Ex-Perm Sec Panita Threatens To Sue Thai Social Development Minister

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CONTROVERSIAL TRANSFER

Ex-Perm Sec threatens to sue social development minister

The Nation

Permanent secretary Panita accuses Santi of slander, neglecting duties

BANGKOK: -- Panita Kambhu na Ayutthaya, the permanent secretary of the Social Development and Human Security Ministry who was recently shunted to an inactive post by the minister, Santi Promphat, yesterday threatened to sue him for slander.

She also cast doubt on Santi for dereliction of duty for failing to sign two replies she made to two statements from the Office of the Auditor General (OAG) acknowledging that Bt32 million in leftover budget had been returned as required to the Social Development and Welfare Department, which she headed four years ago.

Panita said she never thought an OAG investigation would lead to her being transferred. The OAG had informed former minister Issara Somchai of an irregularity by a former permanent secretary, who is allegedly Panita's predecessor.

It found that the Bt32 million had not been spent and had not been returned to the department, and recommended taking disciplinary action against the unnamed person.

The OAG investigation also initially implicated Panita but she could defend herself with reasons included in the replies, and the OAG went ahead with the probe and later found that a former permanent secretary was at fault.

She said Santi was slow in following up on the OAG investigation all along and finally failed to sign its statements.

After making her statement at Rajvithi Residence, she was met by some 500 people who had gathered outside to show their support. They included a group of activists for women, a youth group and ministry officials dressed in black to demonstrate their opposition to her snap transfer.

dismisses speculation

She dismissed news reports that she was moved out of the ministry because she "had not gone along" with an expensive project to construct a new office building for the ministry.

"I never uttered a word on that project, because I cherish the ministry's dignity. All I would like to refer to is the OAG investigation," she said without explaining.

Panita, one year away from retirement, said she would lodge a criminal defamation lawsuit against Santi, for giving negative information against her, which affected her family socially.

However, she felt sorry for Santi for selecting the "wrong people" as his advisers, without identifying them.

Pheu Thai partylist MP Prawat Uttamote, Panita's brother, brought up the issue in a party meeting and confronted Santi before accusing him of disrespecting him and Panita, and vowing not to respect Santi in return.

Prawat later said the "wrong people" were a group of four senior ministry officials who were Santi's advisers.

"My sister is a woman and alone in defending herself and I'm entitled to protect her," he said.

"The Gang of Four had been targeting my sister a few months after she took the [permanent secretary] post.

"You can check out who are the senior ministry officials serving as Santi's advisers," he added.

Prawat and Panita later had a personal meeting with Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra, who was seen hugging Panita after a brief chat. Yingluck also received a written complaint from her and reportedly promised to look into the matter.

Jaroonsak Noosrikaew, the leader of the youth group, after meeting with shifting Panita to the PM's Office.

-- The Nation 2012-03-16

[Buchholz]

However, she felt sorry for Santi for selecting the "wrong people" as his advisers, without identifying them.

Her sympathies are well-founded

Government names 26 red-shirt political officers

17. Petchawat Wattanasirikul, adviser to Social Development and Human Security Minister

http://www.thaivisa....ost__p__4664989

who is leader of the nefarious Love Chiang Mai 51 Group

Chiang Mai Red-shirt Leader Surrenders to Police

A fugitive leader of a red shirt-affiliated group in Chiang Mai has surrendered to police after fleeing the arrest warrant for terrorism and other charges related to the violent protests last year.

Petchawat Wattanapongsirikul, a leader of a red shirt-affiliated group in Chiang Mai province called Love Chiang Mai 51 Group, has turned himself in to investigators at Mae Ping police station.

http://www.thaivisa....ost__p__4302400

[Buchholz]

Pheu Thai Party-list MP Prawat Uttamote, Panita's brother, brought up the issue in a party meeting and confronted Santi before accusing him of disrespecting him and Panita, and vowing not to respect Santi in return.

Always interesting to see the Pheu Thai Party in-fighting.

One might also think that Santi's Adviser Petchawat is still smarting and having animosity towards Prawat who, at # 61, was put higher on the Party-list roster than himself which resulted in Prawat becoming an MP and Petchawat, at #86, not.

Petchawat Wattanapongsirikul, a leader of Love Chiang Mai 51 group, was upset that he was ranked No 86 on the Pheu Thai party list and threatened to order the red shirts in Chiang Mai not to vote Pheu Thai.

http://www.thaivisa....ost__p__4442013

.

Edited March 16, 2012 by Buchholz

[givenall]

Someone should tell the Thai politicians, that criticizing positions is part of democracy check and balances. Otherwise the politician can do anything and no one dear to question them

[WackySomchai]

It will be more fun coming up when the banned and corrupt Puea Thaksin party politicians return in May, wanting their share of the cake. Let's hope they got special discount for trips to the PM headquarters in Dubai ...