House Speaker Somsak Considers Ending Europe Junket Early

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CONTROVERSIAL TRIP

Somsak considers ending Europe junket early

Khanittha Thepphajorn,

Prapasri Osathanon

Somsak

BANGKOK: -- House Speaker Somsak Kiatsuranont, who is leading a group of 35 people on a jaunt to Europe, may be forced to make a sudden change of plan by joining the investment exhibition in China's Sichuan.

Somsak could land in hot water if he insists on completing the European tour as the House panel on parliamentary affairs is preparing to summon him for investigation after news broke that the nine-day foreign trip may have cost taxpayers up to Bt7 million.

Somsak has come under heavy criticism after media revelations of extravagant and lavish functions packed on the itinerary from September 19-27. Among those on the trip are his daughter Ploypailin.

Somsak said his daughter is paying for her own expenses. He avoided questions about the funds used for this trip but admitted that it was a mistake and he would make sure it is not repeated.

"We are considering whether to cancel the European trip and join the investment expo in China, to which we are officially invited," he said.

Other members whom he brought along and made his trip more controversial were Pheu Thai party-list MP Puwanida Khuplin and her two aides. The media members he invited are not Parliament-beat reporters but those known to have close ties with the government and sports media led by Chakrapan Yomchinda, his wife and daughter.

Chakrapan defended himself on Facebook, saying he picked up all the travel expenses of his wife and daughter.

The European excursion includes a visit to the British Parliament, dinner at Four Seasons Hotel in London, dinner in the city's Bloomsbury area and an overnight stay at the Park Plaza Westminster yesterday. Today, the group will visit Oxford University and the Imperial War Museum.

Tomorrow, after visiting The Economist Group, they will shop at Borough Market and watch the Premier League match between Manchester United and Liverpool. On Sunday, they are scheduled to visit the BBC TV centre and watch another Premier League match, before leaving for France.

The group will visit the French Parliament and Louvre Museum in Paris, go on a dinner cruise on the Seine on Tuesday and head to Brussels on Wednesday to visit the European parliament and the Atomium monument.

Pitch Pongsawat, a political scientist at Chulalongkorn University, wrote on Facebook that he will go to Europe with the House speaker but only for academic study - the same purpose given by Virot Ali, an academic from the faculty of political science. Pitch appears on the name list as a columnist from the Kom Chad Leuk newspaper, but said he was participating not as a columnist but as a scholar of governmental affairs.

"I took a leave of absence and informed my office about the trip,," he said.

As an academic he will gather data about the British state of affairs as well as the country's press, city and parliament, he said. He would go to see the soccer matches on the weekend, he said, adding that the football programme was supported by Siam Sport newspaper.

-- The Nation 2012-09-21

[Thai at Heart]

Got to lovr these stories. They just cant conceive of the concept of public money can they.

[Buchholz]

the House panel on parliamentary affairs is preparing to summon him for investigation

They'll have to wait for him to return from either of the two trips.

btw, Parliament is in session now during the Parliament President's boondoggle.

Could the Parliament President not wait until Parliament is in recess before departing with his entourage on his Premier League junket?

.

Edited September 21, 2012 by Buchholz

[MikeOboe57]

He avoided questions about the funds used for this trip but admitted that it was a mistake and he would make sure it is not repeated.

An honest mistake

[colinneil]

7 million baht they could watch premier league on tv. Adamn sight cheaper. Oh no problem thai tax payer will fund the trip.Lets go to houses of parliment to make it look good. what will they learn at the imperial war museum????

[moe666]

You guys just do not understand Thainess

[slapout]

It almost seems to be a contest with the various government groups, as who can spend the most in the shortest time, and accomplish the least good for Thailand. The out right lies about individuals and their business association for this trip as well as the cock and bull story to even arrange and fund this holiday for lackies could probably be viewed as embellizment of funds.

It may be like the other useless projects going on, they are creating a smoke screen for the real major loss of public funds in another area.

[saltandpepper]

Resignation maybe?

[Thai at Heart]

It almost seems to be a contest with the various government groups, as who can spend the most in the shortest time, and accomplish the least good for Thailand. The out right lies about individuals and their business association for this trip as well as the cock and bull story to even arrange and fund this holiday for lackies could probably be viewed as embellizment of funds.

It may be like the other useless projects going on, they are creating a smoke screen for the real major loss of public funds in another area.

Study the thames barrier perhaps?

[GentlemanJim]

7 million baht they could watch premier league on tv. Adamn sight cheaper. Oh no problem thai tax payer will fund the trip.Lets go to houses of parliment to make it look good. what will they learn at the imperial war museum????

The chance to understand the concepts of Honour, Integrity and ultimate self sacrifice for one's country ! Now that alone would make it 7 Mill well spent

Edited September 21, 2012 by GentlemanJim

[Pimay1]

It almost seems to be a contest with the various government groups, as who can spend the most in the shortest time, and accomplish the least good for Thailand. The out right lies about individuals and their business association for this trip as well as the cock and bull story to even arrange and fund this holiday for lackies could probably be viewed as embellizment of funds.

It may be like the other useless projects going on, they are creating a smoke screen for the real major loss of public funds in another area.

Don't be to hasty with opinions about this much needed journey by our fearless leaders to make Thailand a better place. We have to wait until the Yingluck/reds apologists wake up and come online to get the true picture of why this trip is necessary and all the benifits we will see from the 7 million Baht investment.

[longtom]

He avoided questions about the funds used for this trip but admitted that it was a mistake and he would make sure it is not repeated.

An honest mistake

He probably meant the questions were a mistake and he'll make sure nobody will ask again .

[OzMick]

Mistake that can be easily rectified - give him the bill.

[tenhoursaway]

Mistake that can be easily rectified - give him the bill.

+1

[Nickymaster]

He avoided questions about the funds used for this trip but admitted that it was a mistake and he would make sure it is not repeated.

An honest mistake

Those PT crooks have come to a stage where they will just say:

"Next week I am going to steal 7 million from the tax-payers which I am going to use for a holiday for me and my friends. It will be a honest mistake and won’t happen again".

Edited September 21, 2012 by Nickymaster

[Buchholz]

Today, House Speaker Somsak claimed the trip was a good program, that there was nothing untoward about it, and that he was looking forward to watching the Premier League games.

Further details in the other paper.

.

[Boss]

Let them pay this private luxury tour themselves......abuse of power - nothing else

[SICHONSTEVE]

He avoided questions about the funds used for this trip but admitted that it was a mistake and he would make sure it is not repeated.

An honest mistake

Just like his idol Thaksin's honest mistakes!!!

[yoshiwara]

A pig with his snout in the trough supported by PT's forum supporters who will furiously look the other way. Maybe one of them can label this little 'extravaganza' 'contentious'. A little speech against the hi-so establishment should take our minds off the antics of the House Speaker. One of Thaksin's finest boys.

[drdoom6996]

Resignation maybe?

Not a chance. Sentence suspended. And because he came home early he gets to keep his MP status.

[drdoom6996]

Today, House Speaker Somsak claimed the trip was a good program, that there was nothing untoward about it, and that he was looking forward to watching the Premier League games.

Further details in the other paper.

.

Sign me up for the next free trip. I'd rather watch cricket though.

[Dap]

Ok, Please tell me if I understand this correctly.

1. He's the House Speaker.

2. Parliament is in Session without him.

3. He's (just barely) trying to make this (taxpayers) 7 million baht junket look official.

Did he just figure that no one would question his little holiday because THAT is just the way it's done?

Sometimes, all I can do is shake my head.

Edited September 21, 2012 by Dap

[JoeLing]

7 million baht they could watch premier league on tv. Adamn sight cheaper. Oh no problem thai tax payer will fund the trip.Lets go to houses of parliment to make it look good. what will they learn at the imperial war museum????

The chance to understand the concepts of Honour, Integrity and ultimate self sacrifice for one's country ........

Aren't you asking a bit too much? Maybe one, maybe the other but ask to understand three things at once?

[JoeLing]

He avoided questions about the funds used for this trip but admitted that it was a mistake and he would make sure it is not repeated

Well, at least not within the usual memory span of the majority of Thais.

Tomorrow, it will be just an other mistake, Australia and New Zealand to see the rugby

or will it be Dubai? Gambling a bit on the camel race?

[beano2274]

What is his position exactly? If he is the House Speaker then this has nothing to do with his job. if however he was a Minister in some tourist organisation it might be considered a reasonable trip, but not for that price.

As a Thai company sponsors the shirts of other Premier League clubs, would it not be better to go to those games instead of the Liverpool vs Man Utd game!!!!

[khunken]

The next trip is likely to be to Singapore to meet Thak.........wait, to see the F1 race. After all, aren't they considering Chiang Mai for F1 (2050?).

[Buchholz]

What is his position exactly? If he is the House Speaker then this has nothing to do with his job. if however he was a Minister in some tourist organisation it might be considered a reasonable trip, but not for that price.

He's definitely House Speaker. Here he is at work.

Role model House Speaker and Pheu Thai MP Somsak Kiatsuranon sleeping in Parliament

[americaninbangkok]

Sometimes, all I can do is shake my head.

You forgot to sigh... shake your head and sigh.

[americaninbangkok]

He's definitely House Speaker. Here he is at work.

Role model House Speaker and Pheu Thai MP Somsak Kiatsuranon sleeping in Parliament

This was taken during the third reading of his inner constitution.

[americaninbangkok]

You guys just do not understand Thainess

Does the definition include anything along the lines of "able to steal taxpayers' money with no shame, guilt, or fear of consequences"?