Yingluck's Choice Of Foreign Minister Draws Flak

[webfact]

Yingluck's choice of foreign minister draws flak

BANGKOK, Aug 10 - The selection of Pheu Thai deputy leader Surapong Towijakchaikul as foreign minister of Yingluck administration has come under heavy criticism due to his lack of experience in foreign affairs, but he urged the public and ministry officials to give him a chance to work.

Despite criticism that he is unsuitable for the post to represent Thailand to the world, the Chiang Mai MP related of ousted prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra said he welcomed criticism and conceded that he was inexperienced in foreign affairs, but he pledged to work to his best ability.

"I'm confident that I can do the job given that I have full support from the officials and the people," the veteran MP said.

Regarding opposition to his appointment among foreign ministry officials, Mr Surapong said he was new to the job but time will prove himself and it was not hard to learn.

The new foreign minister pledged to speed up working to restore Thailand's relations with its neighbouring countries, Cambodia in particular.

Following the recent bloody clashes in a border dispute between Thailand and Cambodia which left dozens of soldiers and civilians dead, and tens of thousands of villagers displaced in a border dispute, the Cambodian government sent a congratulatory message to Thai Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra, saying it hoped the new government will resolve border issues "more positively than the previous government."

Mr Surapong also promised not to let personal relations with Mr Thaksin affect his work.

In response to the question as to whether he would help bring Mr Thaksin home or return his passport, the new foreign minister said he would study in detail whether what happened to the ousted premier was correct or not. Then he would right the wrong.

Mr Surapong, 58, earned a doctoral degree in engineering from the University of Akron, Ohio, in the United States. He began his political career with the Democrat Party before later switching to the Thaksin camp. The long-time MP served as chairman of the House Committee on Monetary Affairs, Finance, Banking and Financial Institutions. (MCOT online news)

-- TNA 2011-08-10

[SomTumTiger]

I thnk this posting points to who the REAL Minister of Foreign Affairs is -

The right honorable Montenegrin Thaksin Shiniwatra

[Thaddeus]

In response to the question as to whether he would help bring Mr Thaksin home or return his passport, the new foreign minister said he would study in detail whether what happened to the ousted premier was correct or not. Then he would right the wrong.

That makes it sound like he has already made his mind up (or had it made up for him)

[webfact]

YINGLUCK GOVERNMENT

Ex PM critical of new Foreign Minister

ExPM Abhisit Vejjajiva on Wednesday criticised newly appointed Yingluck Shinawatra's cabinet lineup, particularly the foreign minister who he said had no international relations experience and expertise.

Abhisit said Yingluck's selection of Surapong Tohwichakchaikul as foreign minister surprised many, not least because Surapong had repeatedly said he did not want to take the position.

Abhisit was speaking after the new cabinet received the royal endorsement on Tuesday. Yingluck earlier hinted that her foreign minister would be an individual with expertise in international relations. Thus the selection of Surapong, an IT engineer by profession, came as a big surprise and drew strong criticism.

Abhisit warned that if Surapong, who is known to be a strong supporter of exPM Thaksin Shinawatra, still has the idea of helping bring Thaksin back or reissuing him with a Thai passport, there would certainly be a big problem.

"If Khun Surapong were to do this, he would have to have explanation why he decided to do it. Everybody has live to the same standards. No one is above the law," Abhisit said.

Thaksin, brother of Yingluck, is on the run from a twoyear prison sentence for corruption and abuse of power. The Abhisit government had Thaksin's Thai passport revoked and put pressure on the countries in which he had taken shelter, including UAE and Brunei, but to no avail.

Thaksin has travelled to many countries using his Montenegrin passport after investing in business in that country.

Abhisit also referred to Yingluck's first speech after being appointed as PM that she would not do anything for any particular group.

"We will have to keep a close watch on the premier and her cabinet whether they will do what she has promised," he said.

-- The Nation 2011-08-10

[bigbamboo]

In response to the question as to whether he would help bring Mr Thaksin home or return his passport, the new foreign minister said he would study in detail whether what happened to the ousted premier was correct or not. Then he would right the wrong.

That makes it sound like he has already made his mind up (or had it made up for him)

I know this is Thailand but I always thought the judges ranked ahead of politicians. So how can a politician overturn a decision made by the Thai court?

Edited August 10, 2011 by bigbamboo

[hammered]

If Abhisit wants the Dems to do better in the next election he should stop obsessing with Thaksin. Every time he says the name in a negative manner he reminds those he needs to vote for the party not to while at the same time turning off those sick of hearing everything always brought back to Thaksin as more serious things happen such as the price of pork spiralling up.

If PTP want to bring Thaksin back they have to deal with the legal issues otherwise he gets arrested meaning he likely wont come back. There is no need for the opposition to fixate on what is a technical headache for PTP even if they decide to do it. And even an amnesty will have to go through the lower and upper house and the upper house is half stuffed with establishment picks.

[Thaddeus]

In response to the question as to whether he would help bring Mr Thaksin home or return his passport, the new foreign minister said he would study in detail whether what happened to the ousted premier was correct or not. Then he would right the wrong.

That makes it sound like he has already made his mind up (or had it made up for him)

I know this is Thailand but I always thought the judges ranked ahead of politicians. So how can a politician overturn a decision made by the Thai court?

Is this why Thai politicians have started being called 'Law Makers' (a term that I only started seeing quite recently) ...... slide it in gently so to speak.

[hammered]

In response to the question as to whether he would help bring Mr Thaksin home or return his passport, the new foreign minister said he would study in detail whether what happened to the ousted premier was correct or not. Then he would right the wrong.

That makes it sound like he has already made his mind up (or had it made up for him)

I know this is Thailand but I always thought the judges ranked ahead of politicians. So how can a politician overturn a decision made by the Thai court?

That gets you into theoretical issues of democracy and seperation of power but most scholars would see the elected body (parliament) by dint of being elected as having supremacy over the judiciary, certainly in a parliamentary system if it came to a clash between them. However that is unlikely here as a parliament can change law, ammend constitution and theoretically pass an amnesty although the second two are somewhat difficult. This is somewhat different from say the US presdiential system where change is difficult and many would see the supreme court as the ultimate arbiters although didnt the supreme court stop declaring Roosevelts measures unconstitutional after he threatened to appoint extra judges? But things like that aside the elected body that reflects the will of the people is usually regarded as supreme.

[jonclark]

If Abhisit wants the Dems to do better in the next election he should stop obsessing with Thaksin. Every time he says the name in a negative manner he reminds those he needs to vote for the party not to while at the same time turning off those sick of hearing everything always brought back to Thaksin as more serious things happen such as the price of pork spiralling up.

If PTP want to bring Thaksin back they have to deal with the legal issues otherwise he gets arrested meaning he likely wont come back. There is no need for the opposition to fixate on what is a technical headache for PTP even if they decide to do it. And even an amnesty will have to go through the lower and upper house and the upper house is half stuffed with establishment picks.

Price of Pork going up - I blame Abhisit.

As for the legal issues, there won't be any and it will take one brave police chief to order and co ordinate that arrest when he steps off the plane. The amnesty will be steamrollered through parliment, after all this is all about revenge and reconcilation

[Tropicalevo]

In response to the question as to whether he would help bring Mr Thaksin home or return his passport, the new foreign minister said he would study in detail whether what happened to the ousted premier was correct or not. Then he would right the wrong.

That makes it sound like he has already made his mind up (or had it made up for him)

Sadly - you are correct.

They are not even try to hide the fact that it is a done deal.

[Ricardo]

In response to the question as to whether he would help bring Mr Thaksin home or return his passport, the new foreign minister said he would study in detail whether what happened to the ousted premier was correct or not. Then he would right the wrong.

That makes it sound like he has already made his mind up (or had it made up for him)

Sadly - you are correct.

They are not even try to hide the fact that it is a done deal.

Amusing that he hasn't yet studied in detail what happened to the ousted premier, who he is widely-reported to be related-to, and yet describes it as a 'wrong', this guy will clearly make a great international-diplomat, once he's studied-up and overcome his inexperience !

Another highlight of his previous political-career came last April, when he was reported (in the Nation) to have called upon General Anupong to put then-PM Abhisit under house-arrest, in order to help resolve the political crisis. Clearly an early sign of his impressive diplomatic ability, but sadly doomed to failure, as the general failed to follow his suggestion.

[TAWP]

Another highlight of his previous political-career came last April, when he was reported (in the Nation) to have called upon General Anupong to put then-PM Abhisit under house-arrest, in order to help resolve the political crisis. Clearly an early sign of his impressive diplomatic ability, but sadly doomed to failure, as the general failed to follow his suggestion.

So our newly appointed FM was trying to instigate a coup (asking the military to act against the democratically elected Premier is exactly that), interesting. Sure beats holding a speech at the stage at some protest-rally.

[geovalin]

Are we speaking about the Foreign Minister?

So why Abisith does mention Thaksin?

This is not Foreign Affairs but typically internal.

FM has to work with other gvt to improve the disastrous image of Thailand inherited from the Dems.

FM should even not answer questions about Thaskin, he should take the first plane to Phnom Penh and make peace with Hun Sen who asks only that.

[Ricardo]

Another highlight of his previous political-career came last April, when he was reported (in the Nation) to have called upon General Anupong to put then-PM Abhisit under house-arrest, in order to help resolve the political crisis. Clearly an early sign of his impressive diplomatic ability, but sadly doomed to failure, as the general failed to follow his suggestion.

So our newly appointed FM was trying to instigate a coup (asking the military to act against the democratically elected Premier is exactly that), interesting. Sure beats holding a speech at the stage at some protest-rally.

The article (Google Anupong Abhisit house arrest Nation, sorry I'm no good at posting links, too old or Luddite !) says "Surapong suggested for Anupong to step in to restore normalcy but stop short of staging a coup which he said was unacceptable", so no, he didn't call for a coup directly. He covered himself on that. He wanted the PM under house arrest but without a coup.

Pity he didn't call on his distant-relative in Dubai to send his cohorts home, or remain protesting peacefully, to help resolve the situation. Lives might well have been saved.

So clearly then he was a politician, if not a great diplomat, as he now is hopefully.

[Ricardo]

Are we speaking about the Foreign Minister?

So why Abisith does mention Thaksin?

This is not Foreign Affairs but typically internal.

FM has to work with other gvt to improve the disastrous image of Thailand inherited from the Dems.

FM should even not answer questions about Thaskin, he should take the first plane to Phnom Penh and make peace with Hun Sen who asks only that.

"FM should even not answer questions about Thaksin" ?

So the new FM is a distant-relative of Thaksin, has just been unexpectedly appointed Foreign Minister by Thaksin's younger-sister as the new PM, and may be called-upon shortly to decide whether to return one of Thaksin's Thai passports, but isn't to be asked questions on the subject ?

Would that not involve restricting press-freedom, or is one not allowed to ask this, either ?

Edited August 11, 2011 by Ricardo