After The War, Begins Battle For The Spoils; Thai Opinion

[webfact]

BURNING ISSUE

After the war, begins battle for the spoils

By Piyanart Srivalo

The Nation

A cabinet portfolio is something like a piece of cake. Many people fighting for power want to have their slice. The situation in the Pheu Thai Party is not an exception as all politicians who claimed to have fought for this victory want to get their share of the rewards.

Many people have their eyes on grade A ministries such as Interior, Finance, Justice, Transportation, Commerce and Agriculture. Some also hope to get the top job in Parliament as House speaker.

The struggle to regain power over the past years has been tough and hard for Pheu Thai and former prime minister Thaksin Shinwatra, the de-facto leader of the party, owes many people a lot for their assistance. In the days of struggle, he promised to reward them, and now the time has come to honour his word. Pheu Thai's candidates on the party list and in the constituencies reflected his willingness to consider them. He promised to give a position in the Cabinet to those who could not be fielded as MP candidates.

Many key men who are in the lower party list and have no chance to be an MP such as Sumet Phomanee, Pichai Naripthaphan, Wallop Suriyasin, Pallop Pinmanee and Torphong Chaiyasan are persons for whom Thaksin has to find something.

However, those people have a problem among themselves: Pallop claimed his share by seeking the defence minister's job while Thaksin reportedly prefers his former classmate Sumet or former supreme commander Mongkon Ampornpisit.

The red-shirt leaders also want some reward for their labours in the bloody struggle against the Abhisit Vejjajiva government. The group has demanded positions in the Cabinet for its heroes such as Natthawut Saikua and Jatuporn Promphan. At least one of them should take the position as a minister at the Prime Minister's Office, they said.

However, many in the red group disagreed with the idea, saying none of them should take up any positions. Freedom-fighters should never be the same persons as those who run the country, they said.

Many people are eyeing the position of House speaker. Among contenders are former deputy House speakers Apiwan Wiriyachai and Somsak Kiatsuranond. Former Opposition whip Witthaya Buranasiri also hoped to get the position but some floated the news that Thaksin wants outspoken Chalerm Yoobamrung to take the job. But it is unlikely Chalerm would want to be the House speaker as he prefers the position of Justice minister.

Sudarat Keyuraphan, a leader of the Bangkok group in Pheu Thai and former deputy leader of the now defunct Thai Rak Thai Party, also wants her camp to have some position in the Cabinet. Like many others, Sudarat is serving out a ban from politics but retains her support to many politicians in the party. She wants Anudit Nakhontap to take a position in the Ministry of Social Security, Public Health or at the Prime Minister's Office.

The Interior Ministry is also a favourite choice for many politicians. Many people in the party have the potential to take the position such as former police chief Pracha Promnok, former central investigative commander Chat Kunnadilok, as well as former permanent secretary of the ministry Yongyut Wichaidit, who is also the leader of Pheu Thai.

Snoh Thienthong wants the Agriculture Ministry for his group although the position was supposed to be allocated to a coalition partner such as Chart Thai Pattana, while the names of Sakda Kongpet, and Suphon Phong-ngam from the Northeastern region have also been floated.

As far as the economic ministries are concerned, prominent economists Olarn Chaiprawat and Supawut Saichua are tipped as deputy prime minister and finance minister respectively.

Deputy leader of the Pheu Thai Prodprasob Surassawadee might take the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment. Thaksin's close associate Niwatthamrong Boonshongpaisarn is widely tipped to be the Prime Minister's Secretary or minister at the PM's Office.

At the end of the day, it is only Thaksin who will have the final say on who should get what.

-- The Nation 2011-07-07

[OzMick]

" Chalerm .................. prefers the position of Justice minister".

I wonder if he could define the word. If nothing else he has a great sense of humour, an exquisite taste for irony, and the hide of a bull elephant.

I know it would be a momentous decision and cause mayhem, but just how much of k. Thaksin's participation in the political process is enough before PTP gets disbanded? Other political figures take their 5 year bans with grace, at least disguising their actions, while Thaksin seems to openly scoff at the courts. Will his popularity allow him to break the law with impunity, again? Or is that still?

[renaissanc]

This is wonderful! Mob leaders and their mob assistant leaders who know nothing about running a Ministry, and who probably only studied at school to Matayom 3, will run a Ministry.

And the Minister of Justice will be someone who used his influence to get one of his sons off the hook after he murdered someone in a night club!

The Minister of Defence will probably be a thug who can fire an M79 gun and throw a petrol bomb. These will be the required qualifications.

"Can anyone here read?" ... "Yes, I can." ... "Right, you helped a lot at Rachaprasong. You can be the Minister of Education."

"Deputy leader of the Pheu Thai Prodprasob Surassawadee might take the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment." He used to be involved with deforestation in the North. he environment will be in good hands!

Thaksinland is going to be a fun and AMAZING place!

[renaissanc]

" Chalerm .................. prefers the position of Justice minister".

I wonder if he could define the word. If nothing else he has a great sense of humour, an exquisite taste for irony, and the hide of a bull elephant.

I know it would be a momentous decision and cause mayhem, but just how much of k. Thaksin's participation in the political process is enough before PTP gets disbanded? Other political figures take their 5 year bans with grace, at least disguising their actions, while Thaksin seems to openly scoff at the courts. Will his popularity allow him to break the law with impunity, again? Or is that still?

Thaksin owns the judges already, I'd say. Those from his mobs who can read, are now changing the laws to suit him

[RogueExpat]

It will be interesting to see how many of the 20 ministerial positions are not filled by gangsters or politicians with multiple skeletons in the closet.

Wiki,

Notice 6 new minstries in 2002. Jobs for chronies.

Edited July 7, 2011 by RogueExpat

[MILT]

" Chalerm .................. prefers the position of Justice minister".

I wonder if he could define the word. If nothing else he has a great sense of humour, an exquisite taste for irony, and the hide of a bull elephant.

I know it would be a momentous decision and cause mayhem, but just how much of k. Thaksin's participation in the political process is enough before PTP gets disbanded? Other political figures take their 5 year bans with grace, at least disguising their actions, while Thaksin seems to openly scoff at the courts. Will his popularity allow him to break the law with impunity, again? Or is that still?

Thaksin owns the judges already, I'd say. Those from his mobs who can read, are now changing the laws to suit him

This is the same approach that got him into all this trouble to begin with. He has no respect for the law or the justice system in Thailand when he is the one facing the courts. It is not hard to read between the lines. Where are all the Pro Thaskin posters now? They bask in their glory of victory but maybe now they see whats is quickly emerging has nothing to do with helping the people of Thailand. It is all about power control, and being on top serving his own self interest. Yes there will be some positive policies that they will implement. Know for sure that some of the people that fought for his cause will be left out to dry and never get a chance. We might at that point start hearing what is really going on. Last thing, I too wonder when will his blatant meddling in the formation and policies of PTP be seen as illegal.