Cabinet Meets For First Time

[george]

Cabinet meets for first time

BANGKOK: -- All roads seemed to lead to Government House yesterday for the first Cabinet meeting under the interim Prime Minister Surayud Chulanont.

With 200 Thai and foreign press members eager to report the new Cabinet's first meeting, security was tight at Government House. The prime minister arrived at 9am with members of the Cabinet arriving shortly after for the meeting scheduled for 10am.

Ministers appeared to be in a good mood and some paid their respects to the shrines of the guardian spirits at Government House and their ministries.

When the prime minister arrived at the Thai Koo Fah Building he walked past the waiting reporters and photographers and headed straight to the Cabinet meeting room.

Security measures were at the same level after the report of the assassination plot on ousted prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra.

However, many Cabinet members came in their private cars without police or security officers accompanying them.

Despite criticism of the ageing Cabinet there was no ambulance from Vajira Hospital on stand by at Government House as usual.

After the 90 minute meeting the Cabinet had lunch together before leaving for their offices. Surayud held a brief five-minute press conference and said they had discussed policy proposals, flood problems and the promulgation of martial law. He did not take any questions.

PM's Office Minister Thirapat Serirangsan, the youngest minister in the Cabinet, gave a jasmine garland to the prime minister before attending the meeting. He said he had wanted to give him the garland since Monday - to both thank and encourage him.

Thirapat also paid respects at the Brahma image and spirit house at Government House, as did Deputy Prime Minister and Industry Minister Kosit Panpiemras.

Kosit said his office was on the fourth floor of Banchakarn Building, the office of former deputy minister Suchai Charoenratanakul. He quipped that he used to spend his free time there helping deputy ministers when he was deputy agriculture minister in the Anand Panyarachun government.

Deputy Interior Minister Banyat Jansena also went to the ministry to pay respects to the statue of Prince Damrong Rajanupab, the first interior minister, and the ministry's guardian spirit. He was wearing a jacket that displayed the message: "Being born, a man has to pay back for the good of the country." A saying often repeated by Privy Council chairman Prem Tinsulanonda.

Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister Pridiyathorn Devakula brought a Buddha image from his office at the Bank of Thailand to his new office on the third floor of Banchakarn Building.

Pridiyathorn left Government House in the same car as Commerce Minister Krirkkrai Jirapaet. Neither spoke to reporters.

However, when Krirkkrai saw the crowd of reporters, he said, "How scary!"

--The Nation 2006-10-10

[Jai Dee]

Interior Minister insists that the selection of members of the National Assembly will be implemented transparently

Interior Minister Aree Wong-araya (อารีย์ วงศ์อารยะ) insisted that the selection of members of the National Assembly will proceed transparently.

He said that the selection needs many requirements and measures from academics, respectable local politicians and many relevant figures.

He said that only well-rounded people will be selected to join the National Assembly. He is confident that the implementation of the selection will not get involved with the "Thaksin Regime" as many academics are concerned.

The Local Administration Department (LAD) Director-General, Mr. Charnchai Sunthonmath (ชาญชัย สุนทรมัฏฐ์), had a discussion with the Interior Minister, who assigned him to set the selection framework and plan on how he will encourage the units to join the process.

Source: Thai National News Bureau Public Relations Department - 16 October 2006

[Jai Dee]

Govt. policies will be stated to the NLA on Oct 24th

The Defence Minister, Gen. Boonrawd Somthas, disclosed that the government policies will be declared to the National Legislative Assembly on October 24th.

Gen. Boonrawd Somthas spoke about the royal decree to call a meeting of the National Legislative Assembly from October 20th onwards. He said it is the duty of the Cabinet, including the Ministry of Defense, to announce the government policies to the National Legislative Assembly. The announcement is expected to take place on October 24th.

Later on, laws and regulations will be considered in order to determine whether or not they have to be adjusted or improved.

Source: Thai National News Bureau Public Relations Department - 16 October 2006

[Jai Dee]

The government policy statement will be discussed in the Cabinet meeting tomorrow

Prime Minister Surayud Chulanont has personnally showed approval to the policy statement draft and will discuss details of the draft with other members of the Cabinet at their meeting tomorrow.

Deputy Prime Minister and Industry Minister Kosit Panpiemras (โฆสิต ปั้นเปี่ยมรัษฎ์) said after a 30-minute meeting with General Surayud today that the Prime Minister seemed to be positive about the draft and did not give any special assignment. The meeting was also attended by Minister to the Prime Minister's Office Thirapat Serirangsan (ธีรภัทร เสรีรังสรรค์)

The draft policy will be declared at the National Legislative Assembly. had attend a meeting with Prime Minister Gen.Surayud Chulanont <สุรยุทธ์ จุลานนท์ > and Minister attached to the Prime Minister's Office Thirapat Serirangsan <ธีรภัทร เสรีรังสรรค์ > for 30 minutes which they consulted about the government drafted policy which is to declare to the National Lagislative Assembly.

Source: Thai National News Bureau Public Relations Department - 16 October 2006

[Jai Dee]

Mr. Sangsit views that virtue and good governance should be contained in the national agenda

A member of the National Legislative Assembly (NLA), Mr. Sangsit Piriyarangsan (สังศิต พิริยะรังสรรค์), said that matters related to virtues will be included in the national agenda, and they will be proposed to the Cabinet meeting tomorrow. He added that they will be customarily used to prevent corruption in the government units.

Mr. Sangsit had a meeting to set the framework for issuing the national agenda concerning good governance and virtues at the Government House. He said that the guidelines of the virtues and good governance will cover the supervision of Prime Minister Surayud Chulanont and the Cabinet. He underlined that the important thing on eradicating corruption is people who will help scrutinize frauds.

He said that in the Cabinet meeting tomorrow, he will presented the development of educational curriculum and the establishment of an organization to check assets and liabilities of politicians. He said that he will raise the both issues to NLA for consideration as well.

The Minister Attached to the Prime Minister's Office, Khunying Thipawadi Meksawan (ทิพาวดี เมฆสวรรค์), said that the issue is the top priority on reforming the administration, and therefore, the road map is needed to be the guideline for the government officials.

Source: Thai National News Bureau Public Relations Department - 16 October 2006

[Jai Dee]

MFA says 1st draft of white book will be complete next week

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs disclosed that the first draft of the white book to develop a mutual understanding with the global community should be finished within next week.

Mr. Kitti Wasinondh, the Director-General of the Information Department under the Foreign Affairs Ministry, said the white book will clarify the situation inside Thailand, and it is currently being conducted by the Office of the National Security Council.

Relevant agencies are coordinating to provide important information in the book, particularly the information relating to the background of the national situation before the coup on September 19th, the timeline of drafting the temporary constitution, the National Legislative Assembly, and the government policies on various areas. Concerning the economic policy of the government, it continues to promote investment, free trade, and His Majesty the King’s Sufficiency Economy philosophy.

However, Mr. Kitti said once the first draft is completed, thorough revision still needs to be performed.

Source: Thai National News Bureau Public Relations Department - 17 October 2006

[Jai Dee]

Government policy approved by PM, Cabinet considers Tuesday

BANGKOK, Oct 17 (TNA) - Prime Minister Surayud Chulanont has endorsed the draft interim government policy which is due to be discussed by the Cabinet at its weekly meeting Tuesday.

Prime Minister's Office Minister Thirapat Serirangsan met with Gen. Surayud to discuss the draft on Monday. He said the final draft with Cabinet endorsement should be ready for the National Legislative Assembly on October 24.

Dr. Thirapat said the Prime Minister has given him three major points for this policy draft: popular participation in the process of drafting the new constitution; social equality and judicial system reform; and reform of education with an emphasis on ethical values.

The minister said the policy-drafting team he leads will incorporate suggestions and views expressed by the ministers at the Cabinet meeting into the final draft. This should be ready to be tabled for the legislative body's approval on October 24.

Dr. Thirapat said that given the short tenure of this government, the policy will offer something concrete and attainable within the time constraints.

The key points of the policy include political and administrative reforms emphasising people's participation; economic policy, unity and reconciliation, and national security.

On a separate issue, Dr. Thirapat said that immediately after consideration of the policy paper, he will present the draft Conflict of Interest Act for the Cabinet's consideration at a date yet to be scheduled.

The new legislation is aimed at requiring those holding political office and state officials to set example for democratisation, he said.

Source: TNA - 17 October 2006