Thai Govt Has Set Up Power Network Of Lackeys: Banyat

[webfact]

EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW

Govt has set up power network of lackeys: Banyat

Somroutai Sapsomboon,

Prapasri Osathanon

The Nation

BANGKOK: -- In an interview with The Nation, Democrat party-list MP and adviser Banyat Bantadtan expressed concern over negative aspects of the ruling party's marketing strategies and fear that abuse of political power over permanent officials could plunge the country into danger.

"The use of marketing techniques has gone too far and has become propaganda," he said.

"This has two points of danger. First, the people will have false hope. For example, the government promised that there would be no flooding but it turned out otherwise.

"Second, the marketing strategy will bury real problems from public attention and the government will use less effort to solve problems."

Banyat said the government had tightening its grip on power by transferring favoured officials to key positions.

He said government moves to set up a power network would eventually weaken the country.

"The government is establishing its power network by transferring permanent officials. It has been doing this blatantly and shamelessly."

This would be fine if the government promoted favoured officials who were qualified and capable. But it was dangerous for the country if the Yingluck administration appointed unqualified officials to key positions.

"The trend is very worrying for the country. Think about it. Permanent officials are a mechanism of the country but these mechanisms will turn from serving the country to serve politicians."

One of the dangers of the government appointing unqualified officials to key positions was they felt a debt of gratitude needed to be repaid when serving the administration, and that distorted information on certain issues.

He cited the secondment of Gen Chatree Thatti, the previous deputy permanent secretary for Defence, as an example of abuse of power by politicians in the government.

The transfer by the Defence minister prompted Chatree to file a lawsuit with the Administrative Court, which issued an injunction to suspend his secondment to an inactive position.

Banyat said another example of abuse of power was the transfer of Pol Col Dusadee Arayawuth from his position as secretary-general of the Public Sector Anti-Corruption Commission (PACC) to become a deputy permanent secretary for Justice.

Banyat said Dusadee came out to claim that his transfer was not political persecution only after he said he was carrying out probes into several cases that would upset certain people close to politicians in power. As a result, Dusadee's about-face could not hide the real motive for his being moved.

"Most of all, it will be very sad if the new PACC chief is Pol Col Prawet Moolpramook [deputy director-general of the Department of Special Investigation]," Banyat said.

"Many people may remember that when red-shirt people gave him bouquets for carrying probes into the 2010 crackdown cases, he said he should instead give flowers to the red shirts for sacrificing themselves to serve the country although they have no position."

Banyat said the society should monitor these abuses of power and express opposition to such practices - public sentiment was needed to warn politicians to behave.

"Now, the country is in danger because regression has happened in all circles. A sense of rejection has been abundant and the public will not accept politicians [appointing] permanent officials. In the past permanent secretaries won public acceptance and could serve as buffer zones between permanent officials and politicians but things have changed."

The Democrat called on former permanent secretaries and bodies representing permanent officials to come out protect good officials from persecution by politicians.

He said former officials and the associations should come out to cry foul immediately if they detect any irregularity, as it was difficult for permanent officials to fight and defend themselves.

Banyat said it wasn't true that the Democrats had not been digging for information to expose alleged wrongdoing of the government. But he said doing such work was difficult because permanent officials were reluctant to cooperate.

He said the Democrats had to retaliate against the government on a daily basis because those in power were also trying to steal the show and dominate the media.

-- The Nation 2012-09-17

[dcutman]

Govt has set up a power network of Lackeys

Govt is a network of Lackeys

This is a more accurate statement IMHO.

[Curt1591]

This holds true for most governments.

[Fozfromoz]

To use a bit of coarse Australian vernacular, the parties in opposition are there " to keep the bastards honest" so Banyat is doing his job.

As for society monitoring abuses of power, yeah, but then again, it's the job of the opposition to highlight, debate, correct as a government function.

[Moruya]

To use a bit of coarse Australian vernacular, the parties in opposition are there " to keep the bastards honest" so Banyat is doing his job.

As for society monitoring abuses of power, yeah, but then again, it's the job of the opposition to highlight, debate, correct as a government function.

The Great Australian Adjective seems to apply to most in the PTP

[Nickymaster]

This holds true for most governments.

No it doesn't.

[Nickymaster]

^{"Most of all, it will be very sad if the new PACC chief is Pol Col Prawet Moolpramook [deputy director-general of the Department of Special Investigation]," Banyat said.}

^{"Many people may remember that when red-shirt people gave him bouquets for carrying probes into the 2010 crackdown cases, he said he should instead give flowers to the red shirts for sacrificing themselves to serve the country although they have no position."}

^{So the guy who said the above might be in charge of the Public Sector Anti-Corruption Commission (PACC).}

^{Thaksin is still fighting fire with fire. He really hasn't learned s..t the last 6 years. Up to the next 6 years.}

[SICHONSTEVE]

This holds true for most governments.

Not to this extent it doesn't - apart from N. Korea, Iran and other dictatorial nations!!!

[bigbamboo]

Lucky for Thailand the Shinawatra family are so good at what they do considering Mr S himself runs the country, his (ex) brother in law is Chief of Police, his cousin is the Foreign Minister, his sister is the Prime Minister and slated to become the Defence Minister not to mention the influence his ex wife, Pojaman and sister Yaowapa have on the ruling party.

[Payboy]

public sentiment was needed to warn politicians to behave

Hope that covers watching porn in parliament.

[Cardiff1963]

Should this not read "All Govt's set up power network of lackeys admits Banyat"

[Curt1591]

This holds true for most governments.

No it doesn't.

In politics, as in business, it is most always who you know, not what you know.

If you don't toe the the company / party line, you won't last long.

[chotthee]

Banyat who?

[Noistar]

what's the problem?

The ruling party were democratically elected and as such has a democratic mandate.

However they do appear to have redefined Democracy to allow them to do whatever they want without being challenged. Essentially they ARE doing what they CAN do.

They are of course trying to remove any further barriers (such as rule of law), which restricts the scope of their definition of Democracy.

If they succeed in their quest to gain the 'perfect' Democracy, perhaps there won't be a need for another one.

I'm not sure what the people who don't feel they are represented by the ruling party will think (or do!).

Perhaps there is a problem after all.

[Jaivin2011]

Though everyone knows that the ruling Pheu Thai backed by Thaksin is corrupted and greedy but what about the Democrats......they are no different. The problem is that the people have no better choices......all the current politicans are simple corrupted, self-serving crroks. what is needed is a new breed of honest politicans with no affliations to any of the old groups or names.

[Pi Sek]

One side says that Thaksin was kicked out because he was too dirty. The other side says he was kicked out because he was too popular. I think that he was kicked out because he was moving Thailand away from a democracy - in exactly the same way that Banyat is suggesting is happening now.

I do hope that Peua Thai have the good sense to become more democratic rather than go the other way, otherwise we'll see history repeat itself, and the last 6 years' history have not been good to Thailand.