New PM's Office Minister's Appointment Brings Trouble For Thaksin

[webfact]

New PM's Office Minister's Appointment Brings Trouble for Thaksin

At this minute, the Pheu Thai Party and Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra must push forth the appointment of PM's Office Minister Nalinee Taveesin despite the huge mistake they made with it after it was discovered that she is on a US blacklist for business dealings with Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe. Despite now knowing that they've committed a faux pas and what they gained isn't worth the heartache, there's no turning back now as the Cabinet reshuffle list has already been royally endorsed.

There have been speculations that she'll be kept in the post for about a month after which she'll resigned for the benefit of the country. Nalinee's political career is virtually over though whether or not we are in favor of the United States because it is undeniable that the US remains a superpower. Having a minister blacklisted by a superpower doesn't bode well for the government.

More importantly, this affects Thaksin Shinawatra strongly if he decides to ignore the issue and push ahead with support for Nalinee as he's trying to get on the good side of the US for his business benefits and to be able to gain entrance to the country. His efforts are beginning to show promise but may be stalled because of this issue.

Nalinee is certainly not important enough for Thaksin to sacrifice his personal benefits but now that the mistake has been committed, there's no way but to see it through and find a way out later.

Another question we have to ask is how someone like Nalinee, who is a Thai trade representative, not know she's blacklisted and for what reason. It's most likely that she knows what's going on but is banking on the hope that being named a minister can help clear her name off the blacklist. However, the US seems not to be receptive, hence the existing problem.

Translated from Manager Online editorial

Please note that the views expressed in our "Analysis" segment are translated from local media and do not reflect the views of the Thai-ASEAN News Network.

-- Tan Network 2012-01-24

[Ricardo]

One minor error in the article, it is surely Minister Nalinee's business-dealings with Robert Mugabe's wife Grace, not "with Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe" which led to her being added to the US-Treasury's list ?

And since he claims (in Der Spiegel on 15th June last year) to have invested in Zimbabwe himself, wouldn't DL have had her useful social-contacts with the power-elite there in mind, when he made the decision to appoint her ?

[toenail]

Again, with Yingluck not doing research on people who she appoints for her cabinet (but only follow's big brother's advice) she has now drawn a lot of negative attention. According to reports, the business woman, Nalinee, is known for her connections with Thaksin who has mining investments in shady countries such as Zimbabwe. And if Nalinee wants to say that her connections with Mugabe is only "social" then she is dealing with someone that most of us would rather stay away from. Mugabe is one of the worse leaders in the world - he makes the top 10 list.

[Bakseedaa]

Again, with Yingluck not doing research on people who she appoints for her cabinet (but only follow's big brother's advice) she has now drawn a lot of negative attention. According to reports, the business woman, Nalinee, is known for her connections with Thaksin who has mining investments in shady countries such as Zimbabwe. And if Nalinee wants to say that her connections with Mugabe is only "social" then she is dealing with someone that most of us would rather stay away from. Mugabe is one of the worse leaders in the world - he makes the top 10 list.

Nalinee is a reflection of Yinluck herself ... a very shady businesswoman.

[whybother]

Nalinee is a reflection of Yinluck herself ... a very shady businesswoman.

Actually, besides her relationship to Thaksin, I don't believe there is anything to suggest that Yingluck is a shady business woman.

There isn't much to suggest that she's any sort of business woman.

[LuckyLew]

This is just further proof that Taksin is sunning the show

Yingluck is so far in the dark that even if she turned on the lights,

she still would not be able to see

[ballpoint]

Nalinee is a reflection of Yinluck herself ... a very shady businesswoman.

Actually, besides her relationship to Thaksin, I don't believe there is anything to suggest that Yingluck is a shady business woman.

There isn't much to suggest that she's any sort of business woman.

Come now. Nobody is better at business than Yingluck.

At least, that's what Temasek thought when they replaced her with nobody.

[BookMan]

The mouse wheel keeps on turning

[pimay11]

The inmates are running the asylum.

[Tatsujin]

Nalinee is a reflection of Yinluck herself ... a very shady businesswoman.

Come, come . . . you are giving her FAR too much credit . . . lol . . . she isn't ANY kind of businesswoman.

[lovetotravel]

Again, with Yingluck not doing research on people who she appoints for her cabinet (but only follow's big brother's advice) she has now drawn a lot of negative attention. According to reports, the business woman, Nalinee, is known for her connections with Thaksin who has mining investments in shady countries such as Zimbabwe. And if Nalinee wants to say that her connections with Mugabe is only "social" then she is dealing with someone that most of us would rather stay away from. Mugabe is one of the worse leaders in the world - he makes the top 10 list.

Yingluck didn't do any research. The decision came from her brother. Same with all the other major political decisions that have been made.

[h90]

Nalinee is a reflection of Yinluck herself ... a very shady businesswoman.

Actually, besides her relationship to Thaksin, I don't believe there is anything to suggest that Yingluck is a shady business woman.

There isn't much to suggest that she's any sort of business woman.

But she is definitely a woman.

[anterian]

Nalinee is a reflection of Yinluck herself ... a very shady businesswoman.

Actually, besides her relationship to Thaksin, I don't believe there is anything to suggest that Yingluck is a shady business woman.

There isn't much to suggest that she's any sort of business woman.

But she is definitely a woman.

In Thailand there is only one sure way to verify this. "But she is definitely a woman"..

[ianf]

What is so interesting about this is that the Minister herself says that her contact with Mrs Mugabe was stricty social. I think organising trips around Bangkok and attending to her every need is more that just social. Its clear that this was a business opportunity carried out in the face of UN sanctions. ..... Just a minute! Haven't there been hundreds of such breaches between Thai business people & politicians and Burma? Off course there has. Thaksin himself has his grubby fingers all over Burma business, so my guess is that when he appointed her he didn't give a monkey's ......... about sanctions or no sanctions. He probably didn't even know. Business is business. Human rights don't contribute to personal profit do they?

[mrtoad]

This is just further proof that Taksin is sunning the show

Yingluck is so far in the dark that even if she turned on the lights,

she still would not be able to see

When they appointed Happy Toilet today, that was pretty much a reflection of how close to the sewer this part is.

[Old Man River]

Nalinee is a reflection of Yinluck herself ... a very shady businesswoman.

Actually, besides her relationship to Thaksin, I don't believe there is anything to suggest that Yingluck is a shady business woman.

There isn't much to suggest that she's any sort of business woman.

Come now. Nobody is better at business than Yingluck.

At least, that's what Temasek thought when they replaced her with nobody.

If you are going to slam someone, at least get your facts straight. Yingluck headed SC Asset which was not bought by Temasek. It is still a Shinawatra family company.

[Macmundi]

The inmates are running the asylum.

Where's the firing squad??!! Hurry Hurry!! You won't get a better opportunity!

[whybother]

Come now. Nobody is better at business than Yingluck.

At least, that's what Temasek thought when they replaced her with nobody.

If you are going to slam someone, at least get your facts straight. Yingluck headed SC Asset which was not bought by Temasek. It is still a Shinawatra family company.

She also headed Shin Corp which was bought by Temasek. Temasek replaced the company president (Yingluck) with ... nobody.

[Old Man River]

Come now. Nobody is better at business than Yingluck.

At least, that's what Temasek thought when they replaced her with nobody.

If you are going to slam someone, at least get your facts straight. Yingluck headed SC Asset which was not bought by Temasek. It is still a Shinawatra family company.

She also headed Shin Corp which was bought by Temasek. Temasek replaced the company president (Yingluck) with ... nobody.

I didn't realize how far you were going back. Let's remember that she is young and if you go far enough back she will have been very young. Not the right age for the Singaporean government to be sure.

[whybother]

I didn't realize how far you were going back. Let's remember that she is young and if you go far enough back she will have been very young. Not the right age for the Singaporean government to be sure.

Is 2005 THAT far back?

It's not as if she was too young. They didn't put someone older in the position. They decided that the position wasn't needed, which shows how valuable she was in the company.

[Old Man River]

I didn't realize how far you were going back. Let's remember that she is young and if you go far enough back she will have been very young. Not the right age for the Singaporean government to be sure.

Is 2005 THAT far back?

It's not as if she was too young. They didn't put someone older in the position. They decided that the position wasn't needed, which shows how valuable she was in the company.

Actually, the position was needed, but not putting anyone in that role at that time had nothing to do with Yingluck. Remember the sale took place in January 2006, the PAD marched on the Singaporean Embassy in March 2006 (Temasek is owned by the Singaporean government) and the coup took place in Sept. 2006, with legal investigations taking place on whether Temasek was involved with nominees in their purchase. Year 2006 was hardly the time to put previous members of the SHIN group into that position, nor a member of Temasek into that position. Somprasong (a member of the Shinawatra management group since 1993) was eventually put into the CEO position in early 2007.

[StevenWayneSimpson]

so it wasnt even the singaporians that realised she wasnt up to the job?

[whybother]

Actually, the position was needed, but not putting anyone in that role at that time had nothing to do with Yingluck. Remember the sale took place in January 2006, the PAD marched on the Singaporean Embassy in March 2006 (Temasek is owned by the Singaporean government) and the coup took place in Sept. 2006, with legal investigations taking place on whether Temasek was involved with nominees in their purchase. Year 2006 was hardly the time to put previous members of the SHIN group into that position, nor a member of Temasek into that position. Somprasong (a member of the Shinawatra management group since 1993) was eventually put into the CEO position in early 2007.

The CEO position wasn't dumped. The fact that a previous Shin group member was later put in the position is irrelevant. We are discussing the President position, not the CEO position.

Yingluck was President. The President position no longer exists. Temasek decided that they didn't need a president. The question is why would Shin Corp need a president while owned by Thaksin, but not need one while owned by Temasek. Did Yingluck add that little value to the company that Temasek decided that it was pointless to replace her?

[Brewsta]

Perhaps a U.S. Carrier group in the Gulf of LOS à la Gulf of Hormuz & Iran could spice up the week?

[witsawakorn]

What is so interesting about this is that the Minister herself says that her contact with Mrs Mugabe was stricty social. I think organising trips around Bangkok and attending to her every need is more that just social. Its clear that this was a business opportunity carried out in the face of UN sanctions. ..... Just a minute! Haven't there been hundreds of such breaches between Thai business people & politicians and Burma? Off course there has. Thaksin himself has his grubby fingers all over Burma business, so my guess is that when he appointed her he didn't give a monkey's ......... about sanctions or no sanctions. He probably didn't even know. Business is business. Human rights don't contribute to personal profit do they?

Fair comment about Burma but as usual the US leads by example. Unocal signed a contract in 1995 for the Yadana gas supply pipeline. They were never taken to court by the US government for it so it is hard to be critical of Thai companies. As you said "Business is business. Human rights don't contribute to personal profit do they" applies perfectly to the Unocal situation. I'm not sure why Thailand would be obliged to impose sanctions on Burma anyway given that they are both members of ASEAN.

[Jimbob1]

It is so fascinating ..... Technology there days .... How do they get puppets to look so life-like ??

[z12]

"Toy Soldiers"

[rixalex]

Come now. Nobody is better at business than Yingluck.

At least, that's what Temasek thought when they replaced her with nobody.

If you are going to slam someone, at least get your facts straight. Yingluck headed SC Asset which was not bought by Temasek. It is still a Shinawatra family company.

She also headed Shin Corp which was bought by Temasek. Temasek replaced the company president (Yingluck) with ... nobody.

I didn't realize how far you were going back. Let's remember that she is young and if you go far enough back she will have been very young. Not the right age for the Singaporean government to be sure.

Ballpoint said that Temasek replaced her with nobody, and you said at least get your facts straight. Yingluck headed SC Asset which was not bought by Temasek. Ballpoint's facts were straight. Yingluck was President of Shin Corp and Shin Corp was bought by Temasak. Your reasoning for why you claimed otherwise - you didn't realise how far back he was going - is frankly bizarre. What does how far back it happened have to do with the price of tea in China?

Edited January 25, 2012 by rixalex

[wxyz]

Was it a costume party?