Yingluck's minister incensed by NLA 'hired guns' remark

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Yingluck's Minister Incensed By NLA 'Hired Guns' Remark
By Khaosod English


Former PM Yingluck appeared before the NLA on 9 January 2015 to defend herself against the accusations filed the National Anti-Corruption Commission (NACC).

BANGKOK — A cabinet minister from former Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra's administration has asked the chairman of the junta-appointed legislature to apologize for referring to him as a "hired gun" yesterday.

Kittirat Na Ranong, who headed the Ministry of Finance from January 2012 to May 2014, is set to testify on behalf of Yingluck during her impeachment hearing before the National Legislative Assembly (NLA), a lawmaking body appointed by the junta after the 22 May 2014 coup.

Speaking at a press conference yesterday, NLA chairman Pornpetch Wichitcholchai said Yingluck should appear before the impeachment committee herself, instead of sending representatives like Kittirat to speak for her.

"If [Yingluck] sends hired guns to answer for her, how will that be credible?" Pornpetch said. "What's the point of coming? Who will want to hear anything about that? We won't know anything. It won't be credible."

The comments came only hours after the chairman warned other NLA members against expressing "personal feelings" about the case.

"According to regulations, NLA members cannot express opinions that could be seen as biased against or in favour of any individual," Pornpetch said.

Today, Kittirat demanded Pornpetch apologize for the "hired guns" remark.

"It's inappropriate," Kittirat said. "He didn't speak like a lawyer and chairman of the lawmakers. He should apologize."

The former minister also insisted that he is qualified to testify on behalf of Yingluck, who is facing impeachment for allegedly failing to stop corruption in her government’s rice-pledging scheme, which reportedly cost the state more than 500 billion baht.

Full story: http://www.khaosodenglish.com/detail.php?newsid=1421222893


-- Khaosod English 2015-01-14

[JOC]

Suddenly the reds are becoming soooooooooooo sensitive!!

Desert lackeys would have been a more appropriate description!!

[Fat Haggis]

In a way I can see his point, but what does that make the NLA? Full of military officers who really are Hired guns, if the cap fits I guess?

[lewy67]

"What's the point of coming? Who will want to hear anything about that? We won't know anything. It won't be credible."

Yep that's the whole box and dice buddy. From go to whao.

[Robby nz]

Isnt the ex-minister in question known for telling lies ?

What he called white lies, that is as in white rice, or lies about the economy.

Was it not his ministry that came out with a report on the pledging scheme which got the chair of that committee sacked for telling the truth.

Yes this is the one: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/650937-commerce-ministry-lambasted-for-corruption-in-rice-purchases/

Perhaps he could present that report and seal Yinglucks fate.

Anyway I thought Fridays session was about her answering questions not about introducing new witnesses.

[Tatsujin]

Well, he's not wrong.

When they've asked for Yingluck herself to appear (in person) and answer their questions, her sending yet another "representative" to defend her just doesn't cut it.

She does seem to constantly avoid actually being where she's needed or asked to be, always sending lawyers on her behalf etc to speak for her. One might suspect she's unable to actually answer direct questions without the puppet master putting the words in her mouth.

Reminds of many of her televised faux pas (where she's actually required to think, speak and answer questions, not from a script), such as:

[Cuchulainn]

Hired guns and arsonists?

[Manbing]

Its going to nice watching these snakes try to hoodwink a PM who will just shut them all down if he feels like it.

Attitude adjustments required across the board.

[rubl]

On 2011-10-06 the day before the RPPS would start we had the Minister of Finance Kittirat say

"Mr Kittiratt said the 430 billion baht budget is not a one-off payment but the state would gain it back when selling the milled rice."

http://en.isnhotnews.com/?p=14909

Even mid-2013 when the Yingluck government finally admitted to US$ 4.4billion loss over 2011/2012 and half of 2012/2013 only the Commerce Minister was sacked, but Ms. Yingluck retained her Finance Minister. Probably because he was so good with reassurance through white lies. No surprise then that Ms. Yingluck relies on him again.

Of course both gentlemen (Finance/Commerce) were handpicked by Ms. Yingluck for her cabinet. She had the criteria "knowledge", "capabilities", "potential", later "suitability" got added. Makes you wonder

[Fat Haggis]

Hired guns and arsonists?

Sounds like a great name for a rock band doesn't it?

[gemini81]

Well, he's not wrong.

When they've asked for Yingluck herself to appear (in person) and answer their questions, her sending yet another "representative" to defend her just doesn't cut it.

She does seem to constantly avoid actually being where she's needed or asked to be, always sending lawyers on her behalf etc to speak for her. One might suspect she's unable to actually answer direct questions without the puppet master putting the words in her mouth.

Reminds of many of her televised faux pas (where she's actually required to think, speak and answer questions, not from a script), such as:

Hilarious video, laughed watching many times. But no 'thinking' going on there! This and 'my thai bride' are some of the ultimate comedies to hail from Thailand.

[Prbkk]

Khun Kittirat is correct. It does not serve any interest for this guy to be abusive and hectoring. He would be better advised to try with the facts rather than his obvious prejudgement

[mikemac]

The term " hired bs artist " comes to mind.

[seajae]

she is too gutless to go herself because she doesnt have the brains to be able to answer the questions so she sends a paid representitive, I believe hired gun suits this totally as he is there to shoot down anything he can. What doesnt make sense is how they expect someone else to answer instead of yl, he cant know what she was thinking at the time and will only provide spin and innuendo in his attempt to divert the truth from coming out. What they need to do is issue a summons so she has to attend and stop this farce of sending in her hired hands to do her talking, heaven forbid we all know she is incapable of defending herself but that is what is required

[Cuchulainn]

To think that thing was a country's Prime Minister!!

Dear God!!

[Eric Loh]

To think that thing was a country's Prime Minister!!

Dear God!!

Think not. She indeed was the elected Prime Minister compare to current unelected thing.

[Robby nz]

Khun Kittirat is correct. It does not serve any interest for this guy to be abusive and hectoring. He would be better advised to try with the facts rather than his obvious prejudgement

Although the term 'hired gun' may be a little harsh it would seem that she is attempting to bring in someone to answer for her, more than likely reimbursed for his trouble, how is stating that obvious fact pre-judging her ?

You might like to explain to us what Khun Kittirat has to do with the questioning of M's Yingluck on her statement that she made to the NLA.

The NLA are not asking for witnesses on her behalf but will be directing questions to her to clarify her statements.

You might also like to direct me to where it has been said that she is allowed to introduce witnesses to back up her statements rather answer on her own accord.

You see she and her defense team have already submitted documents in her defense, 220 copies from memory, which all members of the NLA will have read.

These should have covered all aspects of her defense therefor why should she need extra witnesses at this point ?

Unless of course they forgot something.

[ratcatcher]

To think that thing was a country's Prime Minister!!

Dear God!!

Prepare to defend yourself sir, the Red Brigade will be along in a moment to refute that statement.

[arrowsdawdle]

All this uproar about a few bags of rice and none at all about gunning down innocent civilians and press corps in live fire zones on Bangkok streets...a telling set of priorities indeed.

[gemini81]

All this uproar about a few bags of rice and none at all about gunning down innocent civilians and press corps in live fire zones on Bangkok streets...a telling set of priorities indeed.

billions in graft on rice, suicides, further poverty by oppressing the poor played off as pawns.... Nothing to do with a city on fire under siege by armed, payed rogues and bums. Her bro still needs the guillotine for that one.

Edited January 14, 2015 by gemini81

[Fat Haggis]

60 questions up from the 30 the other day?

Would this be the same NACC that was pushing for her impeachment months ago, and professing their case was GTG?

Is it any wonder the AG told them to square the Ts and dot the i's, surely they would have had all the relevant questions that needed to be asked well in advance before now?

Or am I missing something here?

[binjalin]

All this uproar about a few bags of rice and none at all about gunning down innocent civilians and press corps in live fire zones on Bangkok streets...a telling set of priorities indeed.

billions in graft on rice, suicides, further poverty by oppressing the poor played off as pawns.... Nothing to do with a city on fire under siege by armed, payed rogues and bums. Her bro still needs the guillotine for that one.

"billions if graft" you have evidence...? you know that awkward little thing that pops up in Courts?

suicides? wasn't that to do with the banks refusing to lend back then, and Hey Presto!, they lend when the bad guys take over? with their guns and such - funny that

you do live in a naive world join us in the real one? the Military have taken over, there are no elections, people are not allowed to discuss, gather or demonstrate and we are about to celebrate closer ties with North Korea - get it now?

Edit: PS oh i forgot to mention we are under Martial Law and so any impeachment is invalid as there are no elected representatives of the people (you know those pesky voter folk who normally select their government)

Edited January 14, 2015 by binjalin

[Eric Loh]

All this uproar about a few bags of rice and none at all about gunning down innocent civilians and press corps in live fire zones on Bangkok streets...a telling set of priorities indeed.

Shameful isn't. Bags of rice are valued more than lives according to the NACC priorities. The 2010 killings will probably not see the light of day with the current NACC commitee.

[retarius]

A pig circus....we already know the outcome before the proceedings are underway.

[Nuddy]

The bigger the projects the bigger the cut.

The rice scheme was the biggest but they were planing on bigger things and intended to borrow the dosh to get an even bigger cut.

[thesetat2013]

To think that thing was a country's Prime Minister!!

Dear God!!

Think not. She indeed was the elected Prime Minister compare to current unelected thing.

You are right Eric! Think not! Best if everyone true to forget this chapter in Thai history. Strike it from the history books. But not until all that m money is recovered

[casualbiker]

To think that thing was a country's Prime Minister!!

Dear God!!

Think not. She indeed was the elected Prime Minister compare to current unelected thing.

Who was she elected by?

[casualbiker]

All this uproar about a few bags of rice and none at all about gunning down innocent civilians and press corps in live fire zones on Bangkok streets...a telling set of priorities indeed.

billions in graft on rice, suicides, further poverty by oppressing the poor played off as pawns.... Nothing to do with a city on fire under siege by armed, payed rogues and bums. Her bro still needs the guillotine for that one.

"billions if graft" you have evidence...? you know that awkward little thing that pops up in Courts?

suicides? wasn't that to do with the banks refusing to lend back then, and Hey Presto!, they lend when the bad guys take over? with their guns and such - funny that

you do live in a naive world join us in the real one? the Military have taken over, there are no elections, people are not allowed to discuss, gather or demonstrate and we are about to celebrate closer ties with North Korea - get it now?

Edit: PS oh i forgot to mention we are under Martial Law and so any impeachment is invalid as there are no elected representatives of the people (you know those pesky voter folk who normally select their government)

Why did the caretaker government HAVE to try and borrow money to pay the farmers, it was a revolving scheme. Money came from sales to pay the farmers BUT we all know that's not what happened!

Also the payment structure SHOULD have been in place BEFORE Yingluck stepped down .. no?

[Cuchulainn]

To think that thing was a country's Prime Minister!!

Dear God!!

Prepare to defend yourself sir, the Red Brigade will be along in a moment to refute that statement.

Right enough. Where are the Fabricator, Robespiere (sic) and the Stammering mange-bird these days?

Collecting tinder wood and gunpowder, methinks.

Edited January 14, 2015 by Cuchulainn

[Baerboxer]

In a way I can see his point, but what does that make the NLA? Full of military officers who really are Hired guns, if the cap fits I guess?

So a guy who freely admits to lying when he thinks its convenient wants to answer questions for another proven liar. and then gets upset when someone uses an appropriate metaphor in a descriptive way.

Aw diddums, is he all upset then, poor sensitive soul.