Thai House Speaker To Be Invited To Explain His Study Trip To Europe

[webfact]

Speaker to be invited to explain his 'study trip'

Khanittha Thepphajorn,

Niphawan Kaewrakmook

The Nation

BANGKOK: -- The parliamentary committee on House of Representatives Affairs will meet on Thursday to discuss the "study trip" House Speaker Somsak Kiatsuranont led to Europe, panel chairman Pheu Thai MP Paijit Srivorakhan said yesterday.

Democrat MP Satit Pitutecha has asked the committee to investigate Somsak's "study trip" with close aides and reporters.

This development comes amid news of another controversial trip planned by the House standing committee on corruption this weekend.

Paijit said the House of Representatives Affairs panel would invite Somsak and the deputy secretary-general of Parliament, Khampee Ditthakorn to a meeting held to consider a project to promote democracy in the parliamentary system.

Paijit said the expenses of Somsak's trip were within the Bt8 million budget set. He insisted that all the spending of Somsak's entourage was covered by Parliament considering they had been invited to tag along by the parliament president.

Somsak's spokesman Wattana Sengpairoh yesterday denied media reports that Somsak went to France and Belgium, saying he only went to the UK. He added that it was normal for members of House committees to go overseas on study trips.

He also denied that reporters invited on the trip were only those who favoured the red shirts, saying representatives from The Nation and Bangkok Post were also invited, though nobody at Asia Update was invited.

However, Wattana's claim was disputed by both papers and others. Academic and columnist Pitch Pongsawat, who was identified as representing Kom Chad Luek, said he joined the trip as an academic and was not there on behalf of the Thai daily.

Wattana told reporters about many tours that members of House panels went to this year to back his claim that Somsak's trip was legitimate.

Meanwhile, Krungthep Turakij has found another luxurious excursion that may contravene parliamentary rules: the House standing committee on corruption and malfeasance plans to spend Bt2.38 million of state funds visiting Hong Kong and South Korea from Friday until next Tuesday.

The panel, led by Wiroj Pao-in, stated in its request for funds from Somsak that members wanted to take the trip to learn about anti-corruption work in the two countries. However, the itinerary suggests the trip is mainly a sightseeing tour organised by Petra Travel for a "special tour of Hong Kong and Korea for five days, three nights".

Details showed that 12 panel members were going on the trip, with a daily allowance of Bt9,300 each, in addition to hotel expenses of Bt30,000 per member. Parliament would also pay Bt30,000 for the accommodation for each member.

In addition to these 12, 10 others on the trip will get a daily allowance of Bt6,300 and hotel allowance of Bt15,730 each.

Other costs include Bt300,000 for a reception, Bt482,300 for transport, Bt7,500 to hire an interpreter, Bt9,000 for passports issued for two specialists and seven parliamentary staff.

Details of the itinerary show that members on the trip will be eating at top restaurants. A feast of lobsters sashimi, chamber nautilus sashimi, boiled shrimps and several other expensive dishes has been arranged for them on the first day they arrive in Hong Kong at the Lei Yue Mun Restaurant. Sites where corruption panel members will visit to "study" for their "work" include Repulse Bay, Victoria Peak, Hong Kong Jewellery factory and the Jump Show.

A former House panel chairman, who asked not to be named, alleged that Somsak often approved foreign trips for panels that went against regulations enacted by former Parliament president Wan Muhammad Noor Matha. He said several panels often sought funds together, which forced Somsak to approve the trips in a rush.

-- The Nation 2012-09-25

[asiawatcher]

Just look at this stupidity of what this article tries to explain, favoured journalists coming along for the ride, ridiculous costs associated with the trip, expensive restaurants, (look at the transport costs) and all the usual 'justification' and denials of side trips et al. I mean, really? The privileged Govt jobs with perks and no report whatsoever on the business side of the trip and the justification of what was actually achieved, if anything. And the corruption and misappropriation of the public's money continues unabated. By all means - vote them in again!!!

Edited September 25, 2012 by asiawatcher

[yoshiwara]

So the newspapers deny that they were invited.

Somebody is telling porkies.

Edited September 25, 2012 by yoshiwara

[Siripon]

So the newspapers deny that they were invited.

Somebody is telling porkies.

Don't worry, I expect you'll find them to be white lies, or even an 'honest mistake'.

[rkidlad]

Invited to explain the trip? Does this mean he can politely refuse.

Normally someone would be summoned to explain such a waste of money. Probably just poor reporting as usual from the abomination newspaper.

Oh, well. At least they were kind enough to pay 5,000 Baht if your home was affected by the floods.

[Buchholz]

Somsak's spokesman Wattana Sengpairoh yesterday

denied that reporters invited on the trip were only those who favoured the red shirts, saying representatives from The Nation and Bangkok Post were also invited

However, Wattana's claim was disputed by both papers

So the newspapers deny that they were invited.

Somebody is telling porkies.

Curious how Wattana Sengpairoh is now relegated to just being a spokesman for the house speaker ( a position no previous house speaker felt the need for someone else to be hired to do AFAIK ) after being a Thai Rak Thai Party MP, a People Power Party MP, as well as a Pheu Thai Party MP.... all as a constituency MP.

What happened with his constituency last July that they rejected him ?

Perhaps he told one too many porkies to them?

Wattana, the thrice-MP and now the ironic-sounding Spokesman for the Speaker (going through metal detector).

.

Edited September 25, 2012 by Buchholz

[jaltsc]

Invited to explain the trip? Does this mean he can politely refuse.

Normally someone would be summoned to explain such a waste of money. Probably just poor reporting as usual from the abomination newspaper.

Oh, well. At least they were kind enough to pay 5,000 Baht if your home was affected by the floods.

I can see the response to the "invitation". "Mr. Somsak regretfully must decline your invitation since he will be traveling on vacation during that time".

[LuckyLew]

They were fairly elected and that means they are allowed to spend

Thai peoples money any way they want, that is the Thai way

[LaurentPerche]

Unfortunately, these practices are common across all government officials world wide. Last year, at the G20 in Cannes, President Sarkosy from France spent over 30,000 Euros a night for "the Presidential Suite at the five-star Majestic Hotel". There are some more details here if you are interested: http://is.gd/bxDLTD

What is interesting in this article from the Nation is the fact that Journalists had access to such details about upcoming trips. The key question being, who would benefit from getting this into the public domain?

[Thai at Heart]

Why are taxpayers paying for journalists to travel?

Can't he write his own report? Surely that represents a massive conflict of interest and a misuse of taxpayer's funds?

[Yunla]

Somsak takes orders on how to perform his powerful political role, from unelected private corporate interests in Dubai. That is treasonous.

[jerrysteve]

Blowing thru 10 MILLION BAHT must have been one hell of a trip

[angsta]

The Nation as a newspaper is a complete joke anyway. I wouldn't of invited them either.

[drdoom6996]

They were fairly elected and that means they are allowed to spend

Thai peoples money any way they want, that is the Thai way

Exactly. And they will probably be fairly elected again after they spend 500 baht per vote of the peoples money.

[Buchholz]

Why are taxpayers paying for journalists to travel?

Can't he write his own report? Surely that represents a massive conflict of interest and a misuse of taxpayer's funds?

If the Speaker can't speak without a Spokesman, it's quite likely that he needs Reporters to write his Report.

.

[Thai at Heart]

Why are taxpayers paying for journalists to travel?

Can't he write his own report? Surely that represents a massive conflict of interest and a misuse of taxpayer's funds?

If the Speaker can't speak without a Spokesman, it's quite likely that he needs Reporters to write his Report.

.

There was a story in the other paper about the nature of these junkets, and I can't for the life of me understand why the parliament budget is being used to ferry journalists around with the junket. The government stations have their budgets and their revenue streams, and the private companies are just that, private companies.

Paying for journalists to travel with you is a complete abuse, aside from the obvious connotation of corrupting the media.

[Buchholz]

Why are taxpayers paying for journalists to travel?

Can't he write his own report? Surely that represents a massive conflict of interest and a misuse of taxpayer's funds?

If the Speaker can't speak without a Spokesman, it's quite likely that he needs Reporters to write his Report.

There was a story in the other paper about the nature of these junkets, and I can't for the life of me understand why the parliament budget is being used to ferry journalists around with the junket. The government stations have their budgets and their revenue streams, and the private companies are just that, private companies.

Paying for journalists to travel with you is a complete abuse, aside from the obvious connotation of corrupting the media.

Absolutely it is abuse by the government and the media.

Thankfully, it hasn't gone un-noticed:

The National Press Council of Thailand and Thai Broadcasters Association are investigating a group of 39 journalists both printed and broadcasters of their malfeasance.

They spent a week under the auspice of the National Assembly's House Speaker Somsak Kiartsuranand under the so-called study tour of UK, France and Belgium.

As it turned out, it was a fun trip and reportedly cost the Thai taxpayers an estimated Bt7 million. This is not the first time that journalists are caught red handed in non-journalistic sojourns. Every year, journalists have joined junkie tours at their own perils. Often times their offices are not notified as they are invited as an individual.

It is a well known practice among the country's MPs and bureaucrats that before the annual budget expires, they would plan overseas trips disguised as study or fact-finding tours with "blah-blah" objectives. Paris, London, New York and Tokyo are some of the preferred destinations. For them, it is a must to tag along favourite journalists as a form of reward for them.

http://www.nationmul...n-30190950.html

Now then, will anything become of the investigation by the National Press Council of Thailand and Thai Broadcasters Association?

Breath-holding is not advised.

[Nickymaster]

Unfortunately, these practices are common across all government officials world wide. Last year, at the G20 in Cannes, President Sarkosy from France spent over 30,000 Euros a night for "the Presidential Suite at the five-star Majestic Hotel". There are some more details here if you are interested: http://is.gd/bxDLTD

What is interesting in this article from the Nation is the fact that Journalists had access to such details about upcoming trips. The key question being, who would benefit from getting this into the public domain?

"who would benefit from getting this into the public domain?"

Normally not the house speaker. Propaganda master Thaksin will give it a twist and will blame the Dems for waisting time

Everybody: A big Red hurrah!!!

[thaicbr]

Unfortunately, these practices are common across all government officials world wide. Last year, at the G20 in Cannes, President Sarkosy from France spent over 30,000 Euros a night for "the Presidential Suite at the five-star Majestic Hotel". There are some more details here if you are interested: http://is.gd/bxDLTD

What is interesting in this article from the Nation is the fact that Journalists had access to such details about upcoming trips. The key question being, who would benefit from getting this into the public domain?

But he is the President of France and it was the G20 SUMMIT.. not a site seeing trip including watching 2 Premier league games.. bit different me thinks.

[TheKrayTriplet]

Somsak's spokesman Wattana Sengpairoh yesterday

denied that reporters invited on the trip were only those who favoured the red shirts, saying representatives from The Nation and Bangkok Post were also invited

However, Wattana's claim was disputed by both papers

Snip

What happened with his constituency last July that they rejected him ?

Perhaps he told one too many porkies to them?

photo snipped

Wattana, the thrice-MP and now the ironic-sounding Spokesman for the Speaker (going through metal detector).

.

Well it appears that Wattana was not telling porkies as stated in the OP as he spoke the truth certainly about one paper. I can't vouch for what he told his constituency last July but as it is nothing to do with the topic that hardly matters.

Voranai Vanijaka dedicated his whole column (other paper on Sunday) to discussing the junket saying that he had turned down his invitation and rather than be a one of PTP only invention these trips are in fact a time honoured tradition.

That doesn't excuse this junket in any way but to expose it as if it has never been done before is journalism at its childish point scoring low (especially the denials).

[SICHONSTEVE]

The shame is that the people who voted this shambollic lot of wasters in probably won't get to hear about this as they probably can't read and wouldn't be interested anyway!!!

At the next election (post coup)? it will be a case of walking down to the election poll station and religiously putting their cross in to the Pheu Thai candidate's box thinking that they are sticking one up the elite's ***** none the wiser as to what they are actually doing in reality.

Is there any hope for Thailand?...........I don't think so!!!

[maidu]

Easy peasy: Here are his options:

>>>> not show up. A raft of reasons can be tossed out for that: Have an earache, my daughter needs help tying her shoes, newpaper was soggy/have to get a new one, coffee was cold/have to brew a new cup/take long time.

>>>> Show up late (VIP's are incapable of being on-time for appointments), and toss out excuses

>>>> Show up late and lie some more

Whatever he says, the sage committee will, at worst, say something like, "this caused some unflattering news coverage. Please be more careful when planning a junket trip in the future. It makes us all look bad. How's your golf score? Did you get the tel# for the hot chick I told you about? Thanks for the Johnny Walker and the jelly donuts. Whoops, who left the microphone on, I hope no one heard that.

[E1717007]

want to learn about corruption....just come to singapore!

[yoshiwara]

The Nation as a newspaper is a complete joke anyway. I wouldn't of invited them either.

That's not the point. The point is that it was claimed they were invited.

And this claim was made as a cover for the spending of blow-out expenses.

[Baerboxer]

"A former House panel chairman, who asked not to be named, alleged that Somsak often approved foreign trips for panels that went against regulations enacted by former Parliament president Wan Muhammad Noor Matha. He said several panels often sought funds together, which forced Somsak to approve the trips in a rush."

He doesn't have the time to do a good job properly, so he does a bad one! But, hey, don't blame him, poor overworked dude.

[bigbamboo]

I bet he's brought back a few pressies to keep everyone sweet.

[TheKrayTriplet]

The Nation as a newspaper is a complete joke anyway. I wouldn't of invited them either.

That's not the point. The point is that it was claimed they were invited.

And this claim was made as a cover for the spending of blow-out expenses.

And it appears that at least one papers reporter/s

were invited

as one newspaper article points out quite clearly so not quite right there in your statement. The rest though it may be true is in fact, conjecture.

Edited September 25, 2012 by TheKrayTriplet

[Buchholz]

Somsak's spokesman Wattana Sengpairoh yesterday

denied that reporters invited on the trip were only those who favoured the red shirts, saying representatives from The Nation and Bangkok Post were also invited

However, Wattana's claim was disputed by both papers

Curious how Wattana Sengpairoh is now relegated to just being a spokesman for the house speaker ( a position no previous house speaker felt the need for someone else to be hired to do AFAIK ) after being a Thai Rak Thai Party MP, a People Power Party MP, as well as a Pheu Thai Party MP.... all as a constituency MP.

What happened with his constituency last July that they rejected him ?

Perhaps he told one too many porkies to them?

Wattana, the thrice-MP and now the ironic-sounding Spokesman for the Speaker (going through metal detector).

Well it appears that Wattana was not telling porkies as stated in the OP as he spoke the truth certainly about one paper.

ok then, half-truth porkies from Wattana on the newspaper invite and unknown porkies to his constituency.

.

Edited September 25, 2012 by Buchholz

[15Peter20]

The shame is that the people who voted this shambollic lot of wasters in probably won't get to hear about this as they probably can't read and wouldn't be interested anyway!!!

At the next election (post coup)? it will be a case of walking down to the election poll station and religiously putting their cross in to the Pheu Thai candidate's box thinking that they are sticking one up the elite's ***** none the wiser as to what they are actually doing in reality.

Is there any hope for Thailand?...........I don't think so!!!

Never mind, eh? Don't worry. Be Happy! Like this -->

[Arkady]

The group's investigation into the workings of the British parliament will be achieved by by going on a tour of the Houses of Parliament, buying the same tickets that are available to the general public. Apparently they failed to receive a reply to their request for more exclusive treatment from British parliamentary officials who are no doubt used to receiving vacuous requests of this type from corrupt third world countries and just throw them in the trash. That saves the embarrassment of hardly anyone showing up, if they were to arrange something for them.

Edited September 25, 2012 by Arkady