Somsak's Trip To Europe Paid For By Leftover Cash: Source

[webfact]

Somsak's trip 'paid for by leftover cash'

The Nation

BANGKOK: -- The trip to Europe by the House Speaker and his entourage was made possible by a surplus in the Parliament's 2012 budget, a source who asked not to be named said yesterday.

The source also said Speaker Somsak Kiatsuranont had initially proposed that the money be spent on seminars and called on MCOT vice chairman Chakrapan Yomjinda to organise these events. However, part of the surplus was unspent, and hence used to sponsor Somsak's trip to the United Kingdom, France and Belgium.

The 2012 fiscal year ends at the end of this month, and if the money allocated does not get spent it must be returned to the Finance Ministry.

The source said the two seminars organised by Chakrapan, who was a former candidate for Parliament from the now-defunct Thai Rak Thai party, included speakers whose ideas were mainly in line with the ruling Pheu Thai Party and the red shirts.

The seminar participants included former Thai Rak Thai members Chaturon Chaisaeng and Bhokin Bhalakula as well as Nitirat Group leader Piyabutr Saengkanokkul and political scientist Pitch Pongsawat - who is also part of Somsak's entourage to Europe.

Chakrapan and his daughter chose those invited to join the trip, the source said. In addition, the journalists and academics invited to join the trip were seen as having pro-Pheu Thai and pro-red-shirt sentiments.

The National Press Council of Thailand and the News Broadcasting Council of Thailand yesterday issued a joint statement saying they would look into the issue and see if the journalistic code of ethics had been compromised, before announcing what measures it would take.

Somsak has been heavily criticised for taking a large group of people and representatives of the media to Europe on a so-called study trip, which is costing Bt7 million of the taxpayer's money and includes many extravagant outings.

Pheu Thai party-list MP Korkaew Pikulthong, who is also co-leader of the red shirts, said yesterday that government officials should be encouraged to visit developed countries so they can bring back knowledge to help develop this nation. For instance, Somsak will study the workings of the British Parliament and see how they can be applied back home.

The MP also said that every House official's visit overseas should be investigated, adding that he would like to know whether Democrat party-list MP Boonyod Sooktinthai had gone overseas during his time in office, and had taken House officials with him. Boonyod had said earlier that his committee, tasked to look into House affairs, would investigate Somsak's trip.

Korkaew said it was normal for government officials to take their aides or family members on trips overseas, provided they covered their expenses themselves.

Although Somsak earlier said he would revise his travel plans, his spokesman Wattana Sengpairoh said yesterday that the Speaker had decided to go ahead and taken the scheduled flight yesterday.

"Preparations for this trip were made two months ago by House deputy secretary-general Kamphi Ditthakorn. The initial plan was to treat the accompanying reporters to a cruise down the Seine in Paris, but deputy secretary-general Supamas Noichan, who is in charge of the Finance and Budget Bureau, did not approve it because of the lack of details. Then Kamphi agreed to adjust the itinerary," Wattana said.

He added that he did not expect any more problems and would check the details before revealing them at a news conference.

-- The Nation 2012-09-22

[kurnell]

Assume they just took some small change from the top of the pile.

[noitom]

Why don't we ever read that these Thais ever gave a surplus sum or made a largeor even small contribution to Father Joe's Klong Toey slum project? Or some other charity.

[tominbkk]

Outrageous and is nothing but a big <deleted> to the Thai people. Make him accountable, he should have to pay it all back and then be sacked.

[MikeOboe57]

Well, this government is really doing a thorough job. After spending huge sums on collapsing flood walls, "water-pushing machines", rice pledging schemes and junk tablets they scrape the bottom of the treasury to make sure no "leftover cash" goes to waste and blow the rest on lavish holidays for the FOTs (friends of Thaksin).

And MP Korkaew Pikulthong insults the electorate by stating

[...] government officials should be encouraged to visit developed countries so they can bring back knowledge to help develop this nation. For instance, Somsak will study the workings of the British Parliament and see how they can be applied back home.

If you think this is as low as it can get, wait until tomorrow.

[asiawatcher]

More ducking and weaving by the Govt and blatantly holding the Thai populace in contempt. I am sure those funds would be greatly appreciated by orphanages and poor RED recipients in the bankrupt sectors of Thailand's rural community. Champagne or starvation - a hard choice for 35 REDS in power.

[fareastguy]

The surplus would have made life a lot easier for those up to their necks in water at the moment, or even those still waiting for compensation from last years flooding, but then what does the government care??

Shame on them all.

[jerrysteve]

Thats a lot of cash obviously taken from the Petty Cash Box. The people's cash box.

[Jaivin2011]

Stop talking about his expensive holiday trip please! If anything, blame it on th garbage who voted this corrupted pig in.

[moe666]

Wondering where the defenders of the Red Faith have gotten too. Maybe they are carrying the bags of the elite.

[Moruya]

Behild the Unwanton thievery of the Thai amart

[jonclark]

Behild the Unwanton thievery of the Thai amart

Ahh yes Moruya, lest we forget this is thievery in the name of the poor though, same, same .......but different (thievery [and hypocrisy] nevertheless)

[chotthee]

What a waste of tax payer money.

Thai civil servant should be ban from traveling overseas at the expense of tax payer.

If Thailand needs to learn from Farang, Thailand should invite the Farang and their Family over for an extended work-holiday, and make sure to put them up at the Oriental and fly First Class to ensure the Farang collaboration to the fullest.

This will ensure Thailand gain the max, and cost Thai tax-payer the least.

[arthurboy]

Somsak will study the workings of the British Parliament and see how they can be applied back home.

So, K. Somsak, after 60 odd years and umpteenth governments, 19 coups, numerous constitutions, appointed experts, academics, panels, commissions, full and sub committees etc., you and every other so-called politician in Thailand - irrespective of your political or personal allegiances - still don't have the faintest idea how to govern the country.

Disingenuous, weasel words.

[Thai at Heart]

Somsak will study the workings of the British Parliament and see how they can be applied back home.

So, K. Somsak, after 60 odd years and umpteenth governments, 19 coups, numerous constitutions, appointed experts, academics, panels, commissions, full and sub committees etc., you and every other so-called politician in Thailand - irrespective of your political or personal allegiances - still don't have the faintest idea how to govern the country.

Disingenuous, weasel words.

As speaker it is scary that he admitted he wanted to study this.

[MunterHunter]

Didnt the government say there was a short fall in tax monies and they needed to find a way to generate more revenue to pay for their policies/budget next year?

Hint: Here is a way to save some 7,000,000 THB

As my grandma used to say, watch the pennies and the pounds will watch themselves.

Edited September 22, 2012 by MunterHunter

[culicine]

I'll have to remind my wife who is a college director that its ok to dip into the 60 million surplus of her institution! What's wrong with it, the leaders of the country do it so it must be 'ok' - read culturally acceptable.

[scorecard]

Behild the Unwanton thievery of the Thai amart

So your saying that this character and his ilk are the amart?

I thought the red machine was at war with the amart?

Just what do you mean?

[FOODLOVER]

Slacker, 7 mill is chump change! Upgrade!

[Moruya]

Behild the Unwanton thievery of the Thai amart

So your saying that this character and his ilk are the amart?

I thought the red machine was at war with the amart?

Just what do you mean?

You can find divine inspiration in George Orwell's Animal Farm

[Thai at Heart]

Behild the Unwanton thievery of the Thai amart

So your saying that this character and his ilk are the amart?

I thought the red machine was at war with the amart?

Just what do you mean?

You can find divine inspiration in George Orwell's Animal Farm

That's not making it into the curriculum here any time soon. Probably be banned for endangering national security.

[Moruya]

Behild the Unwanton thievery of the Thai amart

So your saying that this character and his ilk are the amart?

I thought the red machine was at war with the amart?

Just what do you mean?

You can find divine inspiration in George Orwell's Animal Farm

That's not making it into the curriculum here any time soon. Probably be banned for endangering national security.

The parallels are incredible though

[GentlemanJim]

Behild the Unwanton thievery of the Thai amart

So your saying that this character and his ilk are the amart?

I thought the red machine was at war with the amart?

Just what do you mean?

The leaders of the reds and yellows are all the amart. They play a game with the rest of the Thai population, taking it in turns to have it believed they are helping the poor and care for their welfare. The truth is they all intend on keeping the population subdued whilst they continue to rape and pillage the resources of this country, including its trusting people. A pox on them all.

[jaltsc]

Why don't we ever read that these Thais ever gave a surplus sum or made a largeor even small contribution to Father Joe's Klong Toey slum project? Or some other charity.

That would be the Buddhist thing to do. But, where's the fun in that?

[Sayonarax]

So tell us what did you learnt by going to these places that you couldn't just Google and research for free at home.

I know Thai society still lives like its in the 1900's but we still have internet.

[OzMick]

Simple failure to understand that it's not HIS money because it's in his budget. Thaksin has the same concept failure, choosing to buy his votes from the public purse.

OTOH maybe he'll learn what happens to MPs who fiddle their expenses.

[15Peter20]

What a waste of tax payer money.

Thai civil servant should be ban from traveling overseas at the expense of tax payer.

If Thailand needs to learn from Farang, Thailand should invite the Farang and their Family over for an extended work-holiday, and make sure to put them up at the Oriental and fly First Class to ensure the Farang collaboration to the fullest.

This will ensure Thailand gain the max, and cost Thai tax-payer the least.

You may not be familiar with the way budgets are typically set not just in Thai government departments but others around the world too. Guess what happens next year if the budget for a department isn't spent this year. The budget is cut the following year. What department boss would want to see that, be they honest or not?

I worked for a while with UK Customs & Excise and this applies to that as well as other government agencies. It's no big deal - it's the way things work in the civil service. Is it wasteful? Certainly can be, but don't have a go at this guy for doing the same thing that others in his position do as a matter of routine.

The only thing that would need checking would be the relevance of his journey to his job and the perceived value to the department gained from it. This should be measured not just in terms of his initial justification for going but by any recommendations made and implemented as a result of it, and that can only become fully apparent after some time.

Edited September 22, 2012 by 15Peter20

[bigbamboo]

Yet more bullshit from the government.

The level of disrespect they appear to have for the electorate is shocking.

[Gweiloman]

Wondering where the defenders of the Red Faith have gotten too. Maybe they are carrying the bags of the elite.

You are obviously ignorant of the fact that such "study" trips have been going on for years, way before Thaksin ever came to power.

[Baerboxer]

Outrageous and is nothing but a big <deleted> to the Thai people. Make him accountable, he should have to pay it all back and then be sacked.

Yes he should. But he won't be - nothing will happen to him or any of his cronies currently pillaging as much as they can. All those poor people waiting for for promised flood compensation etc etc - as you correctly say the attitude is a big <deleted> and sadly, they know they will get away with it.

Edited September 22, 2012 by Baerboxer