Phongthep given another 30 days to explain Thaksin passport issue

[webfact]

Phongthep given another 30 days to explain Thaksin passport issue
The Nation

BANGKOK: -- The ombudsman has given the government another 30 days to explain why a passport was issued for former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra.

Rakkecha Chaechay, deputy secretary-general and spokesman of the Ombudsman's Office, confirmed that Education Minister Phongthep Thepkanjana, who is also deputy PM, would be given another 30 days to provide an explanation

Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra gave Phongthep the job of defending the Foreign Ministry over the issue.

Separately, the Green Politics Group has asked the ombudsman to launch an investigation into Metropolitan Police Commissioner Pol Lt-General Khamronwit Thoopkrajang, who visited Thaksin in Hong Kong. Rakkecha said the ombudsman had made a decision on this issue, but it could not be announced yet.


-- The Nation 2013-06-29

[keith101]

it doesnt matter how many extensions or cabinet reshuffles this matter will not go away untill it is answered

[ramrod711]

One word answer, MONEY

[bigbamboo]

As nobody in this government seems to be able to answer this very tricky question maybe they should send for Pangthontae, who we are led to believe has some expertise in Thai politics.

Failing that he could always cheat.

[Bellweather]

Insanity is supposedly doing the same thing over and over expecting a different result so does the ombudsman really believe giving the government more and more time will change their explanation ?

To get the genuine answer to this would involve something that's a rare commodity here and that is telling the truth.

It would be nice if the ombudsman simply got on with his job and acted within his powers but who am I kidding ?

[Tatsujin]

Another 30 days so that the blowback over the cabinet reshuffle and the water projects and rice scam can die down a little before they have to start lying again.

[whybother]

Why is it so hard to answer such a simple question? If they can't come up with a suitably ridiculous answer by now, then it's never going to come.

[OzMick]

Why was the Education Minister Phongthep given the job of defending the Foreign Ministry over the issue?

He is apparently due for replacement, after admitting education is sadly lacking and has many other thorny issues to contend with. Is the FM, whose only claim to the position is family ties, totally incompetent, to the point where the PM has to make numerous foreign jaunts, neglecting her own job?

[GentlemanJim]

Why was the Education Minister Phongthep given the job of defending the Foreign Ministry over the issue?

He is apparently due for replacement, after admitting education is sadly lacking and has many other thorny issues to contend with. Is the FM, whose only claim to the position is family ties, totally incompetent, to the point where the PM has to make numerous foreign jaunts, neglecting her own job?

And once he is replaced it will turn out in 29 days that he is no longer responsible for explaining this situation, so we will have to wait 30 days for someone else to be appointed by the PM to explain, then 30 days for them to explain, then they claim they never received the court letter and knew nothing of the time limit, then we wait 60 days for the ombudsman to give them another 30 days, then it will be time for another cabinet reshuffle. Sound familiar....Doh!

[rametindallas]

What #9 GentlemanJim said.

[monkey4u]

Phongthep please tell the truth. Thaksin told you to issue him a pass port and you did

Any other answer will be bull sh#t

[SOTIRIOS]

........how many members of this government does it take to change a light bulb....

.....feeble minds........atrocious acts........still have not come up with the 'right' (wrong) explanation.......

[A Member]

This will easily drag on forever as the office of the ombudsman is no more independent than any other Thai administrative function, look at the DSi for example.

Accountability is a dirty word in this country and it's not a case of " not to be used lightly " more like " not to be used at all ".

[Neilly]

Phongthep given another 30 days to explain Thaksin passport issue

Why? Just withdraw the passport until a reasonable lie excuse is presented...simple

[drdoom6996]

Why not give Phongthep another 30 years? It's Taksin! Nobody has to explain anything!

[ricardofel]

Another incompetent 30 days!

[scorecard]

One word answer, MONEY

One more answer, we do as we please regardless of the law and regardless of morals, and don't get in our way.

[jaidam]

Pongthep will find some excuse or way to prolong the status quo. Amazing what the knowledge that a hole is being dug for you somewhere on a Pattalung mountain can do to make you tow the line.

[sscsamui]

One sided BS.. Take it Back, Criminals Are not given complimentary passports....

[Robby nz]

A big part of this could well be what kind of a passport has he got?

He seems to be able to get meetings with heads of state and high up,s in Govts something which only an ambassador or someone representing the country should be able to get.

There is a distinct possibility he has been given some sort of a diplomatic passport and called an ambassador of some sort.

If it were an ordinary Thai passport it shouldn't matter a lot to him whether he has it or not as he has apparently several more from other countries.

As the Govt has enough problems now without needing to be hassled over his passport it would be easy for him to say he would hand in the Thai passport to avoid trouble for the Govt.

But it would seem not, that would be a loss of face.

[NongKhaiKid]

Why was the Education Minister Phongthep given the job of defending the Foreign Ministry over the issue?

He is apparently due for replacement, after admitting education is sadly lacking and has many other thorny issues to contend with. Is the FM, whose only claim to the position is family ties, totally incompetent, to the point where the PM has to make numerous foreign jaunts, neglecting her own job?

He's also in line to be named as chairman of the committee being set up to handle the court's decision on the water management scheme. For someone on the way out he's been handed some " plumb ' tasks ?

[laurab74]

Doesn't he have a (diplomatic) passport from Montenegro? And perhaps one from Dubai (UAE) as well. A bit of a storm on a teacup if you ask me, as revoking his Thai passport doesn't stop him from travelling. Why didn't Abhisit revoke his passport when he was PM?

For the Thaksin hate crowd: I'm just asking so please don't bite my head off!

[JulesMad]

There is never going to be a (truthful) answer

Anybody surprised?!?

[whybother]

Doesn't he have a (diplomatic) passport from Montenegro? And perhaps one from Dubai (UAE) as well. A bit of a storm on a teacup if you ask me, as revoking his Thai passport doesn't stop him from travelling. Why didn't Abhisit revoke his passport when he was PM?

For the Thaksin hate crowd: I'm just asking so please don't bite my head off!

Abhisit DID revoke Thaksin's passport.

Thaksin's passport revoked

By The Nation

The Foreign Ministry has terminated an ordinary passport held by former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra since his traveling right might hurt the country, spokesman Tharit Charungvat said Wednesday.

http://www.nationmultimedia.com/2009/04/15/politics/politics_30100576.php

PTP returned it during the height of the floods in 2011 (when the ministry was actually closed!!)

Thaksin's passport is returned

Thailand has issued a new passport for former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra to replace one revoked by the previous government.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/asia/8961398/Thaksins-passport-is-returned.html

[winstonc]

give him a gold plated passport for all i care he wont be growing any town halls to come back here,,,,,you cant protect anyone a 100%,,,,

[Sunisalom]

"Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra gave Phongthep the job of defending the Foreign Ministry over the issue."

She very good at 'pass the look'.

She should defending the nurse want to go abroad with passport and not defending her Ministry.

Sunisa.

[lee b]

They really need to know why?????

[thequietman]

Its only fair that he gets another 30 days and another after that if necessary.

Takes a while to come up with a really good, truthful bullshit lie.

[tonneke breda]

This issue will never be finished, until the day he dies

[HerbalEd]

Insanity is supposedly doing the same thing over and over expecting a different result so does the ombudsman really believe giving the government more and more time will change their explanation ?

To get the genuine answer to this would involve something that's a rare commodity here and that is telling the truth.

It would be nice if the ombudsman simply got on with his job and acted within his powers but who am I kidding ?

Insanity is supposedly doing the same thing over and over expecting a different result so does the ombudsman really believe giving the government more and more time will change their explanation ?

To get the genuine answer to this would involve something that's a rare commodity here and that is telling the truth.

It would be nice if the ombudsman simply got on with his job and acted within his powers but who am I kidding ?

Even if the ombudsman doesn't get an answer, it's great seeing him pester and embarrass them. And every time they ask for another extension, the more they loose face.

Actually, if he keeps pestering them often and long enough, they will eventually be forced to respond in someway.