Suranand Is Making His Presence Felt In The Yingluck Administration

[webfact]

BURNING ISSUE

Suranand is making his presence felt

Piyanart Srivalo

THE NATION

BANGKOK: -- Suranand Vejjajiva, who served as a Prime Minister's Office minister in Thaksin Shinawatra's government, has started playing a prominent role in the Yingluck administration even though there are still a few months left before his five-year political ban expires.

It looks like some changes are being made at Government House involving staff close to the prime minister. For instance, Bantoon Supakvanit stepped down as PM's secretary-general on Monday and a third-ranking deputy, who was Thaksin's classmate at the Armed Forces Academies Preparatory School, has been placed as caretaker.

Last Friday, Suranand confirmed media reports that Yingluck had made him her "personal spokesman". For many political observers, Suranand can be considered the "little prime minister" because he has obviously won the premier's trust and is helping her with many key issues, be it with work, public relations or her image.

"For instance, after Yingluck signs some documents, she occasionally adds a note asking Suranand to study the documents in detail," a Government House source said.

However, its seems like the "little prime minister" ran into some problems when Niwatthamrong Boonsongpaisal, who worked for Yingluck before she entered politics and served as her close aide. Before Niwatthamrong was made PM's Office minister overseeing state media in the recent Cabinet reshuffle, his duties seemed to overlap those of Suranand. Niwatthamrong was upset because he had been by the prime minister's side since the government was formed last year, while Suranand had just joined a few months ago.

Wim Rungwattanajinda was another member of the PM's Office who was at odds with Suranand. In order to avoid more problems, Yingluck made him Niwatthamrong's secretary. So now, with their new postings, Niwatthamrong and Wim are being kept away from Suranand's office.

Meanwhile, Suranand's rising prominence as the PM's close aide confirms his return to Thaksin's fold, which this time is the ruling Pheu Thai Party. Suranand has been by Thaksin's side since they were in the Palang Dharma Party.

However, while Suranand was a member of the now-defunct Thai Rak Thai Party, he had clashes with key party member Khunying Sudarat Keyuraphan, and after the September 2006 coup, he left the party to form a new political group called Bangkok 50. He served as the group's leader for a while before it joined Puea Pandin Party. His close friendship with former finance minister Somkid Jatusripitak, who was once Thaksin's ally and later seen as his challenger for the PM's seat, put Suranand in a camp opposite to that of Thaksin.

When the court dissolved Thai Rak Thai, Suranand was included in the list of 111 party executives facing a five-year ban because he was a party member when electoral irregularities occurred. The ban comes to an end in May.

Suranand's new party Puea Pandin, which included many former MPs from Thai Rak Thai, later became so weak that its members decided to return to Thai Rak Thai, which had reincarnated as Pheu Thai.

Before joining Pheu Thai, Suranand spent a lot of time away from politics, working as television host and newspaper columnist. However, he became an important cog in the PM's team during last year's flood crisis thanks mainly to his good ties with many members of Yingluck's staff, including Prommin Lertsuridej.

Suranand is expected to become a prime candidate for a Cabinet seat or be taken on as secretary-general to the prime minister once his ban ends in May.

However, his role in the government is likely to ignite new conflicts in the ruling Pheu Thai Party. Some party sources have said that Suranand's old foe, Sudarat, is all set to oppose his entry into the Cabinet and even plans to portray him as a traitor who betrayed his party at a difficult time.

Nevertheless, the final say on this matter will rest with Yingluck and the party's big boss, Thaksin. If they say yes to Suranand's appointment, then his appointment will be final.

And judging by the way things are going, Suranand is set to play a key role in this government.

-- The Nation 2012-03-01

[OzMick]

So they are replacing incompetent cronies with slightly more competent cronies?

Careful with the fighting in the sty, piggies. The farmer doesn't the bacon damaged, so a piggy that gets into too many fights is likely to be first culled.

[birdpooguava]

Even Abhisit's own family hate his guts.

[Reasonableman]

An essential requirement for reconciliation.

Even Abhisit's own family hate his guts.

[scorecard]

Beware, Suranand is an opportunist, a smooth talker, clever at spin, with no hesitation to re-wrap events and details into a picture which makes the paymaster look like an angel. He proved all of the above in his weekly column over many years in one of the unmentiobale English dailies.

Amsterdam comes to mind.

Edited March 1, 2012 by scorecard

[scorecard]

repeat post removed

Edited March 1, 2012 by scorecard

[jayboy]

Beware, Suranand is an opportunist, a smooth talker, clever at spin, with no hesitation to re-wrap events and details into a different picture.

Amsterdam comes to mind.

Any evidence on which to base this judgement or is it just your personal subjective view?

Most people who know about Suranand would think it nonsense but perhaps you have some hard facts to make available.

Your reference to Amsterdam howver, silly and irrelevant, suggests you don't have the background.

[moe666]

He is still banned from politics why is he even within walking distance of government house. O forgot PTP do what they want even if illigal because we won.

[pedro01]

"For instance, after Yingluck signs some documents, she occasionally adds a note asking Suranand to study the documents in detail," a Government House source said.

LMAO!!

[LuckyLew]

I think it would be great if Yingluck started saying "no" to her brother.

Would make for great entertianment value ... but cannot see it happen

[EvilDrSomkid]

"For instance, after Yingluck signs some documents, she occasionally adds a note asking Suranand to study the documents in detail," a Government House source said.

LMAO!!

I was amazed at that statement, too. AFTER she signs the documents. Really? How incompetent can you be?

[h90]

I think it would be great if Yingluck started saying "no" to her brother.

Would make for great entertianment value ... but cannot see it happen

why should she? Everything is running well for the Shinawatra family. Can't even imagine how many Bahts flow in their pockets already.

[LuckyLew]

I think it would be great if Yingluck started saying "no" to her brother.

Would make for great entertianment value ... but cannot see it happen

why should she? Everything is running well for the Shinawatra family. Can't even imagine how many Bahts flow in their pockets already.

You gotta figure sooner or later a person would get fed up with taking orders from a sibling

Perhaps she would want to try show everyone she can go it alone and stand on her own

two feet instead of being proped up by someone else

[OzMick]

By ignoring Thaksin's involvement in the last election, the constitution court has proved itself impotent and ignoring its bans is becoming a habit.

OTOH the banning of PTP because of Thaksin's involvement could have led to civil war - a risk some were apparently willing to take. I doubt if we would have seen any dead Shinawatra's.

[rixalex]

Even Abhisit's own family hate his guts.

How is this related to the topic, and how do you know this to be true?

[rixalex]

By ignoring Thaksin's involvement in the last election, the constitution court has proved itself impotent and ignoring its bans is becoming a habit.

I'm sure the reds would be quick to label it a judicial coup, were it not for the fact that it is they who are the beneficiaries from this apparent lack of law enforcement.

[Reasonableman]

Beware, Suranand is an opportunist, a smooth talker, clever at spin, with no hesitation to re-wrap events and details into a different picture.

Amsterdam comes to mind.

Any evidence on which to base this judgement or is it just your personal subjective view?

Most people who know about Suranand would think it nonsense but perhaps you have some hard facts to make available.

Your reference to Amsterdam howver, silly and irrelevant, suggests you don't have the background.

Don't see any substantiating facts in this little opinion piece either, old son.

[Reasonableman]

I think it would be great if Yingluck started saying "no" to her brother.

Would make for great entertianment value ... but cannot see it happen

why should she? Everything is running well for the Shinawatra family. Can't even imagine how many Bahts flow in their pockets already.

You gotta figure sooner or later a person would get fed up with taking orders from a sibling

Perhaps she would want to try show everyone she can go it alone and stand on her own

two feet instead of being proped up by someone else

Suranand is a male person, to the best of my knowledge.

[MikeOboe57]

"For instance, after Yingluck signs some documents, she occasionally adds a note asking Suranand to study the documents in detail," a Government House source said.

LMAO!!

I was amazed at that statement, too. AFTER she signs the documents. Really? How incompetent can you be?

First she signs it and then she asks "What did I just sign?" You can't make this stuff up. But it explains why she constantly refuses to answer questions. Puppet

[Orac]

By ignoring Thaksin's involvement in the last election, the constitution court has proved itself impotent and ignoring its bans is becoming a habit.

I'm sure the reds would be quick to label it a judicial coup, were it not for the fact that it is they who are the beneficiaries from this apparent lack of law enforcement.

Lets face it, it is not just Thaksin who has been up to this. The likes of Newin and Banharn have both being heavily involved - Newin was clearly involved in setting up the coalition deal with Abhisit to form the last government and Banharn was accused of heading up meetings of the Ministry of Agriculture.

With Thaksin having the excuse that he hasn't even been in Thailand for several years maybe this isn't a subject that any side wants too much scrutiny over.

[rixalex]

I'm sure the reds would be quick to label it a judicial coup, were it not for the fact that it is they who are the beneficiaries from this apparent lack of law enforcement.

Lets face it, it is not just Thaksin who has been up to this. The likes of Newin and Banharn have both being heavily involved - Newin was clearly involved in setting up the coalition deal with Abhisit to form the last government and Banharn was accused of heading up meetings of the Ministry of Agriculture.

With Thaksin having the excuse that he hasn't even been in Thailand for several years maybe this isn't a subject that any side wants too much scrutiny over.

Agreed, although having a party run their entire campaign with a banned person as their figurehead and effective leader - whether abroad or not - and with clear slogans such as Thaksin thinks, PTP does, it did take the blatant ignoring of laws to a new level.