Yingluck changes duties of her deputies

The Nation

BANGKOK: -- Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra yesterday reallocated the jobs for her four deputies and the three PM's Office ministers.

PM's Office Minister Nivatthamrong Boonsongpaisal has been put in charge of state-run media outlets, including the government's Public Relations Department and MCOT.

He will also supervise the Economic and Social Development Board, the Public Sector Development Commission, the Cabinet Secretariat, the Royal Development Projects Board and the National Buddhism Office.

Of the three ministers, Nivatthamrong is believed to have the best job. He was previously an executive in ex-PM Thaksin Shinawatra's telecom empire before he took up public service through the Pheu Thai Party.

Woravat Auapinyakul, also a PM's Office minister, has been given the job of supervising the Budget Bureau, the Consumer's Protection Board and the National Village and Community Fund.

PM's Office Minister Nalinee Taveesin, meanwhile, will be in charge of the Government Spokesman's Office, the National Identity Office and the National Research Council of Thailand.

In terms of seniority, Deputy Prime Minister Yongyuth Wichaidit is ahead of his fellow deputy PMs Chalerm Yoobamrung, Kittiratt Na-Ranong, Yuthasak Sasiprapha and Chumpol Silapa-archa.

Yongyuth, who also holds the Interior portfolio, will also oversee the Social Development and Human Security Ministry, the Transport Ministry, the Office of the Civil Service Commission and the Southern Border Provinces Administration Centre.

Chalerm, meanwhile, will oversee the Environment and Natural Resources, Labour and Justice ministries, as well as the Royal Thai Police and the Council of State. He is also in charge of affairs related to the granting of pardon and naturalised citizenship.

Kittiratt, who is also finance minister, will oversee Energy, Commerce and Industry ministries in addition to state economic agencies.

Yuthasak will oversee Defence, Foreign, Information and Communication Technology, Culture, Science, Education and Public Health ministries. He will also supervise the National Security Council and the National Intelligence Agency.

Chumpol, who also holds the Tourism and Sports portfolio, will oversee the Agriculture Ministry.

In a related development, the Cabinet has approved the appointment of key office holders in line with the Cabinet line-up.

Titima Chaisang has been named deputy-secretary general to the PM and will serve under Kittiratt. She currently holds the position of government spokesperson, though a search is on for her replacement.

Retired General Chongsak Panitchakul left the Defence Ministry to join Yuthasak at the PM's Office, where he will serve as his chief adviser.

Meanwhile, Nivatthamrong picked former journalist Wim Rungwattanachinda as his secretary.

Padung Limcharoenrat, a former private assistant of Thaksin, was named secretary to Yongyuth, replacing former red-shirt guard Aree Krainara, who has now become secretary to Deputy Agriculture Minister Natthawut Saikua.

Red-shirt leader Chinawat Haboonpad was named chief adviser to Transport Minister Charupong Ruangsuwan, once his previous boss Sukampol Suwannathat was moved to the position of defence minister.

Wan Yoobamrung, Chalerm's son, is now adviser to Deputy Transport Minister Sakda Kongpet. His term ended with the departure of Sakda's predecessor Kittisakdi Hatthasongkroh.

-- The Nation 2012-01-25

Mmm, ex Red Shirt guard assigned as "secretary" to Natthawut, does this indicate that he needs a martial type person as a bodyguard?

It does not say anywhere that any of these people are actually expected to do any work, does it?

Keep your friends close, but keep your enemies closer....