Thai Cabinet Members 'Good People': Prem

[webfact]

Cabinet members 'good people': Prem

The Nation May

BANGKOK: -- Privy Council President General Prem Tinsulanonda said yesterday that he believed the members of the Cabinet are all good people, as they had promised to serve the country and taken a vow before His Majesty the King.

He added that he believed corrupt officials would be cursed.

Prem spoke at a seminar arranged by the National Anti-Corruption Commission on the topic of public policy corruption attended by many senior officials including Deputy Prime Minister and Interior Minister Yongyuth Wichaidit, Agriculture Minister Theera Wongsamut, Election Commission chairman Apichart Sukhagganond and Chief Ombudsman Phanit Nitithanprapas.

"My speech may be neither enjoyable nor melodious; listen carelessly and it may sound like criticism or I'm blaming the organisations, but please excuse me, as I don't have that intention," Prem began his speech by saying.

He compared corruption or cheating to a serious disease that can't be cured. He gave the example of Singapore, which he said was the least corrupt country, but where some corruption still existed.

And while public policy corruption was a form of corruption involving government leaders or, to put it more clearly, Cabinet members, Prem said he didn't think the Cabinet members were bad.

"The Cabinet members are good people. They are wise, with good conscience and a willingness to be patriotic; besides, they have made a pledge to His Majesty and have a duty to keep their word," Prem said.

He asked all the audience members to be good and use their authority to support good people in serving the country and getting rid of bad people.

"I believe Pha Siam Dhevathiraj, the country's guardian spirit, will protect good people, and let's wish that Pha Siam Dhevathiraj will curse those who are corrupt," Prem said.

-- The Nation 2012-05-26

[Time Traveller]

Should we just close this topic now?

[LuckyLew]

Yes, they are all top quality people

and the quality is sure to improve once the 111 return

[FOODLOVER]

Seriously?

[somtumlion]

And the grassroots red shirt anger grows

[Crushdepth]

Damning with faint praise.

[OzMick]

They are good people because they have taken an oath; complying with it is not necessary?

Does he really expect us to believe not one minister was given his job as a political payback rather than recognition of his ability, or in spite of lack of it?

[Bagwan]

I am speechless. Perhaps Prem should have followed my example. Good people do not make extravagant promises to the electorate which they know they cannot keep.

[thequietman]

After leaving the meeting it was reported that prems nose grew by an amazing 5 inches.

reporters, nor he, had any clue as to why.

Edited May 26, 2012 by thequietman

[ratcatcher]

Given Prem's audience, I imagine most of them were squirming in their seats with both guilt and embarrassment.

[Moruya]

I think Prem shows a remarkable sense of humour.

Sent from my Galaxy Nexus using Thaivisa Connect App

[whybother]

This goes along with the "He's already rich, so he doesn't need to be corrupt" quote.

[Thaddeus]

He should have started his speech with.....

"I don't want to insult you all, but........"

[ballpoint]

I think many are missing the real message he was giving

"The Cabinet members are good people. They are wise, with good conscience and a willingness to be patriotic; besides, they have made a pledge to His Majesty and have a duty to keep their word," Prem said.

A reminder, and a veiled warning.

[jayboy]

Actually looking ahead to posterity and the judgement of history I believe it will be seen that Prem's influence was profoundly damaging to the causes he held most dear.A terrible irony.

In the meantime, as far as the people of Thailand are concerned, the closing passage from Orwell's Animal Farm is hard to avoid remembering.

"The creatures outside looked from pig to man, and from man to pig, and from pig to man again; but already it was impossible to say which was which."

[OzMick]

Given Prem's audience, I imagine most of them were squirming in their seats with both guilt and embarrassment.

Some people learn to suppress both those emotions from an early age.

[noitom]

Corruption is not possible because they have taken an oath. It seems that this contradicts the basic premise that corruption is the root of the problem.

[OzMick]

Actually looking ahead to posterity and the judgement of history I believe it will be seen that Prem's influence was profoundly damaging to the causes he held most dear.A terrible irony.

In the meantime, as far as the people of Thailand are concerned, the closing passage from Orwell's Animal Farm is hard to avoid remembering.

"The creatures outside looked from pig to man, and from man to pig, and from pig to man again; but already it was impossible to say which was which."

In the current political situation in Thailand, you would be much better referring to 1984.

[WhizBang]

I think many are missing the real message he was giving

"The Cabinet members are good people. They are wise, with good conscience and a willingness to be patriotic; besides, they have made a pledge to His Majesty and have a duty to keep their word," Prem said.

A reminder, and a veiled warning.

Given the character of those he was speaking to, I am sure they either didn't get the veiled message, or just didn't care.

[Bagwan]

He should have started his speech with.....

"I don't want to insult you all, but........"

It requires a modicum of intelligence to realise that you have been insulted.

[Thaddeus]

He should have started his speech with.....

"I don't want to insult you all, but........"

It requires a modicum of intelligence to realise that you have been insulted.

Which is why he would have easily got away with it

[NCFC]

So no coup this year.

[jayboy]

In the current political situation in Thailand, you would be much better referring to 1984.

Yes 1984 is another novel (often invoked but rarely understood or even read) by George Orwell but your point is obscure.

Do you mean the Big Brother aspect? If so how does this relate to Thailand now? I can only think of prosecutions for LM ramped up under Abhisit and further under Yingluck.

[phiphidon]

In the current political situation in Thailand, you would be much better referring to 1984.

Yes 1984 is another novel (often invoked but rarely understood or even read) by George Orwell but your point is obscure.

Do you mean the Big Brother aspect? If so how does this relate to Thailand now? I can only think of prosecutions for LM ramped up under Abhisit and further under Yingluck.

Ramped up further by Yingluck?

Just how many LM prosecutions have occured under Yinglucks time in government that originated during that time?

[Buchholz]

I think many are missing the real message he was giving

"The Cabinet members are good people. They are wise, with good conscience and a willingness to be patriotic; besides, they have made a pledge to His Majesty and have a duty to keep their word," Prem said.

A reminder, and a veiled warning.

The other paper's article today has quotes much more pointed.

.

[jayboy]

In the current political situation in Thailand, you would be much better referring to 1984.

Yes 1984 is another novel (often invoked but rarely understood or even read) by George Orwell but your point is obscure.

Do you mean the Big Brother aspect? If so how does this relate to Thailand now? I can only think of prosecutions for LM ramped up under Abhisit and further under Yingluck.

Ramped up further by Yingluck?

Just how many LM prosecutions have occured under Yinglucks time in government that originated during that time?

Not sure and it is possible that most of these originated from before this government's time.However the important point is that under this government irresponsible,cynical and cruel LM investigations and prosecutions have continued at a rapid pace (quite unknown say 20 years ago) and it is indeed policy that there should be no changes to the law.No doubt this all part of the behind the scenes bargaining over various other non related issues.

[OzMick]

In the current political situation in Thailand, you would be much better referring to 1984.

Yes 1984 is another novel (often invoked but rarely understood or even read) by George Orwell but your point is obscure.

Do you mean the Big Brother aspect? If so how does this relate to Thailand now? I can only think of prosecutions for LM ramped up under Abhisit and further under Yingluck.

I was referring to New-speak, and institutions whose titles are opposite of the real interests. We have the red horde ranting about democracy and double standards with no apparent understanding of the terms, a Truth and Reconciliation Committee which apparently seeks neither, a DSI which hides crimes, a Foreign Minister appointed to be the servant of a criminal citizen, criminals appointed as MPs while the DSI fails to investigate their crimes, a fugitive criminal who is not even a member of the governing party appointing ministers while his sister performs a charade, and now a law to make any criminal behaviour legal if it can be portrayed as political.

Next will be a constitution change to make treason rewardable.

Actually Orwell never went that far, it would have made his story too incredible.

[Time Traveller]

In the current political situation in Thailand, you would be much better referring to 1984.

Yes 1984 is another novel (often invoked but rarely understood or even read) by George Orwell but your point is obscure.

Do you mean the Big Brother aspect? If so how does this relate to Thailand now? I can only think of prosecutions for LM ramped up under Abhisit and further under Yingluck.

It means that no criticism of the state is tolerated at all. People live in fear of speaking the true and instead must believe only the manufactured truth

Edited May 26, 2012 by Time Traveller

[Reasonableman]

A fine piece of irony and sarcasm. Hopefully, it made a few worms squirm, at least. Those who thought an accommodation had been reached had best think again.

[hellodolly]

They are good people because they have taken an oath; complying with it is not necessary?

Does he really expect us to believe not one minister was given his job as a political payback rather than recognition of his ability, or in spite of lack of it?

Also with the condition that he do all in his power to white wash Thaksin.