PM Yingluck Backs Nalinee Despite US Blacklist

[webfact]

PM backs Nalinee despite US blacklist

The Nation

Appointment is constitutional, does not harm image of Cabinet: Yingluck

Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra yesterday defended the appointment of Nalinee Taveesin as a PM's Office Minister, although the United States stood its ground on the new Cabinet member's inclusion in a blacklist due to alleged business connections with the Zimbabwean regime.

The US Embassy declined direct comment on Nalinee, but a spokesperson said the blacklist that bore her name has not expired. The blacklist, which can be accessed online, remained unchanged.

Information provided by the embassy in relation to the blacklist showed Nalinee faces tough sanctions that practically prevent her from conducting any financial transactions with US citizens, companies, their representatives or branches.

How that tough law would affect Nalinee's political status remains to be seen, but Yingluck insisted that, as of now, the new Cabinet member remains qualified for the position of PM's Office minister as long as her US blacklisting over Zimbabwean sanctions does not contravene Thai constitutional law.

Links with Grace Mugabe

The US Department of the Treasury's Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) put Nalinee's name on the blacklist for her alleged links to a number of financial, real-estate and gem-related transactions on behalf of Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe's wife Grace Mugabe, and other Zimbabweans with specially designated national (SDN) status.

The listing means American citizens or entities are prohibited from doing business with Nalinee and her assets would be frozen if they came under US jurisdiction. It is not spelt out in the Treasury Department's rules governing the blacklist whether she can enter the United States, but tough restrictions preventing blacklisted persons from doing business with any American in the US or abroad seem like a virtual ban in themselves.

Nalinee's status under US law would not reflect on the image of the Thai Cabinet, Yingluck said. But the prime minister hinted that a review of the whole situation is likely.

"We have to check the facts about the list…. but at this stage her qualification is constitutional," Yingluck said.

Foreign Minister Surapong Towichukchaikul said he was not aware of Nalinee's SDN listing and the Foreign Ministry had nothing to do with the matter. As long as the listing was a product of the US Treasury Department, the responsibility for dealing with the US lay with the Thai Finance Ministry, he said.

The Foreign Ministry would help coordinate with the US if the Finance Ministry requested and deemed it necessary, he said.

Zimbabwean honorary consul Kriangsak Charoenwongsak said he personally knew Nalinee very well, as she had done business with Zimbabwe for a long time. The SDN list was simply an international political matter as the US wanted to use the sanction to pressure Zimbabwe and its president, he said. "It …. has nothing to do with the qualifications of a Thai minister," said Kriangsak, who is a former Democrat MP. Nalinee was a good person and had strong qualifications to be a minister, Kriangsak said.

Thailand should not be oversensitive to this matter and the country should maintain friendly relations with all for the national interest, he said. To link this issue with a ministerial post was a political move to discredit the government, he said.

Anti-Money Laundering Office acting secretary-general Police Colonel Seehanat Prayoonrat said yesterday the US had never requested information about Nalinee as it did not wish to interfere in another country's affairs. However, even if the US had asked for information from AMLO, he would not have supplied it, as there had been no evidence of money laundering according to Thai laws.

-- The Nation 2012-01-20

[Buchholz]

Nalinee's status under US law would not reflect on the image of the Thai Cabinet, Yingluck said.

A more negative image of Yingluck's Cabinet is difficult to achieve when the image is already so tainted, what with the likes of indicted terrorist suspects and unqualified family members in the Cabinet, which is headed by a clone representative of a convicted fugitive.

Having a blacklisted Cabinet Minister only adds to the already dismal assembly of misfits.

.

Edited January 19, 2012 by Buchholz

[Ricardo]

FM-Surapong claims still to be "not aware of Nalinee's SDN listing", despite the recent news-stories, and being asked about it repeatedly ?

Perhaps his officials have failed to brief him properly, or he's been otherwise engaged, sorting-out DL's passport 'problem' ?

One might wonder if he knows any other politicians, past or present, who might have business-links with dodgy African regimes or leaders' families ? Surely not !

Edited January 20, 2012 by Ricardo

[craigt3365]

Nalinee's status under US law would not reflect on the image of the Thai Cabinet, Yingluck said.

A more negative image of Yingluck's Cabinet is difficult to achieve when the image is already so tainted, what with the likes of indicted terrorist suspects and unqualified family members in the Cabinet, which is headed by a clone representative of a convicted fugitive.

Having a blacklisted Cabinet Minister only adds to the already dismal assembly of misfits.

.

I was reading The Nation yesterday in the Dentist's office. Back page had 2 big articles on this cabinet reshuffle. One article was full of MPs saying they met Thaksin, here, met him there, found out about their upcoming promotions before new years, etc. Clearly indicating from a variety of sources about Thaksin's involvement in this.

Next article was Yingluck saying Thaksin had nothing to do with the reshuffle. Unreal. Wifey just shrugged her shoulders.

[Buchholz]

Nalinee's status under US law would not reflect on the image of the Thai Cabinet, Yingluck said.

A more negative image of Yingluck's Cabinet is difficult to achieve when the image is already so tainted, what with the likes of indicted terrorist suspects and unqualified family members in the Cabinet, which is headed by a clone representative of a convicted fugitive.

Having a blacklisted Cabinet Minister only adds to the already dismal assembly of misfits.

.

I was reading The Nation yesterday in the Dentist's office. Back page had 2 big articles on this cabinet reshuffle. One article was full of MPs saying they met Thaksin, here, met him there, found out about their upcoming promotions before new years, etc. Clearly indicating from a variety of sources about Thaksin's involvement in this.

Next article was Yingluck saying Thaksin had nothing to do with the reshuffle. Unreal. Wifey just shrugged her shoulders.

Perhaps Yingluck is so far "out of the loop" that she genuinely is completely unaware of her brother's control of her government.

She's so detached from reality that the possibility of her naively thinking she's actually "in charge" is not beyond the realm of implausibility. Those decades she spent as Thaksin's head of his various businesses, mistakenly believing that was the actual real boss, would have been enough to distort his cognitive processes.

I mean, how else can one explain the bald-faced, without-batting-an-eye, up-yours lying that she is putting forth to the public?

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[Buchholz]

The purported PM Yingluck had this to say about the appointment of Blacklisted Nalinee yesterday:

"We checked Ms Nalinee's background and she passed."

It was probably the same background check system used to vent Indicted Red Shirt Leader Out On Bail Natthawut as being suitable for the Cabinet, as well, after he seemingly "passed" also.

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[geriatrickid]

The logic used in this situation is very Thai. Nothing, illegal, all constitutional, just business etc.

[Buchholz]

Nalinee No Ugly Duckling, Says Yingluck

Nalinee Taveesin, a minister attached to the Prime Minister's Office, is no ugly duckling among those lined up in a new cabinet, according to Yingluck Shinawatra.

The premier dismissed on Thursday criticisms the naming of the former Thai trade representative as minister attached to the Prime Minister's Office has tarnished the whole image of the Yingluck II cabinet, given her being put on a blacklist of sanctioned persons by the United States government.

''(Nalinee) will definitely not mar the cabinet's image. She may make some statement to clear herself of such allegations, though,'' said Yingluck.

Nalinee was accused by the US Treasury Department's Office of Foreign Assets Control of acting as a ''crony'' and business partner of Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe's spouse Grace Mugabe in the face of the US sanctions against the African leader and his family.

The newly-appointed minister categorically dismissed the allegations, saying it was merely a ''misunderstanding'' on the part of the US authorities and that she had not done any business with or for Mugabe's spouse.

No American firms or citizens were allowed to do business with the blacklisted Nalinee whose wealths would be frozen only if found in US jurisdiction. Nalinee was alleged of doing business in real estate, gems and financial dealings on behalf of Grace Mugabe in spite of the US sanctions imposed since 2003.

She said she had been personally close to varied foreign leaders, not only the Zimbabwean president and his family, given her roles as businesswoman and former Thai trade representative, and insisted she had never done illegal businesses overseas.

VoiceTV - January 19, 2012

http://news.voicetv.co.th/in-english/28335.html

[Pib]

Being on the U.S. Treasury blacklist apparently just increases her qualifications in the eyes of the PTP.

[webfact]

Abhisit: PM should review Nalinee's appointment

The Nation

Democrat Party leader Abhisit Vejjajiva on Friday called for a review on PM's Office Minister Nalinee Taveesin, saying the controversial appointment would tarnish the country's image.

"The prime minister should review the issue since a ministerial appointment is not just a constitutional matter but must be appropriate as well," he said.

Abhisit was commenting on the United States visa blacklist of Nalinee, accused of violating the American embargo against Zimbabwe's President Robert Mugabe.

He said PM Yingluck Shinawatra should choose her ministers who are qualified without restrictions. Nalinee may be qualified but faced certain restrictions.

He also urged the Foreign Affairs Ministry to work harder in order to convince the US authorities to remove the terrorist warning on Bangkok.

-- The Nation 2012-01-20

[SICHONSTEVE]

Nalinee's status under US law would not reflect on the image of the Thai Cabinet, Yingluck said.

A more negative image of Yingluck's Cabinet is difficult to achieve when the image is already so tainted, what with the likes of indicted terrorist suspects and unqualified family members in the Cabinet, which is headed by a clone representative of a convicted fugitive.

Having a blacklisted Cabinet Minister only adds to the already dismal assembly of misfits.

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She will fit in perfectly then as she has all the right qualifications!!!!.

[BigJohnnyBKK]

The US imposes sanctions on a "regime" that it views as "too corrupt" for its taste. The Thai minister isn't accused of doing anything illegal, simply having business dealings with people the US wants to sanction.

I don't see anything that points to these sanctions as being relevant under the laws of other sovereign nations. And the US isn't exactly pure, fully supporting regimes just as corrupt when to do so is in alignment with its "strategic interests" ( = military balance + corporate profits).

As the policeman for the whole world, the US would like all of its vassal states around the world to toe its many "lines in the sand", but sometimes there will be blowback from even its closest allies if they try to be too heavy-handed about this. Perhaps the recognition of Palestine + the publicising of terrorism in Thailand + this are a demonstration of Thaksin's desire for Thailand to be seen to be kowtowing a bit less to Amerika.

As an American I am embarassed by our heavy-handed interventionism and adventurism, IMO we have long ago extracted our pounds of flesh in return for our "altruistic" saving of the world in WW2, and have done little to be proud of and much to be ashamed of since then.

[webfact]

Nalinee: US blacklist not about visa

The Nation

Incoming PM's Office Minister Nalinee Taveesin has defended her records, saying the United States blacklist is about a ban on business transactions with American citizens and not travel restrictions.

"I still have a 10-year US visa," she said, in an interview with the Thursday's edition of Matichon online.

Nalinee conceded she has not travelled to the US since 2008 because she deems it unnecessary to make a trip.

She said the 2008 blacklist issued by the US Treasury Department was a business transaction ban and not about entering the country.

"The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has checked and confirmed there is no visa ban," she said.

She said she had known Zimbabwe's President Rober Mugabe and his wife since 2002 but had no business dealing as alleged.

The blacklist was a one-sided decision issued without giving her a chance to explain, she said.

-- The Nation 2012-01-20

[Buchholz]

In an effort to help The Nation sort out its photos and articles, as in this OP photo having nothing to do with the attached article, the following article from NNT is submitted that matches this photo.

Privy Council meets PM on Thai Armed Forces Day

BANGKOK, 20 January 2012 (NNT) - The Privy Council met the Prime Minister for the first time on Thursday during the 420th anniversary celebration of the Thai Armed Forces.

Army Commander-in-Chief Prayuth Chan-ocha hosted a reception party on the occasion of the Thai Armed Forces Day at the Army Club, which was attended by several high-ranking officials, such as Privy Council President General Prem Tinsulanonda, Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra, cabinet ministers and military top brass.

General Prem and Ms Yingluck greeted each other with big smiles before sitting next to each other during the dinner reception. This is the first time the premier has met with the well-respected Privy Council President.

General Prayuth pledged that the army will do its best to protect the monarchy institution and the nation for the well-being of the people.

January 18th is marked as the Armed Forces Day in Thailand, commemorating the most glorious battle on elephant back, with King Naresuan the Great emerging the proud victor in 1592. The dinner reception was held on January 19th.

-- NNT 2012-01-20

* We return you now to your previously scheduled programming*

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[OzMick]

Nalinee No Ugly Duckling, Says Yingluck

actually quite attractive, for a duck.

[slapout]

She claims to have a 10 year visa, that is like saying, my visa extension applied for/granted in Thailand (so far) each year is a 1 year visa. She probably had the stamp in her passport which allowed her to travel to the US (over a 10 year time frame) prior to the blacklist. If memory serves, the duration of visa received upon entry in the US is determined by immigration/homeland security upon arrival. Is she currently able to enter the US, while on the blacklist? Doubtful.

[animatic]

backs-nalinee-despite-us-blacklist/

Of course she does.

Can't admit a mistake was made.

And they are pissed at USA for bursting their bubble,

so another paper cut thrown at the big dog who will

slough it off like dead skin as long as Nalinee doesn't

try to do business with USA.

Did it do damage to the government?

Of course it did, but serial cock-ups is their way of life.

Edited January 20, 2012 by animatic

[bigbamboo]

What a treble for Thai-American relations. American travel advisories messing with TAT's (accredited) predictions, Thailand's timely recognition of Palestine and the appointment of a new blacklisted Minister of Trade with links to a corrupt African dictator. You couldn't make it up!

[webfact]

PM Reserved on US-blacklisted Minister

The prime minister has announced that an examination on a minister blacklisted by the US is underway, while refusing to reveal details of yesterday's talks with the Privy Council chief.

Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra refused to disclose details of her talks with Privy Council President General Prem Tinsulanonda, saying it was just a simple conversation.

Yingluck met General Prem last night during the celebration of the Army's 420th Anniversay at the Army's Club on Vibhavadi Rangsit Road.

Asked about the US blacklisting on newly-appointed PM's Office Minister Nalinee Taveesin and the US retaining its terror alert for Bangkok areas populated by western tourists, the prime minister said relevant agencies have been probing both the issues.

The premier also declined to comment whether Nalinee would be replaced.

-- Tan Network 2012-01-20

[TAWP]

Appointment does not harm image of Cabinet

Correct, history cannot give them worse than 'F', no-matter what they do.

[fstarbkk]

Check out the write-up on K. Nalinee on the US Treasury Website, explaining why she's blacklisted. Makes her sound like a real piece of work and a beacon of integrity!

http://www.treasury.gov/press-center/press-releases/Pages/hp1295.aspx

[PoorSucker]

What a treble for Thai-American relations. American travel advisories messing with TAT's (accredited) predictions, Thailand's timely recognition of Palestine and the appointment of a new blacklisted Minister of Trade with links to a corrupt African dictator. You couldn't make it up!

It's because the great leader can not get a US visa.

[Buchholz]

the prime minister said relevant agencies have been probing both the issues.

The premier also declined to comment whether Nalinee would be replaced.

That's a lot more tentative support than earlier declaring she's no ugly duckling, she's proper, she's good, etc.

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[Exsexyman]

Nalinee No Ugly Duckling, Says Yingluck

actually quite attractive, for a duck.

She's a dead ringer for Gladys Pugh from the BBC comedy series ' Hi De Hi. Brits of a certain age will know who i mean!

[MaiChai]

Yingluck being a true Shinawatra, learning all the tricks from big brother. Sounds like the Zimbabwe connections are family business, and in their eyes there is nothing ethically wrong with this type of business?

[MAJIC]

Check out the write-up on K. Nalinee on the US Treasury Website, explaining why she's blacklisted. Makes her sound like a real piece of work and a beacon of integrity!

http://www.treasury....ges/hp1295.aspx

So according to that US Report,there has been plenty of economy with the Truth.

Edited January 20, 2012 by MAJIC

[webfact]

Key Pheu Thai members want to push Nalinee out

The Nation

A small group of key figures in the ruling Pheu Thai Party agreed yesterday to push for Nalinee Taveesin, the newly appointed Prime Minister's Office minister who is on a US blacklist, to leave office soon to avoid causing negative impact on the government.

A party source said the decision was reached at yesterday's meeting of the politicians at the Pheu Thai headquarters.

The politicians agreed that Nalinee should step down no more than 30 days after assuming office. Some suggested that she should resign shortly after the new Cabinet members' swearing-in ceremony with His Majesty the King on Monday, but others said that would be inappropriate, according to the source.

Meanwhile, the Office of the Ombudsman agreed to look into Nalinee's activities and

see if she has been working in accordance with the Constitution and the code of ethics, Ombudsman Pravit Ratanapian said yesterday.

A group of activists from the Green Political Group, led by Nutsur Yeema, has called on the ombudsman to study the minister's qualifications after information of her being on a US blacklist emerged.

The US Department of the Treasury's Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) has included the name "Nalinee Joy Taveesin" in a blacklist for allegedly facilitating a number of financial, real-estate and gem-related transactions on behalf of Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe's wife Grace and other Zimbabwean "specially designated nationals".

Pravit explained that he had the authority to find out whether the minister has done anything that might have violated the Constitution or the code of ethics meant for those holding a political position.

The Green Political Group has also asked the ombudsman to investigate Deputy Agriculture Minister Nattawut Saikua, who is a key red-shirt leader.

Meanwhile, opposition Democrat Party leader Abhisit Vejjajiva is calling on Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra to review her decision to give Nalinee a portfolio because her status might affect the country's image. Maybe Nalinee's qualifications are not unconstitutional, but it may not be appropriate to have such a person in the Cabinet, he said.

"We need to find out why she got the position of a minister. Is her business in Africa connected to former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra, who also has a lot of business there?" Abhisit asked.

Yingluck responded by saying that her government was checking facts about Nalinee being on the US blacklist, but declined to say anything when asked whether Nalinee's position might change.

Deputy Prime Minister Chalerm Yoobamrung said the government needed to consider Nalinee's qualifications in accordance with the Thai Constitution, not the laws of foreign countries.

Asked whether having her name on a blacklist would affect Nalinee's credibility as a minister, Chalerm said Thailand has had ministers who have been part of a US blacklist before. It is a matter for the United States and has nothing to do with Thailand, he said.

-- The Nation 2012-01-21

[webfact]

Nalinee has big stakes in 25 firms

THE NATION

Nalinee Taveesin, the newly appointed Prime Minister's Office minister, is a major shareholder in 25 companies that run businesses ranging from cleaning services and air ticketing to spas and telecommunication.

Appointed as the Thailand Trade Representative (TTR) by Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra's government in August, Nalinee holds a 4-per-cent share in those companies and serves as a director in eight of them.

Many of the businesses also have another politician - Kriengsak Chareonwongsak - as majority shareholder. Kriengsak is also an honorary consul-general of Zimbabwe.

Nalinee, meanwhile, is on a US blacklist because of her alleged business links to Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe. In November 2008, she was described by the US Treasury Department as being a businesswoman who facilitated a number of financial, real-estate and gems-related transactions on behalf of Mugabe's wife Grace.

However, Nalinee denies being involved with Mugabe's regime, saying the ban had resulted from a "misunderstanding" and had nothing to do with her wok.

The businesses that the 25 companies are involved in include book and compact-disc sales, travel agencies, air-ticket and hotel-room reservations, consumer products, agricultural products, clothing, cleaning service, computers, Internet and telecommunications, spas and real estate, the Isra news agency reported.

The companies include Success Development, Success Books, Success Media, Success Information Systems, Success Broadcasting Network, Success Aviation, Success Biotech, Asia Broadband, Global Solar Power, Royal Asia Products, Spa Management and Consultant, Asianet Plus and Aquatis.

Last September, a month after she was appointed as TTR, Nalinee invited ambassadors from South Africa, Nigeria, Kenya, Egypt and Morocco to discuss measures to boost trade with Thailand, particularly in rice, processed food, medical products, consumer products, cars and automotive parts, and electrical appliances. These products were in addition to tourism, construction, spas and Thai restaurants.

In the same month, Nalinee also met with Kazakhstan's ambassador to Thailand and a regional airline manager to discuss trade and investment opportunities between the two countries, particularly in the areas of energy, pharmacy, construction, logistics and tourism.

In October, Nalinee visited India in a bid to boost trade and investment in the areas of energy, construction and computer software.

Last month, she met with Portuguese Ambassador Jose Carlos Serafino to discuss trade and investment between the two countries, regarding tourism, energy, mining and wine making.

Critics have noted that many of the sectors that Nalinee has focused on during her meetings with foreign leaders are the businesses that her 25 companies are involved in.

-- The Nation 2012-01-21

[Buchholz]

A small group of key figures in the ruling Pheu Thai Party agreed yesterday to push for Nalinee Taveesin, the newly appointed Prime Minister's Office minister who is on a US blacklist, to leave office soon to avoid causing negative impact on the government.

The backers of Nalinee are in full retreat.

Same as other Pheu Thai Party moves like Royal Pardon requests and constitutional amendments.... when enough dander is raised over their corrupt or asinine moves, they back off and deny they ever wanted those things in the first place.

I guess Nalinee really is an "ugly duckling".

.

[Buchholz]

For information purposes regarding Blacklisted Nalinee:

Section 279 of the Constitution required the appointment of those who exercise government authority to adhere to ethics, good conduct and appropriateness.

Clause 27 of the Code of Conduct of the government required holders of political positions to be free of any behaviour that tarnished the honour of the nation.

*and yes, by those criteria, any number of other Cabinet Ministers should be sacked also*

.