BURNING ISSUE

Banharn dashes a minister's hopes

Piyanart Srivalo

The Nation

BANGKOK: -- Sonthaya Kunplome was clearly not totally happy when he became culture minister after he completed his five-year political ban.

The culture portfolio was not the Cabinet seat Sonthaya wanted when his Palang Chon Party joined the Yingluck government. Instead, he sought and is still seeking the post of tourism and sports minister.

Sonthaya was tourism and sports minister until he was listed among the 111 Thai Rak Thai executives placed under the five-year political ban following the dissolution of the party.

He was still under the ban when the Yingluck Government was formed, so he sent his wife Sukumol Kunplome, his proxy, to become a Cabinet member. She however agreed to accept the Culture Ministry portfolio, which is a small one compared to the Tourism and Sports Ministry.

Adding to Sonthaya's woes, former prime minister Banharn Silapa-archa, the de facto leader of the Chart Thai Pattana Party and the original holder of the Sports Ministry quota, would not let the ministry go.

As a result, when Sonthaya completed his political ban and became the culture minister replacing Sukumol, he became uncomfortable in the position.

This apparently prompted Sonthaya to come up with a proposal to merge the Culture Ministry with the Tourism and Sports Ministry.

Sonthaya proposed the idea as part of his bureaucratic reform of the Culture Ministry. He reasoned that the two ministries should be merged because the cultural and tourism activities of the government should go together. Sonthaya said a culture and tourism ministry should be set up to minimise redundancies in the work of the two ministries.

As expected, the proposal met with strong opposition from Chart Thai Pattana, which owns holds the Tourism and Sports Ministry quota. Banharn had Chart Thai Pattana spokesman Watchara Kannikar, also spokesman for the Tourism and Sports Ministry, come out to oppose the proposal.

"A merger of ministries can happen if a ministry has problems in its operations. But now, the Tourism and Sports Ministry has not caused damage to the tourism and sports activities. Instead, tourism and sports activities have prospered," Watchara said.

"I understand well that the culture minister still has good will towards the sports programmes, but the two ministries should cooperate on their work rather than on the administrative structure."

The opposition prompted Sonthaya to shelve the merger idea.

But since Tourism and Sports Minister Chumpol Silapa-archa was rushed to hospital with coronary artery disease, Sonthaya seems to have rekindled his hopes.

It was the second time that Chumpol had suffered from the disease, so it was possible he would be hit with it again and it is not certain when he'll fully recover and be ready to resume work.

As a result, Banharn has hurried to call a meeting of Chart Thai Pattana to select a replacement for Chumpol's position.

Hopeful Sonthaya took the chance to campaign for the position by visiting the "big boss" over the long New Year holidays to discuss the issue.

But will Banharn agree to give the position to Palang Chon?

It is very unlikely that Banharn will let go of the Tourism and Sports portfolio. Banharn has made it clear since his party joined the Pheu Thai-led coalition that he would never give the Agriculture Ministry or the Tourism and Sports Ministry to anyone.

And it is very unlikely that the big boss will replace Chart Thai Pattana (19 MPs) with the Bhum Jai Thai and Matchima group (with 27 and 7 MPs respectively).

This is because the big boss attaches great importance to Banharn and has entrusted him to help take care of the coalition from the beginning.

So, Banharn has been playing a role in supporting the political ambitions of the big boss - which can be seen in Banharn's pushing for charter amendments.

And no one should be surprised to see Banharn leading the campaign for reconciliation.

As a result, Sonthaya's chance of winning back the tourism and sports portfolio is very dim.

-- The Nation 2013-01-10

Why are tourism and sport together anyway?

Why are tourism and sport together anyway?

Because that's were the money is. And its soooooo easy to siphon off. Why do you think Banharn won't give it up?

:blink:

sent from my Q6

Why are tourism and sport together anyway?

Because that's were the money is. And its soooooo easy to siphon off. Why do you think Banharn won't give it up?

:blink:

sent from my Q6

Well that has to be the most obvious answer.

It is a ridiculous combination.

Thanks heavens PTP & PM Yingluck have swept away the amart, and the old ways of doing things, as this story demonstrates ... NOT !

Spoilt children.

five years without his slush fund is hurting him, obviously not a big call for a bit of cash flow in cultuaral circles, poor bugger.

Why are tourism and sport together anyway?

Because that's were the money is. And its soooooo easy to siphon off. Why do you think Banharn won't give it up?

sent from my Q6

Well that has to be the most obvious answer.

It is a ridiculous combination.

True it is a ridicules combination.

But you have to admit it is a good way to streamline more money into the chosen pocket.

five years without his slush fund is hurting him, obviously not a big call for a bit of cash flow in cultuaral circles, poor bugger.

True I feel for him my heart pumps pure brown stuff for him.

Why are tourism and sport together anyway?

Scamming tourists is a national sport.

five years without his slush fund is hurting him, obviously not a big call for a bit of cash flow in cultuaral circles, poor bugger.

True I feel for him my heart pumps pure brown stuff for him.

Mine pumps purple p1ss for him.

Just another greedy waste of space and stealer of air.

Edited January 10, 201313 yr by billd766

five years without his slush fund is hurting him, obviously not a big call for a bit of cash flow in cultuaral circles, poor bugger.

Not quite............."He was still under the ban when the Yingluck Government was formed, so he sent his wife Sukumol Kunplome, his proxy, to become a Cabinet member. She however agreed to accept the Culture Ministry portfolio, which is a small one compared to the Tourism and Sports Ministry".

Thats red democracy for you, a banned politician sends his wife to be his proxy till his ban expires. Hang on! isnt that what Thaksin did with his sister/ clone?

I must admit this may be a ridiculous question, but in the possible merge/split/re-merge what's the benefit to country and population?

The best person for the job is a mate's wife (or sister). What a farce.

Why would any politician not want to be the minister for Thai culture? This is what brings the ever increasing number of tourists flocking to the country after all.

Banharn, such an honest individual.

Edited January 10, 201313 yr by mrtoad

I may regret this but as a matter of interest the UK government has :-

The Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport and Minister for Women and Equalities as well as a specific Minister for Sport and Tourism in her department..

Regards

The 'Slippery Eels,'' diversion of funds to his own personal fiefdom has indeed made him and his family wealthy,

As a Prime Minister his classic comment was the way to make people feel richer was to mint more 10 baht coins as their pockets would be heavier thus people would feel wealthy. He also commented that a finance minister didn't need to know too much about money either.

I must admit this may be a ridiculous question, but in the possible merge/split/re-merge what's the benefit to country and population?

Absolutely right, a ridiculous question.

The 'Slippery Eels,'' diversion of funds to his own personal fiefdom has indeed made him and his family wealthy,

As a Prime Minister his classic comment was the way to make people feel richer was to mint more 10 baht coins as their pockets would be heavier thus people would feel wealthy. He also commented that a finance minister didn't need to know too much about money either.

His best comment was that being short was advantageous because you could reach further under the table to get the .envelope. Or something to that effect

Why are tourism and sport together anyway?

Scamming tourists is the national sport.

The underlying message of the OP is "If you want something from this government, go to Dubai."

The thing I find so strange about Thai politics is that nobody seems to care who Sonthaya's Father is.

In most other countries around the world the opposition would be jumping all over him regarding his Father, also they would be looking into his Brother in an effort to undermine him.

What good has your brother done as Mayor of Pattaya?

What qualifications other than being married to you has your wife got for holding a portfolio?

WHERE IS YOUR DAD? and why hasn't he returned to face the music?

Are you really the sort of person Thailand needs in a leadership role?

Ok I know, it starts at the top, but really?

The thing I find so strange about Thai politics is that nobody seems to care who Sonthaya's Father is.

In most other countries around the world the opposition would be jumping all over him regarding his Father, also they would be looking into his Brother in an effort to undermine him.

What good has your brother done as Mayor of Pattaya?

What qualifications other than being married to you has your wife got for holding a portfolio?

WHERE IS YOUR DAD? and why hasn't he returned to face the music?

Are you really the sort of person Thailand needs in a leadership role?

Ok I know, it starts at the top, but really?

The crime his father committed was trivial. First degree murder conviction with a 25 year prison sentence that he was allowed to be freed on bail from and from which he has never returned is not serious.

In the intervening years that he's been a fugitive, I'm sure he's not made any contact with his son, Culture Minister Sonthaya or his other son, the mayor of Pattaya or his other other son, the president of Chonburi public administration and that none of them have the slightest idea where there Dad has been hiding out and have not assisted him during his flight from justice in any way whatsoever.

*sarcasm*

Edited January 11, 201313 yr by Buchholz

Sarcasm.. really :lol:

But true.. except for the helping .

A bit like the political families in Phuket. Mayor of Patongs son is Songtaew association boss... replace association with Mafia to get the picture

sent from my Q6

Edited January 12, 201313 yr by thaicbr