The New Faces In The Yingluck Cabinet

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The new faces in the Yingluck Cabinet

The Nation

The following are new members of the Cabinet led by Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra.

Nivatthamrong Boonsongpaisal

PM's Office Minister

Former president of the now-defunct ITV television station and deputy chairman of Shin Corporation in charge of the corporation's PR. A graduate in education from Srinakarinwiroj University at Prasarnmit, Nivatthamrong entered politics as a party-list MP candidate last year.

He will be in charge of communications.

Arak Cholatanont

Energy Minister

Studied electrical engineering at Chulalongkorn University. Was board member at Shin Corporation and president of AIS. He was a classmate of Thaksin Shinawatra's economic adviser Boonklee Plangsiri at Chulalongkorn.

Nalinee Thavisin

PM's Office Minister

A Pheu Thai party-list MP and former trade representative of the current administration, Nalinee is regarded as a representative of the 'property-business owners' group, is close to Thaksin and has close ties with some political leaders in Africa.

Natthawut Saikua

Deputy Agriculture Minister

Natthawut is arguably the most popular red-shirt co-leader along with Jatuporn Promphan and perhaps the best orator in the movement. A native of Nakhon Si Thammarat, he studied communications at Turakit Bundit University and furthered his education in graduate level public and private administration at the National Institute of Development Administration.

He is very popular in the Northeast and the North, but his opponents are furious that he once "encouraged" his supporters to set fire around the protest areas if the military launched a crackdown.

Natthawut once won a national debate contest and began his political career at Chart Pattana Party, before it merged with the now-defunct Thai Rak Thai Party, and was active in opposing the September 2006 coup.

Sakda Kongpet

Deputy Education Minister

Studied management at Roi Et Rajabhat Institute and was a member of the province's provincial council.

A four-time MP, Sakda is a key member of the Isaan Pattana group of northeastern MPs. He is best known for accusing Newin Chidchob of "betraying Thaksin".

Sakda's promotion is part of the |northeastern ministerial quota.

Suchart Tadathamrongvej

Education Minister

A leading member of the Pheu Thai Party and a former finance minister during the People's Power government. He studied economics at Thammasat University, and pursued the same field at the London School of Economics and got a PhD in economics at MacMaster University in Canada. Suchart taught at Ramkhamhaeng University and was a deputy rector there.

Tanusak Lekuthai

Deputy Finance Minister

A veteran MP from Uttaridit province, Tanusak began his political career at Prachakorn Thai party before eventually joining Thai Rak Thai. Tanusak studied law at Ramkhamhaeng University and holds a masters in political science from Sripathum University.

Charupong Ruangsuwan

Transport Minister

Former permanent secretary at both the Justice Ministry and Labour Ministry, Charupong was president of the East Asia University. He studied law at Thammasat and holds a masters degree in political science from Chulalongkorn University. He joined the People Power Party after retirement and became secretary of Pheu Thai before last year's general election and acted as the party's manager.

Chatchart Sithipan

Deputy Transport Minister

Studied construction engineering at Chulalongkorn University and did his masters in structural engineering from Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT). Chatchart attained his PhD in engineering from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.

A former rector at Chulalongkorn University and former director of the university's engineering educational service centre, he was also on the board of the MRTA. Chatchart was a former adviser to Thai Rak Thai's deputy leader Pongsak Raktapongpaisarn.

MR Pongsvas Svasti

Industry Minister

A lecturer at Thammasat University and director of the university's College of Social Innovation, Pongsvas studied computer science at Southeast Missouri State University, holds a masters in industrial management from the University of Central Missouri, and a masters in public policy and management from Harvard.

-- The Nation 2012-01-19

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Cabinet reshuffle appropriate: PM Yingluck

The Cabinet reshuffle was appropriate and not about taking turn to be rewarded as critics had claimed, Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra said on Thursday before departing for a visit to the Philippines.

"The reshuffle took place after working for a period of time and was meant to finetune work as the country is undergoing the (flood) recovery efforts," she said.

Yingluck insisted she named her ministers based on individual capabilities, denying the speculation about political rewards.

"The public may not be familiar with some new ministers but their qualifications fit the job given to them," she said.

In regard to concern about the appointment of Air Chief Marshal Sukumpol Suwanatat as defence minister, she said she was confident there would not be any trouble in the government-military ties.

The prime minister defended her decision to bring red-shirt leader Natthawut Saikua into the Cabinet, saying he was qualified for the position of deputy agriculture minister.

"Natthawut is capable and knows the problems of farmers," she said.

She said the appointment of Nalinee Tavisin as PM's Office minister would not impact on her government despite Nalinee being on the visa blacklist of the United States.

Nalinee had passed background checks, meeting all constitutional requirements, she said.

"Nalinee has already explained about the blacklist issue and will speak again (to clear lingering doubts)," she said.

The concurrent appointment of Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister Kitiratt Na Ranong was deemed necessary to spearhead the flood control measures, she said.

-- The Nation 2012-01-19

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Democrat Leader Sees Conflict of Interest in New Cabinet Lineup

The Democrat Party leader has raised concerns that the appointment of a former executive of a company owned by ousted Premier Thaksin Shinawatra as the new energy minister could lead to a conflict of interest, as he has a plan to invest in the energy business in a neighboring country.

Democrat Party leader Abhisit Vejjvia said he is concerned about the appointment of a former executive who worked under the Thai Com Company formerly owned by the Shinawatra family.

This could lead to a conflict of interest, as ousted Premier Thaksin Shinawatra has shown his intention to invest in the energy industry in a neighboring country.

Abhisit expressed surprise at the reassignment of Defense Minister Yutthasak Sasiprapha to a deputy prime minister position, given a recent survey showing a high approval rating for his efficiency in coordinating with different parties.

Abhisit then questioned whether the prime minister has based the reshuffle on appropriateness or on demand from members of her governing Pheu Thai Party.

-- Tan Network 2012-01-19

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PM satisfied with new cabinet line-up

BANGKOK, Jan 19 - Thai Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra on Thursday said she was satisfied with the new cabinet line-up, while reaffirming that the reshuffle was due to suitability for the tasks at hand, not as political rewards.

The premier commented this morning before departing for the Philippines after His Majesty King Bhumibol Adulyadej yesterday endorsed the cabinet reshuffle involving 16 ministerial posts including 10 newcomers and six swapped positions.

Ms Yingluck said the reshuffle was done after the government had worked for a time, and that she wanted to bring in more people with knowledge and the ability to work for national rehabilitation.

She insisted that the reshuffle positions are not political paybacks but have been done for "suitability", saying she believed those who were removed from the list would have no problem.

The prime minister defended her selection on key Red Shirt leader Natthawut Saikua, who now has become deputy agriculture minister, saying the protest leader understood well the agriculture-related works and problems of the farmers.

Regarding news reports that the U.S. Treasury Department in 2008 named Nalinee Thaveesin, newly-appointed as Minister to the Prime Minister's Office, as a crony of Zimbabwean president Robert Mugabe, Prime Minister Yingluck said she believed that was not a problem since Ms Nalinee's qualifications have been examined and verified to be acceptable under the country's Constitution.

"Ms Nalinee will clarify the matter and (I) will instruct the foreign ministry to look into the matter," Ms Yingluck said.

The appointee was reportedly on the list of the US Treasury Department in 2008, which said she and three other persons were a crony of Zimbabwe president Robert Mugabe. She was alleged to have facilitating financial, real-estate and gem-related transactions for the president's wife Grace Mugabe.

Concerning Mr Kittiratt Na Ranong, re-appointed as deputy prime minister and shifted from the commerce ministry to become finance minister, the prime minister said Mr Kittiratt will be in charge of the country' rehabilitation work and macroeconomic policy.

Ms Yingluck said the new position would allow him to directly oversee the matter and his working style is unlikely to be changed.

Following reports that the appointment of ACM Sukumpol Suwanatat as new defence minister replacing Gen Yutthasak Sasiprapa is not appreciated by the top brass, the premier stood firm that her government's policy towards the armed forces remains unchanged.

She said ACM Sukumpol understood well the military work as he himself was also a senior military officer, while the former defence minister, now reappointed as deputy premier, will still supervise national security.

"I am satisfied with the overall picture of the new cabinet," the prime minister stated, asking the public to allow her cabinet members time to work.

Ms Yingluck pledged that the new cabinet will continue working on the economic stimulation and that all ministers have strong determination to do a good job. (MCOT online news)

-- TNA 2012-01-19

[chooka]

Nalinee Thavisin

PM's Office Minister

A Pheu Thai party-list MP and former trade representative of the current administration, Nalinee is regarded as a representative of the 'property-business owners' group, is close to Thaksin and has close ties with some political leaders in Africa.

Yes Robert Gabriel Mugabe the President of Zimbabwe. The last of the Dictators and the leader of the most corrupt nation in Africa. Must have really stood out on her resume.

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Buggins turn next.

Promote people past their limit of capability then move them elsewhere where they also are not capable.