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GOVT SPOKESPERSON
High-risk job with limited prospects
Samudcha Hoonsara
The Nation


A photograph Teerat Ratanasevi posted on his Facebook page entitled

New man on the job expected to handle tough questions gently, tactfully

BANGKOK: -- After just two years in office, the Yingluck government has already changed its government spokesperson four times.

Why? Well, perhaps it's not surprising, with politics heating up, the country's prevailing political conflicts and national division, the spokesperson's post has been a bit like a hot potato.

Responding to sensitive issues in ways that protect the integrity and image of the PM and her Cabinet has become tougher in tense political circumstances. Spokesmen or women must know when to clarify or counter accusations, when to be silent, when to take a strong or soft approach - otherwise the government's image is at stake.

For a government spokesperson, keeping up good work is not necessarily a win-win situation - but failing could ruin their political future.

The latest spokesperson hand-picked to take up the "hot seat" has a degree from overseas and is a well-known TV personality - Teerat Ratanasevi.

Teerat embarked on his media career with the now-defunct iTV station as a business reporter. He climbed through the ranks of producer, programme host, executive editor. Assistant director was his last job before leaving Thai PBS to join Money Channel and Voice TV. Teerat also moonlighted as a special lecturer at educational institutes.

He served as programme host of the weekly "Yingluck Meets the People", replacing Suranand Vejjajiva who has risen to PM's secretary-general. Teerat is proving to behave exactly the way the government wants: no aggressive or negative attitude towards the Cabinet, being gentle and polite, asking the right questions, and to the point.

Teerat's three predecessors - Thitima Chaisaeng, Sansanee Nakpong and Dr Tossaporn Serirak - reputedly failed to perform to the expectations of the leader and her entourage. The PM's strategists reportedly held tense closed-door meetings whenever a government spokesperson supposedly made a mistake or blunder. The result could be their transfer to take up other posts not as high-profile - such as secretary to a minister or deputy secretary-general to the PM. Their average working term is about four to five months.

Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra denied, however, that she transferred Dr Tossaporn because of his poor performance. She said the government needed an official to coordinate with foreign countries in terms of public relations and Tossaporn was a suitable person.

Ex-PM Thaksin Shinawatra was also known to change government spokesmen frequently, ranging from Yongyuth Tiyapairat to Sita Divari, Jakrapob Penkair, Chalermdej Chompunut and Surapong Suebwonglee.

A Thaksin government spokesman's average working term was one year. Each was appointed to the post for different reasons, ranging from being rewarded in return for loyalty or in exchange for some interests, or to restore the government's sagging popularity.

In the old days, the government spokesman was a post to test the capability of new-face politicians. Several politicians became rising political stars in the role, such as Democrat Party leader Abhisit Vejjajiva, and Khunying Sudarat Keyuraphan.

This held true even back in the government led by General Chatichai Choonhavan, which had high-calibre permanent officials to do the task such as Suwit Yodmanee and MR Pridiyathorn Devakula. The Anand Panyarachun government chose Ladawan Wongsriwong and Montri Jenwitkarn to spread its message. When the country was ruled by the National Peace-Keeping Force, legal expert Vishanu Krua-ngam was handpicked as spokesman.

During the era when political parties took turns to rise to power, PMs appointed their close aides to the spokesman's post. Former PM Banharn Silapa-Archa appointed Somsak Prissananantakul, while former PM General Chavalit Yongchaiyudh entrusted Varathep Ratanakorn with the spokesman's hat, former PM Chuan Leekpai assigned Abhisit and Akapol Sorasuchart to share this job.

When politics heats up, this position is a hot seat that hardly anyone wants, even though the post has often proven to be a step up the political career ladder. Many spokesmen have lost form or have had a lacklustre careers in later years - whether they sought that or not - like Dr Yongyuth Maiyalap, Chaiya Yimwilai, Pol Lt-General Wichianchot Sukchotrat, Nattawut Saikua and Panitan Wattanayagorn.

Your say

"I think Teerat will make difficult government policies easy to understand because he used to be a journalist. Also, the government does not want to pick fights with anyone - it only wants to present its policies."

Anusorn Eiamsa-ard
Deputy government spokesman

"Teerat is close to the prime minister because he works with her in the 'Yingluck Meets the People' TV show. I believe he will make a good spokesman and will benefit the government."

Sansanee Nakpong
Ex-government spokesperson

"Teerat is an active young man and I've always watched him closely when he appears in the 'Yingluck Meets the People' show. I think he understands easily and poses sharp questions. But we will have to see if he will be able to answer political questions when he takes over as government spokesman."

Thitima Chaisaeng
Ex-government spokesperson


-- The Nation 2013-05-22

[Bellweather]

As usual, Kill the Messenger !

[slapout]

Your asking someone to speak for the PM, monitor what she will say and make sure what she does say is received in the way big brother intended.

Well the supporters of this trio should be more than accommadating, as they appear to be deaf, blind and dumb, so this may be another match made in heaven.

[ratcatcher]

Another sartorial disaster ala Jatuporn.

Who dresses these guys? Armani or Versace?

[Thai at Heart]

This endless need for spokesmen sums up perfectly the lack of nous among the politicians in the country.

What is wrong with having the pm and cabinet officers answer questions themselves?

[annabel]

As usual, Kill the Messenger !

well neither he or she make an impressionable statement for sure... so WHO is her new stylist ...?? He / she definitetly needs to be fired pronto !!

[Payboy]

she transferred Dr Tossaporn because of his poor performance

Maybe he had just too many things on his hands.

[seajae]

they have to get all the lies and bullsh*t right and that is pretty hard with the ptp/red shirts continually stuffing up. Add to that the pm is never in parliament so she has no idea what they are talking about.