Former Thai Rak Thai Heavyweights To Take Up Cabinet Posts

[webfact]

WATCHDOG

Former TRT heavyweights to take up Cabinet posts

Nophakhun Limsamarnphun

Pongsak

BANGKOK: -- Pongsak Rattanapong-paisan, a former transport minister and close confidant of ex-premier Thaksin Shinawatra, is expected to join the new Yingluck Cabinet next month.

The third Yingluck administration is shaping up with at least 4-5 former executive members of the now-defunct Thai Rak Thai Party named as likely candidates for key economic and other portfolios.

In addition, Chatuporn Prompan, a key leader of the red-shirt movement which helped the Pheu Thai Party win the last general election, is also expected to join the new Cabinet.

Meanwhile, several current Cabinet members will likely lose their jobs when these former TRT executives return to politics. These include Deputy Premier Yuthasak Sasiprapha, Culture Minister Sukamol Khun-preum, Justice Minister Pracha Prom-nok, and Education Minister Suchart Thada-damrongvej.

According to Thaksin, who in exile, there will be a major Cabinet reshuffle in June after 111 former executive members of TRT are free to take up political posts.

The Constitution Court imposed a five-year ban on these former executives when the party was disbanded for election fraud and other wrongdoing. The five-year ban ends this month.

Pongsak, a heavyweight in the Thaksin camp, is tipped to be a new deputy prime minister.

Besides Pongsak, other top candidates for ministerial posts include Pongthep Thep-kanjana, a former justice minister; Jaturon Chaisaeng, a former education minister; Suwat Lipatapanlop, a former deputy premier; and Warathep Rattanakorn, a former deputy finance minister.

However, Khunying Sudarat Keyurapun, a former public health minister and TRT heavyweight, will not accept any post in the upcoming Cabinet reshuffle.

The Election Commission has said all 111 former TRT executives are eligible to take up Cabinet posts as soon as the five-year ban ends at the end of this month. However, they will have to join political parties for at least 90 days before they can register to stand for elections.

The eight-month-old Yingluck government has been sharply criticised for its mishanding of economic policy, resulting in a higher cost of living over the past several months.

The cost of living has soared due to higher prices of food and other necessities due to more expensive oil and gas as well as other sources of energy in the domestic market.

In addition, the hefty 40 per cent hike in the minimum wage to Bt300 per day has led to rising prices for various products due to higher production costs.

Electricity charges, taxi fares and public bus fares are also set to rise due to rising fuel costs as the government takes steps to reduce state subsidies for various types of energy.

Since the start of this year, the price of compressed natural gas, which is widely used by taxis and public buses, for example, started to go up on a gradual basis. By year-end, the price will reach its target of Bt14.5 per kg, nearly doubling the previous price of Bt8.5 per kg.

The government is also mulling ways to liberalise the price of liquefied petroleum gas or LPG, which has been heavily subsidised for many years. This will result in more expensive cooking gas for households and food vendors, as well as vehicles using LPG.

To improve its performance, especially on the economic front, several former TRT heavyweights, who have more experience than the current Cabinet members, will likely take up the crucial economic and related portfolios to shore up Prime Minister Yingluck's popularity.

-- The Nation 2012-05-05

[siampolee]

According to Thaksin, who in exile, there will be a major Cabinet reshuffle in June after 111 former executive members of TRT are free to take up political posts.

This from a creature who stated he had washed his hands of politics, yet again we see what a total farce this current maladministration is.

Democracy ?

No, just one megalomaniac creature hell bent on the destruction of Thai society in his blind lust for unadulterated power.

Now, perhaps the Red Shirts will see just how gullible they are and were and how they were and are no more than pawns and cannon fodder for Thaksin, his family and their brown nosing cronies to use in their on going campaign to control Thailand and its people and lead them into the society of debt and labour bondage.

Edited May 5, 2012 by siampolee

[Buchholz]

Pongsak Rattanapong-paisan, a former transport minister and close confidant of ex-premier Thaksin Shinawatra, is expected to join the new Yingluck Cabinet next month.

Pongsak was one of the three principles that resulted in Thai Rak Thai Party getting banned when he was found guilty of illegally paying small political parties to run in the election as well as found guilty of altering the digital data of Election Commission computers.

He's also not very lucky....

2006-05-15

Minister's rocket veers off course, explodes

A Bang Fai festival in the northeastern town of Yasothon almost ended in tragedy yesterday when a one-tonne rocket slammed into a mango tree and exploded.

The rocket, billed as the world's biggest home-made one, damaged property but caused no injuries. Onlookers said that if it were not for the mango tree the rocket would have ended up in someone's house.

It was launched by Pongsak Ruktapongpisal, Thai Rak Thai Party deputy secretary-general and caretaker transport minister.

Edited May 5, 2012 by Buchholz

[pipo1000]

According to Thaksin, who in exile, there will be a major Cabinet reshuffle in June after 111 former executive members of TRT are free to take up political posts.

This from a creature who stated he had washed his hands of politics, yet again we see what a total farce this current maladministration is.

Democracy ?

No, just one megalomaniac creature hell bent on the destruction of Thai society in his blind lust for unadulterated power.

Now, perhaps the Red Shirts will see just how gullible they are and were and how they were and are no more than pawns and cannon fodder for Thaksin, his family and their brown nosing cronies to use in their on going campaign to control Thailand and its people and lead them into the society of debt and labour bondage.

Democracy?This country is a Hypocrisy from all points of view.

[MEL1]

Keep the bent money in the 'family'... it will continue as long as the puppet is marionetted about town.

Can you imagine the jokes if Yingluck was 'blonde'?

-mel.

[marquess]

According to Thaksin, who in exile, there will be a major Cabinet reshuffle in June after 111 former executive members of TRT are free to take up political posts.

This from a creature who stated he had washed his hands of politics, yet again we see what a total farce this current maladministration is.

Democracy ?

No, just one megalomaniac creature hell bent on the destruction of Thai society in his blind lust for unadulterated power.

Now, perhaps the Red Shirts will see just how gullible they are and were and how they were and are no more than pawns and cannon fodder for Thaksin, his family and their brown nosing cronies to use in their on going campaign to control Thailand and its people and lead them into the society of debt and labour bondage.

Democracy?This country is a Hypocrisy from all points of view.

As it now is in most Western countries too, the only difference here is that the players (the people) in the game have far less impute.

[ratcatcher]

Former TRT heavyweights to take up Cabinet posts.

"Not long now folks."

[renaissanc]

The Thaksin status quo is gradually falling into place. It will soon be 100% business as usual.

[h90]

The Thaksin status quo is gradually falling into place. It will soon be 100% business as usual.

And the next coup coming....but that is also business as usual

[FarangTalk]

The Thaksin status quo is gradually falling into place. It will soon be 100% business as usual.

And the funny thing is, it was an absolute inevitability that this was going to happen after a coup.

Cause, and effect.

[allan michaud]

I am very confused about Thai 'democracy'. Can anyone explain how is it possible for these unelected individuals to now become ministers, surely they have to be voted as MP's first?

Also on a side note the 300 baht wage hike has only been implemented in 7 provinces for a few weeks so the overall effect of this on rising prices is limited as yet.

[TAWP]

The Thaksin status quo is gradually falling into place. It will soon be 100% business as usual.

And the funny thing is, it was an absolute inevitability that this was going to happen after a coup.

Cause, and effect.

No, the coup was an effect of the 'business' setup by Thaksin and friends.

That it didn't succeed in removing him and friends long-term is due to the new modern era of trying to have bloodless coups without a real purge of people.

As we can see it isn't enough if the players involved are too rich and too influential in number of family members on propped up positions around the different arms of power.

[whybother]

I am very confused about Thai 'democracy'. Can anyone explain how is it possible for these unelected individuals to now become ministers, surely they have to be voted as MP's first?

Unelected people can be appointed ministers ... except for Prime Minister.

Also on a side note the 300 baht wage hike has only been implemented in 7 provinces for a few weeks so the overall effect of this on rising prices is limited as yet.

So what's the inflation going to be like once it does start having an effect?

[hellodolly]

Talk about confusing

quote from article.

"To improve its performance, especially on the economic front, several former TRT heavyweights, who have more experience than the current Cabinet members, will likely take up the crucial economic and related portfolios to shore up Prime Minister Yingluck's popularity."

So whats it going to be "To improve its performance, especially on the economic front. OR to shore up Prime Minister Yingluck's popularity.

When they arrive will Yingluck attend any meetings of the cabinet. Or continue to just smile and pose for photo ops.

[FarangTalk]

No, the coup was an effect of the 'business' setup by Thaksin and friends.

That it didn't succeed in removing him and friends long-term is due to the new modern era of trying to have bloodless coups without a real purge of people.

As we can see it isn't enough if the players involved are too rich and too influential in number of family members on propped up positions around the different arms of power.

Sounds like you are suggesting, if not condoning purges such as Mao and Stalin effected on their political opponents.

The coup was engineered in order to maintain the status quo of hierarchy who's time is almost up.

Populist politics has given the people the taste of something different and the outcome would be just the same whether the coup was bloodless or not.

[TAWP]

No, the coup was an effect of the 'business' setup by Thaksin and friends.

That it didn't succeed in removing him and friends long-term is due to the new modern era of trying to have bloodless coups without a real purge of people.

As we can see it isn't enough if the players involved are too rich and too influential in number of family members on propped up positions around the different arms of power.

Sounds like you are suggesting, if not condoning purges such as Mao and Stalin effected on their political opponents.

The coup was engineered in order to maintain the status quo of hierarchy who's time is almost up.

Populist politics has given the people the taste of something different and the outcome would be just the same whether the coup was bloodless or not.

No, it is an explanation why Thaksin can get back/isn't pushed away as if the recent events had happened 50 years ago.

Or during the French revolution - an event the Red Shirts like to bring up on their radio shows and magazines a lot...

[volk666]

...Populist politics has given the people the taste of something different and the outcome would be just the same whether the coup was bloodless or not.

That is so true, welcome to the new era of social contract where the poor give the rich all the power in exchange for some leftovers.

However, this phase will eventually pass, too. Half the country already doesn't want to trade their labor in exchange for fiery water and glass necklaces, the poor are sort of late to the party but they'll get there, too. Yingluck is helping to open their eyes as fast as she can.

[Skywalker69]

Keep the bent money in the 'family'... it will continue as long as the puppet is marionetted about town.

Can you imagine the jokes if Yingluck was 'blonde'?

-mel.

Blonde!!!!!!

Edited May 5, 2012 by Skywalker69

[Skywalker69]

According to Thaksin, who in exile, there will be a major Cabinet reshuffle in June after 111 former executive members of TRT are free to take up political posts.

This from a creature who stated he had washed his hands of politics, yet again we see what a total farce this current maladministration is.

Democracy ?

No, just one megalomaniac creature hell bent on the destruction of Thai society in his blind lust for unadulterated power.

Now, perhaps the Red Shirts will see just how gullible they are and were and how they were and are no more than pawns and cannon fodder for Thaksin, his family and their brown nosing cronies to use in their on going campaign to control Thailand and its people and lead them into the society of debt and labour bondage.

Thailand must have the biggest population of monkeys in the whole of SEA.

[swillowbee]

.

... all these offical Thai government attempts to manipulate the economy, laws of supply and demand, commodity prices, an entire rice industry, inflation, and such remind me of similar official Thai government attempts to manipulate the Thai baht ... they succeeded only in single-handedly orchestrating the spectacular collapse of the Thai baht and caused the 1997 Asia Currency Crisis.

... all of Asia thanks you, Thailand ... you've earned the our confidence.

... Thailand = incompetence + institutional corruption ... it's a mathematical certainty.

Edited May 5, 2012 by swillowbee

[maidu]

a majority of Thais voted for the Thaksin/Yingluck/Chalerm team. Now they get all the other clowns as part of the sordid package. I don't know how it could be worse, but then again, that's what the majority voted for. Chok dee, suckers.

[whybother]

a majority of Thais voted for the Thaksin/Yingluck/Chalerm team. Now they get all the other clowns as part of the sordid package. I don't know how it could be worse, but then again, that's what the majority voted for. Chok dee, suckers.

"a majority of Thais voted for the Thaksin/Yingluck/Chalerm team."

No they didn't.

[maidu]

a majority of Thais voted for the Thaksin/Yingluck/Chalerm team. Now they get all the other clowns as part of the sordid package. I don't know how it could be worse, but then again, that's what the majority voted for. Chok dee, suckers.

"a majority of Thais voted for the Thaksin/Yingluck/Chalerm team."

No they didn't.

Why don't you articulate - and therby enlighten us to your wisdom.

Should I have said 'a majority of Thai voters voted....."? Or perhaps you've got some equation that shows the Shinawatre got in with a minority of voters.

[whybother]

"a majority of Thais voted for the Thaksin/Yingluck/Chalerm team."

No they didn't.

Why don't you articulate - and therby enlighten us to your wisdom.

Should I have said 'a majority of Thai voters voted....."? Or perhaps you've got some equation that shows the Shinawatre got in with a minority of voters.

48% of valid votes. 44% of actual votes. 33% of eligible voters. 23% of the population.

The only thing they got was a majority of the seats, but theoretically you can get that with 20% of the votes.

[GentlemanJim]

According to Thaksin, who in exile, there will be a major Cabinet reshuffle in June after 111 former executive members of TRT are free to take up political posts.

This from a creature who stated he had washed his hands of politics, yet again we see what a total farce this current maladministration is.

Democracy ?

No, just one megalomaniac creature hell bent on the destruction of Thai society in his blind lust for unadulterated power.

Now, perhaps the Red Shirts will see just how gullible they are and were and how they were and are no more than pawns and cannon fodder for Thaksin, his family and their brown nosing cronies to use in their on going campaign to control Thailand and its people and lead them into the society of debt and labour bondage.

Democracy?This country is a Hypocrisy from all points of view.

No.......it is an Ineptocracy !

Re Thaksin making these statements about how HE is going to reshuffle the cabinet. I am no law expert but there must be something somewhere or even in the constitution that makes all of his shenanigans illegal. Isn't treasonous even? Please ! just a little bit is enough!

[phiphidon]

a majority of Thais voted for the Thaksin/Yingluck/Chalerm team. Now they get all the other clowns as part of the sordid package. I don't know how it could be worse, but then again, that's what the majority voted for. Chok dee, suckers.

"a majority of Thais voted for the Thaksin/Yingluck/Chalerm team."

No they didn't.

Right on cue, the "majority man"...............

[GentlemanJim]

a majority of Thais voted for the Thaksin/Yingluck/Chalerm team. Now they get all the other clowns as part of the sordid package. I don't know how it could be worse, but then again, that's what the majority voted for. Chok dee, suckers.

"a majority of Thais voted for the Thaksin/Yingluck/Chalerm team."

No they didn't.

Right on cue, the "majority man"...............

Right on cue, the 'up Thaksin's ar*e man'.........

[whybother]

Right on cue, the "majority man"...............

If a statement is incorrect, what's wrong with correcting it?

[Rancid]

Finally, about time we got some serious talent back into raiding the finances, it has been pretty lightweight since the Democrats got booted.

Democracy is an ideal of one person one vote, fine and equitable in a perfect world. However it didn't take long for governments to realize that they could buy votes through welfare, and likewise then that the rich could buy candidates through contributions, and then finally that the bankers could just buy the whole bloody lot, all parties and all candidates just to be 100% sure. It is a small investment to to legalize rampant fraud and raping the Treasury.

If still in the West don't get agitated, don't seek fake alternatives where none exist, just bend over, grit your teeth and hope those million dollar bonuses do have a trickle down effect, yeah right. On the bright side here in Thailand it is the Thais being screwed, if you are a true expat you have escaped the buggery at home already (except Americans who are a special tax-to-the-grave and beyond case), enjoy your final years and don't listen to the rancid farce of politics.

[ratcatcher]

a majority of Thais voted for the Thaksin/Yingluck/Chalerm team. Now they get all the other clowns as part of the sordid package. I don't know how it could be worse, but then again, that's what the majority voted for. Chok dee, suckers.

"a majority of Thais voted for the Thaksin/Yingluck/Chalerm team."

No they didn't.

Why don't you articulate - and therby enlighten us to your wisdom.

Should I have said 'a majority of Thai voters voted....."? Or perhaps you've got some equation that shows the Shinawatre got in with a minority of voters.

Perhaps it might make more sense this way: "The majority of eligible Thai voters who actually voted, voted for PTP."