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Premier retains his faith in generals
WASAMON AUDJARINT
THE NATION

EXPERTS HAVE MORE EXPECTATIONS OF PRAYUT'S NEW CIVILIAN ECONOMIC TEAM

BANGKOK: -- THE LATEST Cabinet reshuffle reflects Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha's faith in the capabilities of "generals" rather than civilians or politicians in running the country. However, this does not apply to the new economic team, on which most of the attention is focused.

Prayut's new Cabinet list received Royal endorsement and was published in the Royal Gazette yesterday. The new 34-member team includes 19 civilians, 14 retired and current military officers, and a retired police officer.

Two more Armymen - Energy Minister General Anantaporn Kanjanarat and Labour Minister General Sirichai Dithakul - were added to the Cabinet this time bringing the total number of generals to 14, compared with the previous Cabinet that had 12 retired and current generals. In the reshuffle, none of the generals were ousted from the Cabinet while 11 civilians were removed.

The number of generals in the Cabinet defied the expectations of political scientist Sirote Klampaiboon, who thought it was a sign of Prayut's consideration for his fellow military officers.

A political scientist and former rector of Ramkhamhaeng University, Sukhum Nuansakul, agreed with this view, saying this Cabinet is formed with "an old pattern". It also shows how military officers are considered more capable, compared with civilian politicians in the current political context, he said.

"This Cabinet is just designed to serve the current regime," he said.

Thammasat University lecturer Attasit Pankaew held a different view. He said the number of military officers in the Cabinet did not matter because the military already holds maximum authority.

Nevertheless, Sirote said the military would have no influence on the new economic team, led by civilian Deputy Prime Minister Somkid Jatusripitak. He also expected different policy approaches, and also some improvement over the former economic team led by MR Pridiyathorn Devakula.

"Somkid's team consists of executives and businessmen from the private sector, while Pridiyathorn's consisted mostly of civil servants," he explained.

Attasit was also satisfied with the new economic team, saying it was the heart of the reshuffle.

Sukhum, however, was concerned whether Somkid's approach may suit the military's agenda, considering his former populist policies in the government of former PM Thaksin Shinawatra.

Attasit was satisfied that Prayut had managed to put the right people in the right jobs in this reshuffle. He cited the example of new foreign minister Don Pramudwinai who "as a veteran diplomat, should serve the role well".

However, Sirote did not think Don's approach to foreign policy would be different from that of his predecessor, General Tanasak Patimapragorn, "except for some expected improvement in diplomatic protocols, as Don is an experienced diplomat", he said.

Sirote also looks forward to seeing a tangible digital economy, resulting from the work between the economic team and the Information and Communications Technology Ministry led by Uttama Savanayana.

He also expected to see some improvement in infrastructure with the promotion of the new Transport Minister Akon Termpitayapaitsit.

"Our transportation deal with China should go more smoothly," he said.

However, Sirote wished there had been a change in the Social Development and Human Security Minister, as the person holding the portfolio should have a basic knowledge of the issues.

"But the minister [Pol General Adul Saengsingkaew] still remains in his chair, and also the justice minister [Paiboon Koomchaya]", he said.

Former education minister Chaturon Chaisang gave a thumb-down to the new line-up saying the change was merely on quantity and not quality.

"The new ministers are retired or current officials with many military officials. The change fails to give attention on capability,'' he said.

He said the Prayut Cabinet faces two major obstacles: it does not have clear policies and the world community has not accepted it.

Chaturon said the new economic team also depended on many bureaucrats who may not be open to new economic policies.

Source: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/politics/Premier-retains-his-faith-in-generals-30267107.html

-- The Nation 2015-08-21

[jerojero]

Of course? He'd little faith in citizens who aren't military. Because military knows best....And have all the biggest guns.

[Prbkk]

With the exception of the relatively successful government of Prem , 25 years ago, the involvement of the military in running Thailand has been an abysmal flop.

[dbrenn]

Faith in his genitals more like.

[jaidam]

It all sounds good, I just wish he would consult more with astrologists and fortune tellers, who together with input from the numerous "generals" would make a political dream team to be reckoned with.

[MZurf]

With the exception of the relatively successful government of Prem , 25 years ago, the involvement of the military in running Thailand has been an abysmal flop.

Well to the cheerleaders this does not matter at all. They'd rather have Pol Pot as PM than the bogeyman in Dubai - such is their hatred.

[klauskunkel]

cabinet reshuffle = the time has come for some to leave the trough and for others to come get some, all overseen by the current director of trough allocations

[NongKhaiKid]

Perhaps a mixture of thanking all his pals by giving them their shot and keeping senior military figures happy because he knows better than most what the military are capable of, all for the good of the nation of course.

[Srikcir]

We may see Prayut use Somkid to "double down" on the use of populist policies. This will mean a continuation of cash subsidies, debt forgiveness, soft loans, etc. to public sectors on a case-by-case approach - usually in response to the threat of public demonstrations.

Unfortunately, populist policies are typically short-term solutions based on minimal analysis of a problem that provide more "good feelings" than a long-term solution. It remains to be seen whether the new economic dream team can provide long-term national economic strategies to grow the economy or follow the same "Give me some results now" strategy of the previous team.

Regardless what path the new cabinet takes on the economy, 2015 is a doomed year and 2016 will be just as difficult to manage.

[Baerboxer]

With the exception of the relatively successful government of Prem , 25 years ago, the involvement of the military in running Thailand has been an abysmal flop.

Military leader who decide to run a country, any country, usually cock things up. Just as they do when they retire from the forces and are suddenly appointed CEO's or senior directors of businesses, whether nationalized or private.

Not surprising. They have no or very little training, experience and related education. Their ability to understand the information necessary to be successful in running a country just can't be there. That's not a comment on intelligence but on their knowledge and experience. At best, if they are very intelligent, prepared to work hard they might be on a steep learning curve. If they are arrogant, lazy or assume they already know everything the results will be piss poor. They will be reliant on the guidance and advice of the civil servants, scary.

Having said that I guess many military men here have experience of running things on the side!.

Edited August 21, 2015 by Baerboxer

[Baerboxer]

We may see Prayut use Somkid to "double down" on the use of populist policies. This will mean a continuation of cash subsidies, debt forgiveness, soft loans, etc. to public sectors on a case-by-case approach - usually in response to the threat of public demonstrations.

Unfortunately, populist policies are typically short-term solutions based on minimal analysis of a problem that provide more "good feelings" than a long-term solution. It remains to be seen whether the new economic dream team can provide long-term national economic strategies to grow the economy or follow the same "Give me some results now" strategy of the previous team.

Regardless what path the new cabinet takes on the economy, 2015 is a doomed year and 2016 will be just as difficult to manage.

So you were against the populist polices of the last government then? The self financing rice scheme, the first car scheme, the tablet for every child scheme for examples?

[elgordo38]

Are some of the generals at the top not related to the PM?. Kind of keeping it in the family so to speak.

[speedtripler]

Are some of the generals at the top not related to the PM?. Kind of keeping it in the family so to speak.

They might not be blood relatives, but sacking the old cabinet and installing 14 army generals to do their jobs sounds a bit like something that could only happen in..... Oho wait

Wonder what Thai public think about prayut replacing the cabinet with all his buddies from the army??

Not that they will probably be any worse than the misfits they're replacing.... But how does it work? Are they still generals as well as mps? Do they have to give up rank or something? Is there more wages or less? Do they still get the army wage and a bonus on top for being mps as well?

If I was Thai I would love to ask these questions but it probably wouldn't be healthy...

[billd766]

Are some of the generals at the top not related to the PM?. Kind of keeping it in the family so to speak.

That sounds a bit like Thaksin Shinawatra who also only trusted his family.

Thaksin Shinawatra, former PM.

Somchai Wongsawat, former PM, Thaksin's brother in law.

Yingluck Shinawatra, former PM, Thaksin's younger sister.