or on the police force. Isn't this kinda like buying a fox to guard the hen house? at least a conflict of interest?

Sorry to disallusion you but they were not elected by the peoples vote . they are appointed to that position ,

Whilst it is true that these particular senators have been selected by the senator selection committee - this number is just UNDER half of the comprised house of senators. This is according to the following quote from Wikipedia.

76 Senators are directly elected from the 75 provinces of Thailand and Bangkok. while the other 74 are appointed from various sectors by the Senate Selection Committee. The Senate operates under fixed terms of six years.

[rogerdee123]

in many parliamentary democracies senators are elected by the popular vote and not selected or co-opted.

still, the second chamber is an anti-democratic set up, for veteran politicians, to guard the state and the status quo

Bit like the house of lords in the UK.....

the House of Lords has four components, Lords ancestral, Lords spiritual, Law Lords and life peers. Their political affiliations are also split 4 ways, Conservative, Labour, Libdem and Independent. Thus they cannot be compared to the Thai structure which is predominantly monolithic and politically uniform.

lordy ..... lordy ......

[SICHONSTEVE]

in many parliamentary democracies senators are elected by the popular vote and not selected or co-opted.

still, the second chamber is an anti-democratic set up, for veteran politicians, to guard the state and the status quo

Bit like the house of lords in the UK.....

the House of Lords has four components, Lords ancestral, Lords spiritual, Law Lords and life peers. Their political affiliations are also split 4 ways, Conservative, Labour, Libdem and Independent. Thus they cannot be compared to the Thai structure which is predominantly monolithic and politically uniform.

lordy ..... lordy ......

And the house of Lords is completely UNDEMOCRATIC without a single elected member (currently there are 792 members either appointed or hereditary (wasters or old duffers out of touch with modern life whose primary purpose seems to be to obstruct parliament in the name of scrutiny)). At least a majority of the Thai senators are elected in some form by all of the 75 provinces and Bangkok.

You can be the judge as to which system is more accountable to the people!!!

[rogerdee123]

Maybe it's my songkran stupor .... but why anyone cares about this headline is beyond me.

Probably many of them also have links to Thaksin ... Big Jew ... Chamlong ..... Arthit ... Kringsak .... Prem ... etc etc ... which date on the calendar should we look at to determine who they support and by the way ... what difference does it make? Most of these people change their political affiliations like they are changing shirts. Which way will the wind be blowing next year?

A rhetorical question may be which coup are we talking about? But before you flame me ... I know I know I know. But the point is probably everyone in Thailand has supported a coup at one time in their lives .... and same same .... everyone has been against a coup. It's more a question of .... "what will this coup do for me?".

sorry for the cynicism .... hmmm ....have another beer ..... sabaidii pii mai !