Suvarnabhumi Visa Exempt - Change of Tactic Applied

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CABINET RESHUFFLE
Somkid set to join Cabinet
WASAMON AUDJARINT,
USANEE MONGKOLPORN,
ERICH PARPART
THE NATION

Reshuffle list submitted on Monday

BANGKOK: -- PRIME Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha said yesterday he had submitted a Cabinet reshuffle for Royal endorsement on Monday.

The PM did not give details of the changes, however the reshuffle is expected to be a major one. Prayut said last week he would switch some ministers and there would be outsiders and others who must go.

Meanwhile, the economic adviser to the National Council for Peace and Order, Somkid Jatusripitak, has resigned as chairman of Saha Pathana Inter-Holding Plc.

In his resignation, he said he had a new mission to pursue. The resignation took effect on August 17, the company said.

It is anticipated that Somkid will be replacing Deputy Prime Minister for Economic Affairs Pridiyathorn Devakula.

Under the projected new line-up: Apisak Tantivorawong, director of Siam Commercial Bank, will serve as Finance Minister.

Deputy Transport Minister Arkom Termpitayapaisit will be appointed Transport Minister, replacing Prajin Juntong, who will serve as Deputy Premier.

Deputy Commerce Minister Apiradee Tantraporn will be appointed Commerce Minister, with Suwit Mesinsee, an academic from Chulalongkorn University as Deputy Commerce Minister.

Bangkok University rector Uttama Savanayana will be appointed Information and Communications Technology Minister.

Deputy Prime Minister Prawit Wongsuwan will remain as Defence Minister, General Anupong Paochinda will stay as Interior Minister, General Paiboon Koomchaya will stay as Justice Minister and Commerce Minister Chatchai Sarikulya will be the new Energy Minister.

In a related development, Cabinet yesterday approved the appointment of Maj General Sansern Kaewkamnerd as the government spokesman.

Sansern quoted Prayut at the Cabinet meeting yesterday as saying changes would be made to the Cabinet to suit the altered situation and the new line-up was not the result of criticism or public pressure. Prayut said he believed all Cabinet members had sacrificed working for the country with the best interests for the public in mind. Those who would lose their posts would be invited to remain as advisers.

The PM said their role would be changed from "player" to "coach".

"We work together as a team to move the country forward and resolve crises, especially economic [ones],'' he said.

Prayut was quoted as saying all ministers and deputy prime ministers understood the circumstances that changes were intended for the country's interest.

"There is no conflict among the Cabinet members. No one can cite the changes as conflicts in the future because all Cabinet members uphold the country's interest, trust and believe in the PM,'' Sansern said.

Banthoon Lamsam, chairman of the board and CEO at Kasikorn Bank, said it would take some time before the new Cabinet could be judged. There were many capable names in the new list, so he was confident they would do well despite the global economic slow down.

"They need some time to work before confidence is built up. It is best to give them encouragement for assuming positions under this tough economic time," he said.

"The new team should find a way to work together and co-ordinate with each other immediately so there is a united strategy to work towards a goal. A good football team is one with individual stars who can work together as a team."

He believed the government's policies would not change a lot but the way that strategies were executed would change. Policies should turn into tangible moves soon, which is the most challenging part. The recent bomb blast in the capital meant that the new Cabinet would begin their work on the back foot as tourism would be hit by the attack.

Outgoing Information and Communications Technology Minister Pornchai Rujiprapa believed the new minister would continue his policies, given they are the government strategies. Among them is the promotion of a digital economy and attempts to solve disputes between state telecom agencies and private concession holders over network ownership.

He hoped the new minister would continue to try to resolve problems of spectrum use. The ministry and the National Broadcasting and Telecommunications Commission this week agreed that they will make a joint proposal for the government to invoke Article 44 of the Interim Constitution to solve spectrum usage problems.

Source: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/politics/Somkid-set-to-join-Cabinet-30266915.html


-- The Nation 2015-08-19

[SOUTHERNSTAR]

Interesting to see that when the economy is in a downward spiral Thaksins people are brought in to rescue it.

[h90]

Interesting to see that when the economy is in a downward spiral Thaksins people are brought in to rescue it.

I think he isn't Thaksins people anymore.....

[ginjag]

Interesting to see that when the economy is in a downward spiral Thaksins people are brought in to rescue it.

Please do not be fooled by the myth that Thaksin is brilliant economist----He enjoyed PM Office whe the world was in a super strong boom.

Today is completely different--the world is in recession and most countries are struggling, the bad economy is not the armies doing---UNDERSTAND.

Of course you and I can select countries that have not been affected. So please do not come back with that one.

You did notice Thaksin chose to lend a hand to the PM to help him out of the bad Thai economy-------very timely---anyone can come out with that statement to make themselves look good.

How good was he to run Yinglucks PTP government, ?? and land Thailand in a mess--with 1 trillion baht sort of missing with the rice--tablet. scheme.

[Srikcir]

Interesting to see that when the economy is in a downward spiral Thaksins people are brought in to rescue it.

Please do not be fooled by the myth that Thaksin is brilliant economist----He enjoyed PM Office whe the world was in a super strong boom.

Today is completely different--the world is in recession and most countries are struggling, the bad economy is not the armies doing---UNDERSTAND.

Of course you and I can select countries that have not been affected. So please do not come back with that one.

You did notice Thaksin chose to lend a hand to the PM to help him out of the bad Thai economy-------very timely---anyone can come out with that statement to make themselves look good.

How good was he to run Yinglucks PTP government, ?? and land Thailand in a mess--with 1 trillion baht sort of missing with the rice--tablet. scheme.

Junta FAILS to salvage the economy in 2014:

2014-07-15

The Joint Standing Committee on Commerce, Industry and Banking (JSCCIB) has predicted that the economy will grow 4.2 percent during the second half of this year.

The committee believes that the Thai economy has passed its lowest point, thanks to the resolved political conflict and certain policies of the National Council for Peace and Order (NCPO) that are intended to stimulate the economy, which would help boost consumer and investor confidence.

The Nation 2014-12-27

The Bank of Thailand has slashed economic growth forecast for 2014 to 0.8 per cent

Junta FAILS to salvage the economy in 2015:

The Nation 2015-01-13

Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha yesterday vowed that his government would do its best to ensure a strong economic performance this year, and told the business sector not to worry about the political situation.

Commerce Minister General Chatchai Sarikulya said: "The government is confident that the Thai economy will grow by 4 per cent this year, driven by many stimulus strategies, as well as closer cooperation between government and private sector."

2015-08-17

The National Economic and Social Development Board (NESDB) again has cut its GDP growth forecast for this year to 2.7% to 3.2% from an earlier prediction of 3% to 4%, following the ongoing fall in export to 4.9% in negative zone in the first half of 2015, Arkhom Termpittayapaisith, secretary general of the NESDB revealed on Monday.

Don’t make promises if you can’t deliver.

[rubl]

Rickirs forgot to mention that the junta did even mange to bring the rest of the world down with them. China in big problems economically, bad junta.

Anyway, it's interesting that when the PM get's in a few more knowledgeble people it's Thaksin's people. At least that what one wrote. Sounds like Thaksin 'owns' people, democratically so.

Maybe some just try to help their country independent of the type of PM 'running' the country.

Edited August 19, 2015 by rubl

[heybruce]

Interesting to see that when the economy is in a downward spiral Thaksins people are brought in to rescue it.

Or to take the blame if the economy doesn't improve.

[firestar]

Looks like this bloomberg columnist had it right after all

http://www.bloombergview.com/articles/2015-08-04/thailand-s-generals-don-t-have-an-economic-plan

[heybruce]

Thailand's economy isn't suffering like most of the world economy, Thailand's economy is suffering much worse than average in the developing world.

"The finance ministry cut its forecast for GDP growth this year to 3 percent, which could be the slowest among developing nations in Asia." http://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2015-07-29/post-coup-thailand-sees-economic-slump-putting-pressure-on-junta

[rubl]

Interesting to see that when the economy is in a downward spiral Thaksins people are brought in to rescue it.

Or to take the blame if the economy doesn't improve.

Of course you'd rather see some others named ?

[heybruce]

Interesting to see that when the economy is in a downward spiral Thaksins people are brought in to rescue it.

Or to take the blame if the economy doesn't improve.

Of course you'd rather see some others named ?

Yes, those who replaced constitutional elected government and rule of law with a junta that rules by decree.

[Thai at Heart]

Devakula is the problem. They havent even spent the approved government budget for God's sake.

And he says he's happy about it.

C+I+G+(X-M). Simple really. C aren't spending, I isn't investing, X is dropping, so why the hell is it OK that G hasn't spent what it has budgeted? Complete incompetence.

[rubl]

Interesting to see that when the economy is in a downward spiral Thaksins people are brought in to rescue it.

Or to take the blame if the economy doesn't improve.

Of course you'd rather see some others named ?

Yes, those who replaced constitutional elected government and rule of law with a junta that rules by decree.

So, rather than seeing someone like Somkid joining the cabinet you'd want a junta to be named as new members of the cabinet?

BTW even Thammasat students protested outside Pheu Thai HQ saying their 'blanket amnesty bill' distorted 'rule of law'. Must have been a democratic distortion with some wanting to return to that situation.

[rubl]

Devakula is the problem. They havent even spent the approved government budget for God's sake.

And he says he's happy about it.

C+I+G+(X-M). Simple really. C aren't spending, I isn't investing, X is dropping, so why the hell is it OK that G hasn't spent what it has budgeted? Complete incompetence.

To be fair most years the Thai government seems to have a problem with the 'planned' spending as defined in the National Budget.

[heybruce]

Or to take the blame if the economy doesn't improve.

Of course you'd rather see some others named ?

Yes, those who replaced constitutional elected government and rule of law with a junta that rules by decree.

So, rather than seeing someone like Somkid joining the cabinet you'd want a junta to be named as new members of the cabinet?

BTW even Thammasat students protested outside Pheu Thai HQ saying their 'blanket amnesty bill' distorted 'rule of law'. Must have been a democratic distortion with some wanting to return to that situation.

I didn't comment on the selection of cabinet members, I speculated on the possibility that a former Thaksin ally is being set up to take the fall for an economy in bad shape when he's appointed, and then pointed out that the people responsible for the government and economy should take the blame.

How many of the protesting Thammasat students were calling for a military coup to stop the amnesty bill? Just because people are allowed to protest specific government policies in a democracy doesn't mean they want military rule, and just because people aren't allowed to protest under military rule doesn't mean the people like being governed by a junta.

[rubl]

So, rather than seeing someone like Somkid joining the cabinet you'd want a junta to be named as new members of the cabinet?

BTW even Thammasat students protested outside Pheu Thai HQ saying their 'blanket amnesty bill' distorted 'rule of law'. Must have been a democratic distortion with some wanting to return to that situation.

I didn't comment on the selection of cabinet members, I speculated on the possibility that a former Thaksin ally is being set up to take the fall for an economy in bad shape when he's appointed, and then pointed out that the people responsible for the government and economy should take the blame.

How many of the protesting Thammasat students were calling for a military coup to stop the amnesty bill? Just because people are allowed to protest specific government policies in a democracy doesn't mean they want military rule, and just because people aren't allowed to protest under military rule doesn't mean the people like being governed by a junta.

I doubt Somkid is being called in to be able to put the blame on him if he needs a bit longer than what impatient people expect. I think he's called in as able person.

The blame game? The current government of course, it's always the current government you blame as the previous governments are no more there. The current government needs to clean-up and improve whatever mess they inherited or created.

Interesting of course is that when people are asked to take their responsibility serious to the point of accountability that's considered undemocratic.