Thawil vows to be politically neutral when he regains top National Security Council post

[Lite Beer]

EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW
Thawil vows to be politically neutral when he regains top National Security Council post
Naya Jaikawang,
Khanittha Thepphajorn
The Sunday Nation

Thawil

BANGKOK: -- Thawil Pliensri has said he will carry out his duty with strict political neutrality and not work to the advantage of any political camp after the Supreme Administrative Court ruling that the caretaker government must reinstate him to the post of secretary-general of the National Security Council.

The court ruled on March 7 that caretaker Prime Minister and Defence Minister Yingluck Shinawatra's order to transfer Thawil out of his post in 2011 was unlawful and

ordered that she reinstate him within 45 days.

Though Thawil admitted he would feel uncomfortable working with a political camp with which he personally has different views, he said he was not confused by his two roles - one as common citizen entitled to his own opinions and freedom of expression, and the other as a state official who has to maintain political neutrality.

"I know as NSC chief I must not work to the advantage of political parties. But if my work benefits the government or the opposition in some way then I cannot help,'' he said.

As a citizen, Thawil has made his political stance crystal clear by challenging the government and taking to the rally stage of the anti-government People's Democratic Reform Committee.

The first sign of conflict between the government and Thawil took place last week when acting Labour Minister Chalerm Yoobamrung said he did not trust Thawil enough to allow him to serve on the Centre for the Administration of Peace and Order (CAPO).

The government has instead picked Department of Special Investigation director-general Tarit Pengdith to replace incumbent NSC chief Paradorn Pattanatabut on the CAPO.

Paradorn is expected to be made an adviser to the prime minister after Thawil is reinstated.

There have been reports that the Cabinet will discuss Thawil's reinstatement on Tuesday.

Thawil said he is ready to resume his duties and solve national security problems from the southern separatists to lese majeste offences, human trafficking, drugs and border conflicts. Asked how is he going to deal with security issues relating to anti-government protesters, Thawil said the responsibility for maintaining security for the protesters rests with the government.

"The government has two statuses, one status is being in the opposite political camp with the protesters, the other status is to keep peace and security. When there is a violent incident, the government may personally feel vindicated, but as a government, it means the government failed to maintain public safety,'' he said.

-- The Nation 2014-03-23

[Thai at Heart]

Civil servants protesting against democracy?

This place gets weirder everyday. Next Yingluck will say she understands Nitzche.

[tomyummer]

The dude should take back his post to rub it in the face of the current administration and make his point about justice being served then immediately resign to keep the peace.

[noitom]

He's vowing. A Thai vow. How sincerely can you regard Thai vows and promises?

[chainarong]

This needs to be thought out properly Thawil has admitted he is in a political camp, therefore any unbiased judgement will be meet with howls of protests from the opposite side and rightly so, it is as plain as night that you need some one who is neutral and not involved , I nominate Chooka.( Another Sunday morning attempt at humour )

[marcusd]

Thawil said he is ready to resume his duties and solve national security problems from the southern separatists to lese majeste offences, human trafficking, drugs and border conflicts. Asked how is he going to deal with security issues relating to anti-government protesters, Thawil said the responsibility for maintaining security for the protesters rests with the government.

Now I may be dumb, but Thailand ranks pretty high in the world on most things deemed bad by other nations, so does this mean resume his duties and solve national security problems means BUSINESS AS USUAL?

[expat888]

Yes yes, I promise to do my job now that I got caught.

[smedly]

very very difficult situation this man is entering, he is the National Security Chief and yet already the Employment Minister is telling him he will be excluded from the security panel of the Capital, Charlerm also stated that he didn't trust him but trusted Tarit of the DSI - the DSI should not be involved in the CMPO, in fact the CMPO should be disbanded and the responsibility handed to the NSC Chief to oversee security issues, the caretaker Employment minister should not be involved and has no power to act in this capacity - I can see another court case emerging

It would be interesting to see the NSC Chief telling them all to step down from the CMPO and he would decide who should be involved - I'll bet he has more clout than The Caretaker education minister or the DSI Chief in these matters

[Fryslan boppe]

"Thawil vows to be politically neutral when he regains top National Security Council post"

He'd better not be.

The bureaucracy is not neutral

It hews to the directives of an elected Government and by extension the majority electorate.

Talk about screwy-louie thinking, that a bureaucracy can be neutral.

If the PAD-Dems' ever manage to reform themselves into an electorally competitive force, I would expect that following an election win, they would apply a thick broom to the bureaucracy, rooting out all vestiges of PTP influence.

It works both ways...But ultimately, it is the electorate establishing control of the bureaucracy....Bureaucrats would love to be independent. Be a governing force, without bothersome elections ...Yeah right!

This Thawil guy is obviously "feeling his oats" since the PAD-Dem user friendly judiciary reinstated him....which in effect was reinstating one of their own. I fully expect the PTP to sideline this guy. Maybe not to a windowless basement room counting paper-clips, but next thing to it.

Having had experience administering 'involuntary dismissals subject to appeal", reinstatement was never considered viable. Returning someone to the area of his/her alleged sins, was very problematic.

Edited March 23, 2014 by Fryslan boppe

[moonao]

he is lying out of his teeth

[Baerboxer]

"Thawil vows to be politically neutral when he regains top National Security Council post"

He'd better not be.

The bureaucracy is not neutral

It hews to the directives of an elected Government and by extension the majority electorate.

Talk about screwy-louie thinking, that a bureaucracy can be neutral.

If the PAD-Dems' ever manage to reform themselves into an electorally competitive force, I would expect that following an election win, they would apply a thick broom to the bureaucracy, rooting out all vestiges of PTP influence.

It works both ways...But ultimately, it is the electorate establishing control of the bureaucracy....Bureaucrats would love to be independent. Be a governing force, without bothersome elections ...Yeah right!

This Thawil guy is obviously "feeling his oats" since the PAD-Dem user friendly judiciary reinstated him....which in effect was reinstating one of their own. I fully expect the PTP to sideline this guy. Maybe not to a windowless basement room counting paper-clips, but next thing to it.

Having had experience administering 'involuntary dismissals subject to appeal", reinstatement was never considered viable. Returning someone to the area of his/her alleged sins, was very problematic.

You really have no idea about how a democracy works and is administered, or the fundamentals that actually underpin it, do you.

I'm sure you know how a "people's democratic socialist republic" works and is administered though, as you allude to it enough.

Classic - the people know best, as long as its what we tell them.

[ramrod711]

Chalerm Yoobamrung said he did not trust Thawil enough to allow him to serve on the Centre for the Administration of Peace and Order (CAPO).

The government has instead picked Department of Special Investigation director-general Tarit Pengdith to replace incumbent NSC chief Paradorn Pattanatabut on the CAPO.

I already like this guy, Chalerm doesn't, so that's good enough for me. As far as Tarit being appointed to CAPO, they might as well, he has shown zero ability to perform the job he has.

[ramrod711]

I fully expect the PTP to sideline this guy. Maybe not to a windowless basement room counting paper-clips, but next thing to it.

I expect you're partially correct mr. Boppe. I expect that the PTP, UDD will attempt to sideline him as well, only with their usual tactics, bombs, grenades, automatic weapons, arson, throwing of bodily fluids on his property, threatening to kidnap his family and broadcasting his telephone number and address around the red network. You just weren't giving your red brethren enough credit, paper clips, really?

[Fryslan boppe]

Notice a number of comments reflecting an opinion, implying that a bureaucracy should be independent of the Government whose pograms they are expected to actualize.

Would these same commentators think that about their home countries.

In this case the commentators are PAD-Dem sympathisers. So putting it in their context, would they also agree that should the PAD-Dem's ever reform themselves to the point of winning an election, that the bureaucracy hypothetically filled with PTP sympathisers, could just thumb their nose at PAD-Dem policies if they didn't agree?

Also, can you imagine the arrogance of Bureaucrats looking down their noses at those seeking Govt. services should they be independent of the citizenry who elect their political overseers.

Apply this understanding in the Thawil case, and you can see the problems that could ensue if the so-called independent agencies and judiciary continue to be politicised, as demonstrated in the Thawil case.

[bigbamboo]

Civil servants protesting against democracy?

This place gets weirder everyday. Next Yingluck will say she understands Nitzche.

LOL. Just imagine....

"Khun Yingluck, what is your opinion of Marx?"

"I like their knickers"

[DirtFarmer]

I like the empty manila envelope in the trash can LOLOL... speaks volumes

[rubl]

Notice a number of comments reflecting an opinion, implying that a bureaucracy should be independent of the Government whose pograms they are expected to actualize.

Would these same commentators think that about their home countries.

Answer: YES

We do not want to change the government bureaucracy every time we have a new government. We DO expect that government bureaucrats work professionaly on programs adopted by the parliamentary government.

Somehow I remember it works that way in backward democratic countries like the Netherlands or the United Kingdom.

[Thai at Heart]

Notice a number of comments reflecting an opinion, implying that a bureaucracy should be independent of the Government whose pograms they are expected to actualize.

Would these same commentators think that about their home countries.

Answer: YES

We do not want to change the government bureaucracy every time we have a new government. We DO expect that government bureaucrats work professionaly on programs adopted by the parliamentary government.

Somehow I remember it works that way in backward democratic countries like the Netherlands or the United Kingdom.

Well they should appear to be and act in an apolitical manner.

[fab4]

very very difficult situation this man is entering, he is the National Security Chief and yet already the Employment Minister is telling him he will be excluded from the security panel of the Capital, Charlerm also stated that he didn't trust him but trusted Tarit of the DSI - the DSI should not be involved in the CMPO, in fact the CMPO should be disbanded and the responsibility handed to the NSC Chief to oversee security issues, the caretaker Employment minister should not be involved and has no power to act in this capacity - I can see another court case emerging

It would be interesting to see the NSC Chief telling them all to step down from the CMPO and he would decide who should be involved - I'll bet he has more clout than The Caretaker education minister or the DSI Chief in these matters

Did you miss the part where as a citizen he got up on stage and made his feelings known about the government. Nothing wrong with that - it's his right as a citizen.

Now the problem comes if he gets involved in CMPO decision making in an official capacity. Suppose the CMPO comes up with a cunning plan (bear with me on this, it's just an example) to arrest suthep in his hotel bed in the Peninsula on the eve of his final final push (I said it was an example!).

Would you trust a man, who been up on stage and embraced the principles of the PDRC (whatever they are), not to leak the plan? It doesn't matter how partisan you are, how earnestly he says he'll be apolitical, it's got to be a risk.

This may be one of those occasions when a statement from Chalerm, makes sense........................

Edited March 23, 2014 by fab4

[Dogmatix]

The Thawil case will be another nail in Yingluck's coffin. Charges are bound to be filed against her for wrongful dismissal of a public official.

[fab4]

Notice a number of comments reflecting an opinion, implying that a bureaucracy should be independent of the Government whose pograms they are expected to actualize.

Would these same commentators think that about their home countries.

Answer: YES

We do not want to change the government bureaucracy every time we have a new government. We DO expect that government bureaucrats work professionaly on programs adopted by the parliamentary government.

Somehow I remember it works that way in backward democratic countries like the Netherlands or the United Kingdom.

You had many Permanent Ministers of Health ordering banners with political messages erected at hospitals in Holland,rubl?

[slapout]

so far those who indicate a distrust in the mans capability in doing whats right, remind me of the list of "bad" boys and girls who do not get Christmas presents from Santa.

[bangon04]

he is lying out of his teeth

but as long as he smiles......

[NeilSA1]

v

Did you miss the part where as a citizen he got up on stage and made his feelings known about the government. Nothing wrong with that - it's his right as a citizen.

Now the problem comes if he gets involved in CMPO decision making in an official capacity. Suppose the CMPO comes up with a cunning plan (bear with me on this, it's just an example) to arrest suthep in his hotel bed in the Peninsula on the eve of his final final push (I said it was an example!).

Would you trust a man, who been up on stage and embraced the principles of the PDRC (whatever they are), not to leak the plan? It doesn't matter how partisan you are, how earnestly he says he'll be apolitical, it's got to be a risk.

This may be one of those occasions when a statement from Chalerm, makes sense........................

I am just asking, surely there is a similar problem with the " Department of Special Investigation director-general Tarit Pengdith" replacing the current "incumbent NSC chief Paradorn Pattanatabut on the CAPO?"

[h90]

If he work political neutral and without following every wish from the man in Dubai, he'll loose his job faster than he is getting it back....

[Trouble]

By reading the statements this guy has given to the press, one can see he is not the brightest bulb in the package. I can excuse some of it to bad translation but this guy talks like a child. Simple minded is all I can think.

[englishoak]

A Thai separating personal opinion from performing professional duty with neutrality ? not a chance

If he was so motivated to get up on a stage and make his feelings clear as a citizen he cannot pretend to be able to perform his job role without personal feeling getting in the way, this is a guy with an axe to grind, understandably mind you but certainly not able to perform without bias, impossible.

Should have just compensated him financially over loss of earnings and left it at that.

Edited March 23, 2014 by englishoak

[Publicus]

I fully expect the PTP to sideline this guy. Maybe not to a windowless basement room counting paper-clips, but next thing to it.

I expect you're partially correct mr. Boppe. I expect that the PTP, UDD will attempt to sideline him as well, only with their usual tactics, bombs, grenades, automatic weapons, arson, throwing of bodily fluids on his property, threatening to kidnap his family and broadcasting his telephone number and address around the red network. You just weren't giving your red brethren enough credit, paper clips, really?

The position of exsec to the National Security Council just became an inactive post. And figuring from the OP photo, K. Thawil will need a thicker book to pass his time, say War and Peace. On second thought of something simpler, I'm passing the hat to buy some Japanese illustrated books Thai students read tucked into their English texts held upright on their desks during class with fahlang teachers. That's a fine OP photo btw and I really like the wallpaper, not to mention the coat rack - or is it a pole of road direction signs, roads to nowhere?

Be happy in your work.

[rubl]

Notice a number of comments reflecting an opinion, implying that a bureaucracy should be independent of the Government whose pograms they are expected to actualize.

Would these same commentators think that about their home countries.

Answer: YES

We do not want to change the government bureaucracy every time we have a new government. We DO expect that government bureaucrats work professionaly on programs adopted by the parliamentary government.

Somehow I remember it works that way in backward democratic countries like the Netherlands or the United Kingdom.

You had many Permanent Ministers of Health ordering banners with political messages erected at hospitals in Holland,rubl?

Stupid and totally irrelevant reply, my dear fabs.

FB asked if 'commentators' would think that the government bureaucracy should be independent of the parliamentary government in their home countries. I said yes.

[rubl]

I fully expect the PTP to sideline this guy. Maybe not to a windowless basement room counting paper-clips, but next thing to it.

I expect you're partially correct mr. Boppe. I expect that the PTP, UDD will attempt to sideline him as well, only with their usual tactics, bombs, grenades, automatic weapons, arson, throwing of bodily fluids on his property, threatening to kidnap his family and broadcasting his telephone number and address around the red network. You just weren't giving your red brethren enough credit, paper clips, really?

The position of exsec to the National Security Council just became an inactive post. And figuring from the OP photo, K. Thawil will need a thicker book to pass his time, say War and Peace. On second thought of something simpler, I'm passing the hat to buy some Japanese illustrated books Thai students read tucked into their English texts held upright on their desks during class with fahlang teachers. That's a fine OP photo btw and I really like the wallpaper, not to mention the coat rack - or is it a pole of road direction signs, roads to nowhere?

Be happy in your work.

If the position of Exec NSC just became an inactive post, blame the parliamentary government for making it thus. That would mean yet another request to NAAC, or Administrative Court, or some other court, one could imply.