Pojaman Shinawatra Returns Without Thaksin

[sriracha john]

Potjaman accused of swaying deal

Land pricing and bidding conditions were manipulated to help Potjaman Shinawatra win the controversial land deal with a state agency in 2003, according to a member of the assets scrutiny committee and a witness in the case. Kaewsan Atiphothi, the panel's secretary-general, said the 772-million-baht land deal made between the Financial Institutions Development Fund (FIDF) and the wife of ousted prime minister Thaksin was suspicious because it was wrapped up in a second round of bidding, which was hastily held. The first round joined by many bidders was cancelled, paving the way for the second round which drew only three bidders whose offers were very similar. It is also questionable why a condition requiring bidders to submit a 100-million-baht surety was not included in the first round of bidding, but was in the second, he said. Mr Kaewsan added that the panel would also investigate why the FIDF used the Treasury Department's price evaluation which was much lower than the market value estimated by the Land Department. Auditor-General Jaruvan Maintaka was informed by a witness yesterday the whole bidding process was pre-determined in ways that benefited Khunying Potjaman. After talks with the auditor-general, Weera Somkhamkid, secretary-general of the People's Network Against Corruption, said the 100- million-baht surety was stipulated as an additional requirement and announced only a day before the tender submission date. Relevant authorities also helped Khunying Potjaman to buy the land before the price went up by 20% on Jan 1, 2004, by ordering officials to work on Dec 31 which was a holiday, Mr Weera said. He said he has evidence to support these claims, and that his documents match those acquired by the panel. The land was seized from a trust company in 1975 and was valued at two billion baht at that time. A few years before the bid, the land price slumped from time to time even though it was a prime piece because of its location close to the underground MRT route, he said. Selling the land at 772 million baht made the state lose more than a billion baht in income, he said, and the current value should be higher than that in 1975. It was also suspicious why the fund picked the land plot to auction from a thousand plots it then possessed.

Continued here:

http://www.bangkokpost.com/News/01Nov2006_news03.php

[maxx]

but there's no evident, so the land still belong to her........The End, and the story stop there...gold figure.

[sriracha john]

We shall see... Thaksin had years to cover his tracks... it's no easy task to uncover them.

Give 'em time.

[opothai]

We shall see... Thaksin had years to cover his tracks... it's no easy task to uncover them.

Give 'em time.

give 'em time

thats the one thing this new regime will have, on the TOP of the agenda is to scrutinise toxins activities,

imho he's sent the mrs home to find out where he stands and what liabilities he might come under.

somebody somewhere will have something on him.

[ColPyat]

give 'em time

thats the one thing this new regime will have,

Actually, the opposite is true.

Even with their own ranks discontent is growing at the lack of tangible results so far. And quick results are their only legitimacy, their only source of power other than guns, and the only way how to counteract the logical and expected effects of the power vacuum left by Thaksin's present disappearance from the political landscape.

Nothing is monolithic here, and especially not the army...

[Tony Clifton]

Exactly, there's at least 5 years of dirt to dig up, give 'em time.

[ColPyat]

Exactly, there's at least 5 years of dirt to dig up, give 'em time.

No.

If significant changes would be attempted in Thailand there would be about 70 years of dirt to dig up. But nobody is going there, far more convenient to shift the blame at Thaksin, and not change anything at all.

[Jai Dee]

CNS chairman affirms AEC work progress

Chairman of the Council for National Security (CNS) said the Assets Examination Committee (AEC) has made extentive work progress but the information gathered on the alleged corruption cases is not enough to file lawsuits against the last government's officials involved in the corruption.

Gen.Sonthi Boonyaratglin (สนธิ บุญยรัตกลิน), Commander–in–Chief of Royal Thai Army and CNS Chairman, revealed that he received yesterday a report from the AEC on its investigation progress of the alleged corruption cases. After two weeks of investigation, the AEC had progressed a lot but the information on the cases is not complete enough to file lawsuits against those involved in the corruption. The chairman also affirmed that the AEC has received good cooperation from all relevant parties.

Moreover, Gen.Sonthi called on those who are monitoring the AEC's work not to be concerned over its progress as the panel has given a full effort to accelerate investigating every corruption case.

Source: Thai National News Bureau Public Relations Department - 01 November 2006

[kmart]

Wonder if the slowness of this case is indicative of everyone having their hand in the till or not?

[sriracha john]

We shall see... Thaksin had years to cover his tracks... it's no easy task to uncover them.

Give 'em time.

give 'em time

thats the one thing this new regime will have, on the TOP of the agenda is to scrutinise toxins activities,

imho he's sent the mrs home to find out where he stands and what liabilities he might come under.

somebody somewhere will have something on him.

Sounds like they might already have a few of those somethings.

Military council expects high-profile probe report soon

BANGKOK - Progress in the investigations of several high-profile cases, including the attempted car-bombing of deposed prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra, the kidnapping, murder of lawyer Somchai Neelapaijit and the Tak Bai incident will be unveiled to the public in a few weeks time, Air Force chief Chalit Phukbhasuk said.

Air Chief Marshal Chalit, concurrently vice chairman of the Council for National Security (CNS), said that the authorities - including the police, prosecutors, officials of the National Counter-Corruption Commission and the Anti-Money Laundering Officew - were not only handling the mentioned cases but also many others, the progress and details of which will be disclosed to the public in the next few weeks.

Marshal Chalit said the performances of the government and CNS should be given more attention in the media to keep the public from wrongly assuming that they had worked too slowly or inefficiently.

ACM Chalit declined to comment on a question that "only a non-commissioned army soldier might be charged in the attempted car-bomb attack, while several higher ranking army officers might remain unpunished," saying the government and the CNS will not interfere in the judicial process, and will only see to it that all cases will be subject to the rule of law.

Neither did the CNS vice chairman comment on widespread calls for lifting martial law, imposed since the September 19 coup, adding it would remain in force as long as ''clandestine, subversive'' agents are suspected anywhere in the country.

- Business Day

----------------------------------

Thaksin was too cunning just to leave smoking guns all over the place. Digging for the truth will take some time. People need to be patient. People were patient with Thaksin for years and he accomplished nothing but to loot the Treasury.

[cclub75]

Chairman of the Council for National Security (CNS) said the Assets Examination Committee (AEC) has made extentive work progress but the information gathered on the alleged corruption cases is not enough to file lawsuits against the last government's officials involved in the corruption.

The "smog" strategy continues. They have infos, witnesses, documents, but it's never enough to file lawsuits.

-Shin Deal : official agencies have stated that Temasek has used nominees along with shaddy off shores companies (BVI) to close the deal : nothing happens.

-The land of Madame bought 2003 : they have witness, numbers, and an evident conflict of interest (wife of prime minister who buy a state agency etc.) : nothing happens, Prem is talking with her, people are still wondering if it's really a conflict of interest etc.

-CTX scanners : we know that price was doubled with only 1 middle man : he is under investigation ? What did he do with this huge commission (for 5 minutes of work, fax in, fax out) ? Someone is tracking his banking history ?

And what about the official investigation report written by US authorities, and that was not published by Thaksin ? Where is this report ? Why they are still hidding it ?

I mean, i'm not a journalist, I don't keep papers, and I have a rather bad memory. But the list goes on.

And i don't even mention the "criminal" issues : Thai Bai massacre, the extra judicial killings (war on drugs) , the "abduction" of Somchai. It's heavy, really heavy, not small change.

Who is responsible ? Who was the prime minister a that time ? Did he give orders, yes or no ?

At that point, the excuses they give (we are investigating, yes, yes khrap, but still no smoking gun)... are pathetic. And you really have to be naive to believe that something will come out.

Too many people are involved, on both plan : corruption and criminal acts.

That's the genius part of Thaksin, if I may say : he has involved all the state apparatus, from civil servants to security forces (police and military). Therefore, he will remain untouchable.

The rest is pure comedy, thai style. Eventually, Thaksin will be condemned for... fiscal fraud. And will have to pay a... fine.

[ColPyat]

That's the genius part of Thaksin, if I may say : he has involved all the state apparatus, from civil servants to security forces (police and military). Therefore, he will remain untouchable.

In case of the gross human rights violations such as the drugwar killings, not only the institutions you mentioned, but also the majority of the population, were not just involved by Thaksin, but more than eager in their invovement.

Why are the gross human rights volations such as the drugwar killings not on top of the agenda now?

Giving orders?

You assume that the Thaksin government and TRT was a monolithic organisation. There definately were the attempts to create that, but in fact it was a conglomerate of sometimes widely differing vested interests that saw it as their advantage to be part of this conglomerate. Thaksin has more managed to stay in power longer than every other elected PM in Thailand by balancing those vested interests, and letting the previously completely neglected sectors of the rural poor have a small share as well, rather than simply giving orders.

As to "corruption": a major difficulty is that the forms of corruption you mentioned are very much in general use in Thailand by almost all powers regardless their present political affiliations. If you can even talk about "politcs" in the Thai power landscape, as it is more a mix of personal ideologies, business interests, and clan affiliation than what in the west is generally understood as "politics". Issues generally do fall under the table in that complex web.

[Plus]

-Shin Deal : official agencies have stated that Temasek has used nominees along with shaddy off shores companies (BVI) to close the deal : nothing happens.

Not so easy, legally these people had enough money/clout to pay for their stake themselves or to borrow from any bank. They got a rough deal with little dividends and no say on Shin board and it shows that they are nominees, but technically it's not illegal. INvestigators have to show that money paid for their stakes ultimately came from Temasek - no easy task.

-The land of Madame bought 2003 : they have witness, numbers, and an evident conflict of interest (wife of prime minister who buy a state agency etc.) : nothing happens, Prem is talking with her, people are still wondering if it's really a conflict of interest etc.

It's illegal to enter in contracts with the state, but there are also loopholes there. Maybe because she won the right to buy the land in an auction. Of course it could have all been set from the beginning with only fake bidders allowed to enter, but it needs to be proved that the auction was rigged. No easy task. Land appraisal (way below market price) was done by Treasury department. Maybe unusual, but not illegal. That's the beauty of being in power - you ARE the law, everything you do is legal by definition.

-CTX scanners : we know that price was doubled with only 1 middle man : he is under investigation ? What did he do with this huge commission (for 5 minutes of work, fax in, fax out) ? Someone is tracking his banking history ?

And what about the official investigation report written by US authorities, and that was not published by Thaksin ? Where is this report ? Why they are still hidding it ?

On the other hand there was investigation by Visanu that concluded that nothing was illegal. Prosecutors will have to face that kind of defence in courts and it's not easy. CTX case was to be the first one to go to courts, I believe. Unfortunately it has nothing to do with Thaksin.

Still, time and patience are running out. They'd better start confiscating assets soon or face a backlash.

Maybe generals' plan has never been to destroy Thaksin completely but to simply to keep him out of the picture. Now that he wants to come back, they have to finish him off for good, and they've got precious little time to do that.

They are too polite to shoot, and Thaksin learned that already.

[Plus]

Too may cases, too many leads, too little time. They just have to nail Thaksin on ONE charge and that would be enough.

They dug up old KTC loans, they mentioned governement house aides involved in Somjit abduction case - they are digging and digging. It will not be an easy task to convict Thaksin legally, but it has to be done.

They also mentioned second phase of drug war in which 5,000 were killed, but I doubt they will do anything about that. Not the generals.

[younghusband]

Too may cases, too many leads, too little time. They just have to nail Thaksin on ONE charge and that would be enough.

They dug up old KTC loans, they mentioned governement house aides involved in Somjit abduction case - they are digging and digging. It will not be an easy task to convict Thaksin legally, but it has to be done.

They also mentioned second phase of drug war in which 5,000 were killed, but I doubt they will do anything about that. Not the generals.

I agree with the first para.Remember the FBI were able to bring down Al Capone on a relatively minor tax evasion case.As Plus says, one charge is enough.

From the point of view of international understanding, the best charge (ie of removing Thaksin once and for all from contention) would be red handed corruption or a human rights offence.Thaksin's personal involvement would need to be clearly demonstrated.

[hammered]

Lets remember they have different audiences to satisfy. Convictions that satisfy the international community will not necessarily satisfy all or even any of the people at home. This complicates matters as much as finding well hidden, complicated evidence and having many of those involved in the investigations sympathetic to the previous regime. Getting legal convictions is not going to be easy at all, let alone convictions that satisfy everyone.

No doubt some of this is complicated by deals being done to aid reconciliation too.

[Hermano Lobo]

I originally posted this on another thread. It is probably more relevant here ? .............

I found these two letters in The Nation 30th October interesting:

(1)

Money talks in the war against the corrupt

Re: "Pojaman proves a formidable political 'femme fatale'", Opinion, October 28.

What Pojaman did was a cunning spin, cleverly built upon the old adage, "money talks" - loud and clear! This is a guerrilla war, with lots more teeth!

Conventional military strategies are of no match and could lose the war, in spite of winning the battle!

VT

Bangkok

--------------------------------

(2)

Bag lady must not be allowed to do as she pleases

This Pojaman running around town with her money bags is a cunning woman. Why is she allowed to do this? The coup-makers still have time to right this by throwing these people in jail now and seizing their assets. What the heck are they waiting for? The key is reconciliation? Thailand needs reconciliation after Thaksin's divide-and-rule years, but it does not mean reconciliation with the TRT Shin/Damapong clans.

Know Nothing

Bangkok

Perhaps they bags more questions than answers ?

What's that old adage about powerful women behind leading men ?

[sriracha john]

Thaksin's aide to hold press conference on Pojaman's land purchase Thursday

Noppadol Pattama, a legal adviser of former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra, said he will hold a press conference Thursday to explain the purchase of land by Thaksins' wife, Pojaman Shinawatra.

Noppadol said he would hold the conference at Grand Hyatt Erawan at 10 am to explain Pojaman's purchase of land located on Ratchadaphisek Road in Bangkok from the Financial Institutions Development Fund.

The Nation

[Old Man River]

Convictions that satisfy the international community will not necessarily satisfy all or even any of the people at home.

Correct. National reconciliation is the key to this coup. The majority of Thai voters have to agree that Dr. Thaksin is no longer appropriate to lead the country. If this isn't accomplished, then the CNS knows the chances of the former PM returning to politics increase greatly and they cannot allow this.

[sriracha john]

Convictions that satisfy the international community will not necessarily satisfy all or even any of the people at home.

Correct. National reconciliation is the key to this coup. The majority of Thai voters have to agree that Dr. Thaksin is no longer appropriate to lead the country. If this isn't accomplished, then the CNS knows the chances of the former PM returning to politics increase greatly and they cannot allow this.

Rather foreboding words from Thakky's lawyer:

Deposed Thai PM Thaksin may return to politics

[sriracha john]

Pojaman returns without Thaksin

Ousted Cabinet members declare assets to NCCC

BANGKOK: -- Pojaman Shinawatra, wife of deposed prime minister Thaksin, returned from London with two of her children yesterday, the last day members of the previous Cabinet were allowed to submit their financial reports, one month after their ouster.

Pojaman arrived yesterday afternoon at Suvarnabhumi Airport after spending almost one month at a London apartment with Thaksin and their three children, a Thai Rak Thai party source said. Also joining her on the Thai Airways flight from London were her children Panthongtae and Paethongtarn, as well as Thaksin's trusted aides Padung Limcharoenrat and Pansak Vinyaratn.

Pojaman had six pieces of luggage weighing about 130 kg, according to an airport source.

UPDATE... the clan will have even more luggage on their travels now that Pansak has been dumped from his job... if you can call what did an actual job

Thaksin's former chief adviser loses his job

The former chief adviser to deposed prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra has lost his job as chairman of the commissioners of the Thailand Creative and Design Centre (TCDC) after the commission was disbanded. The nine-member commission could no longer work after six members tendered their resignations on Friday, in a move which effectively ended Pansak Vinyaratn's position. The TCDC was set up under the Thaksin government to promote creative thinking among Thai communities and encourage people to "think outside the box". The centre is among seven organisations formed under the OKMD, a public organisation set up in 2004 to promote Thai education, sciences, art and ethics. In 2005, the OKMD received a budget of more than four billion baht.

Continued here:

http://www.bangkokpost.com/News/30Jan2007_news10.php

---------------------------------------------------------

what will poor Pansak do now??????

[Old Man River]

Pojaman returns without Thaksin

Ousted Cabinet members declare assets to NCCC

BANGKOK: -- Pojaman Shinawatra, wife of deposed prime minister Thaksin, returned from London with two of her children yesterday, the last day members of the previous Cabinet were allowed to submit their financial reports, one month after their ouster.

Pojaman arrived yesterday afternoon at Suvarnabhumi Airport after spending almost one month at a London apartment with Thaksin and their three children, a Thai Rak Thai party source said. Also joining her on the Thai Airways flight from London were her children Panthongtae and Paethongtarn, as well as Thaksin's trusted aides Padung Limcharoenrat and Pansak Vinyaratn.

Pojaman had six pieces of luggage weighing about 130 kg, according to an airport source.

UPDATE... the clan will have even more luggage on their travels now that Pansak has been dumped from his job... if you can call what did an actual job

Thaksin's former chief adviser loses his job

The former chief adviser to deposed prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra has lost his job as chairman of the commissioners of the Thailand Creative and Design Centre (TCDC) after the commission was disbanded. The nine-member commission could no longer work after six members tendered their resignations on Friday, in a move which effectively ended Pansak Vinyaratn's position. The TCDC was set up under the Thaksin government to promote creative thinking among Thai communities and encourage people to "think outside the box". The centre is among seven organisations formed under the OKMD, a public organisation set up in 2004 to promote Thai education, sciences, art and ethics. In 2005, the OKMD received a budget of more than four billion baht.

Continued here:

http://www.bangkokpost.com/News/30Jan2007_news10.php

---------------------------------------------------------

what will poor Pansak do now??????

Chairman of an organization that nobody has ever heard of that had a budget of THB 4 billion. The AEC should be looking into this.

[slimdog]

The OKMD has eight units working together – the Knowledge Park, the ICT Learning Centre, the National Discovery Museum Institute, a creativity and design centre, a “morals” centre, a centre for gifted people, a life-sciences centre and a “brain-based” learning centre.

More information regarding the Office of Knowledge Management and Development (OKMD) can be found at:

http://www.nationmultimedia.com/search/pag...21&usrsess=

[sriracha john]

It's good to see that Thaksin and his buddy decided to set up the TCDC on such a frugal and thrifty propety site as The Emporium. :D

And to think you only had 1.2 billion baht of OKMD's 4 billion baht.

Thanks for being so considerate and thoughtful with the taxpayers money.

Well done, guys.

oh, before I forget, can I ask a question?

If the TCDC was set up, as per The Nation's article, "to inspire Thai youth to start creating design masterpieces", how come the "The Shop@TCDC" has most of its items for sale from a Paris company, Pylones?

At least that's what the online version offers:

http://www.tcdc.or.th/shop.php?section=sho...d=15&page=2

Not sure where the majority of items at "The Shop" on the 6th floor of The Emporium come from.

[sriracha john]

It's good to see that Thaksin and his buddy decided to set up the TCDC on such a frugal and thrifty propety site as The Emporium.

And to think you only had 1.2 billion baht of OKMD's 4 billion baht.

Thanks for being so considerate and thoughtful with the taxpayers money.

Well done, guys.

oh, before I forget, can I ask a question?

If the TCDC was set up, as per The Nation's article, "to inspire Thai youth to start creating design masterpieces", how come the "The Shop@TCDC" has most of its items for sale from a Paris company, Pylones?

At least that's what the online version offers:

http://www.tcdc.or.th/shop.php?section=sho...d=15&page=2

Not sure where the majority of items at "The Shop" on the 6th floor of The Emporium come from.

UPDATE

Thaksin's pet project scrutinised

Audit: Output doesn't justify hefty budget

The Office of the Auditor-General (OAG) is looking into lavish spending by the Office of Knowledge Management and Development (OKMD), a brainchild of the ousted Thaksin Shinawatra administration to turn the country into a knowledge-based society. OAG's deputy chief Pisit Leelavachiropas said the Thaksin government seemed to have set up the office to serve political ends rather than the national interest . The OAG was conducting a routine investigation into the OKMD in terms of its value for money and transparency, when it stumbled on high expenditures. Since it was set up in 2004, budgets of more than five billion baht had been allocated to the organisation, which had spent nearly three billion baht. Half of that went into executive salaries, said the source. The OKMD has seven units: Thailand Creative and Design Centre at the Emporium shopping mall, Thai Knowledge Park, Thailand Centre of Excellence for Life Sciences, the Centre for the Promotion of National Strength on Moral Ethics and Values, the National Centre for the Gifted and Talented, and the National Institute for Brain-Based Learning. OKMD was run by Pansak Vinyaratn, a chief adviser to then prime minister Thaksin when it was created in 2004. The board was made up of Mr Thaksin's close aides, including Shin Corp CEO and executive chairman Boonklee Plangsiri and Prommin Lertsuridej, a secretary-general to Mr Thaksin when it launched. The source said Mr Pansak received a big pay cheque as TCDC chairman, as much as 300,000 baht a month; much more than the prime minister's own salary.

Continued here:

http://www.bangkokpost.com/News/16Apr2007_news01.php

[sriracha john]

Re: "Thaksin's pet project scrutinised" in Monday's paper. I find it very interesting that Pansak Vinyaratn is in the news again. As former prime minister Thaksin's chief policy adviser, Khun Pansak has a perfect record - a chief adviser to two Thai prime ministers who have both been kicked out in coups after allegations of massive corruption. The first PM he advised was Chatichai Choonhavan.

The question now is, will...

Letter to the Editor continued here:

http://www.bangkokpost.com/News/18Apr2007_news16.php

[sriracha john]

More revelations regarding Thaksin's pig-feeding money-trough:

Auditors slam overspending, mismanagement

The Office of Knowledge Management and Development (OKMD) and its seven specialized units overspent, mismanaged and did work that overlapped with other agencies, the Office of the Auditor-General (OAG) has concluded. The auditors also said the formation of the seven units was not in line with the royal decree on establishing the OKMD in 2004, and failed to achieve stated goals. Pansak Vinyaratn, then chief adviser to ousted PM Thaksin Shinawatra, ran the OKMD from its inception in 2004 until his resignation in January this year. He then also lost his job as chairman of the Thailand Creative and Design Centre, one of the seven units. The OKMD management board will meet on Monday to discuss the audit report, sources said. Kraisak Choonhavan, an OKMD board member, said the agency was riddled with problems and was the most lavish spender of the public organizations, with average expenses of about 1.6 billion baht a year. The OAG report says the seven units were set up by former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra, as chairman of the OKMD's policy committee, although the 2004 OKMD law did not permit the chairman to do so. The law gives this mandate only to the OKMD management board.

Revelations continued here:

http://www.bangkokpost.com/News/11May2007_news02.php

[sriracha john]

It's good to see that Thaksin and his buddy decided to set up the TCDC on such a frugal and thrifty propety site as The Emporium.

And to think you only had 1.2 billion baht of OKMD's 4 billion baht.

Thanks for being so considerate and thoughtful with the taxpayers money.

Well done, guys.

oh, before I forget, can I ask a question?

If the TCDC was set up, as per The Nation's article, "to inspire Thai youth to start creating design masterpieces", how come the "The Shop@TCDC" has most of its items for sale from a Paris company, Pylones?

At least that's what the online version offers:

http://www.tcdc.or.th/shop.php?section=sho...d=15&page=2

Not sure where the majority of items at "The Shop" on the 6th floor of The Emporium come from.

UPDATE

Thaksin's pet project scrutinised

Audit: Output doesn't justify hefty budget

The Office of the Auditor-General (OAG) is looking into lavish spending by the Office of Knowledge Management and Development (OKMD), a brainchild of the ousted Thaksin Shinawatra administration to turn the country into a knowledge-based society. OAG's deputy chief Pisit Leelavachiropas said the Thaksin government seemed to have set up the office to serve political ends rather than the national interest . The OAG was conducting a routine investigation into the OKMD in terms of its value for money and transparency, when it stumbled on high expenditures. Since it was set up in 2004, budgets of more than five billion baht had been allocated to the organisation, which had spent nearly three billion baht. Half of that went into executive salaries, said the source. The OKMD has seven units: Thailand Creative and Design Centre at the Emporium shopping mall, Thai Knowledge Park, Thailand Centre of Excellence for Life Sciences, the Centre for the Promotion of National Strength on Moral Ethics and Values, the National Centre for the Gifted and Talented, and the National Institute for Brain-Based Learning. OKMD was run by Pansak Vinyaratn, a chief adviser to then prime minister Thaksin when it was created in 2004. The board was made up of Mr Thaksin's close aides, including Shin Corp CEO and executive chairman Boonklee Plangsiri and Prommin Lertsuridej, a secretary-general to Mr Thaksin when it launched. The source said Mr Pansak received a big pay cheque as TCDC chairman, as much as 300,000 baht a month; much more than the prime minister's own salary.

Continued here:

http://www.bangkokpost.com/News/16Apr2007_news01.php

UPDATE

Big-spending government body fights for survival

Launched in the Thaksin era as a public organisation to promote Thailand's competitiveness, the Office of Knowledge Management and Development (OKMD) has been criticised for the extravagant spending of the seven units operating under its control, and there have been questions about whether the organisation is really necessary.

New OKMD chairman Apinan Poshyananda, who took over last November, admits all of the claims but says the organisation and its units are vital for Thailand and that they should remain, even with a sharp budget cut.

"The concept is good and has raised positive feedback. The units need re-engineering, in order to reduce their operating costs and fine-tune their operations so that benefits are maintained," he said.

The OKMD and its units have spent a total of Bt3.21 billion in the three years since being established in 2004. Their expenses this year total just over Bt1.068 billion. However, for fiscal 2008, they will be allocated only Bt809.65 million after a sharp cut in the proposed budget of Bt1.3 billion.

The huge spending prompted an audit by the Auditor-General's Office, which concluded that the OKMD and its seven units were not spending their budget economically. Last year alone, office rents and interior decoration cost nearly Bt485 million.

The seven units under the OKMD banner are the National Institute for Brain-Based Learning (NBL), the National Centre for the Gifted and Talented (NGT), Thailand Knowledge Park (TK Park), the National Discovery Museum Institute, the Thailand Creative and Design Centre (TCDC), the Thailand Centre of Excellence for Life Sciences and the Centre for the Promotion of National Strength on Moral Ethics and Values.

Most of the spending has gone towards office rents and investment.

Apinan admits the spending could have been lower if the units had been more careful in managing their costs. For example, TK Park moved its office twice before finally settling on the 7th floor of CentralWorld. The three venues required a total of Bt200 million for decoration.

Another question raised by the Auditor-General's Office regards salaries of Bt300,000 per month for some directors of the eight organisations.

Salary cuts are an issue Apinan has promised to tackle, in order to ensure lower spending and the survival of all. While in the process of recruiting its new director, parent organisation OKMD brought the director's salary down from Bt300,000. The boards of all units will also be smaller, and the OKMD's directors will be tasked with monitoring the work of the units to streamline their operations.

"We won't overhaul everything. We're reducing what we can, and in doing so I'm applying the government's sufficiency policies," Apinan said.

Aside from re-engineering, the OKMD must soon address the urgent problem of office-lease contracts. A committee was set up to evaluate the options of relocating the offices to cheaper premises or remaining at the current venues. However, Apinan said if new venues were recommended, they must remain in central Bangkok; otherwise, the units' accessibility and thus viability would be reduced. He is negotiating with Chulalongkorn University to reach long-term lease contracts for its Hi-Tech Square, at special rates.

As part of the management overhaul, the NBL will be merged with the NGT, because of overlapping work. This move was part of advice delivered by a task force that evaluated all units in January.

An independent appraiser has also been commissioned to evaluate the units' success.

"We're looking not at financial gains, but rather at non-financial gains," Apinan said. "For example, how has the TCDC helped develop the country's design industry? How many gifted children has the NGT located? We will tell the public about the answers we receive."

Apinan is confident the answers will be satisfactory. "These are not somebody's pet projects. If they had no good, they would have been dissolved in January." Apinan said that hopefully, the appraiser's report would pave the way for higher budgets, which are needed for relocations or extensions of lease contracts.

Meanwhile, all units have been told to think of how to make money and to seek greater cooperation with other organisations in expanding the OKMD's funding.

Apinan said the OKMD planned to expand brain-based learning to 492 state schools across the Kingdom, open 80 special libraries and work with tambon administrative organisations in opening more TK Parks upcountry.

The OKMD will also join with Thammasat University's Lampang campus, Chiang Mai University, Burapha University, Khon Kaen University and Maha Sarakham University to open mini-Thailand Creative and Design Centres upcountry, he said.

Apinan believes the lavish spending of the past can be attributed to poor management. While the OKMD was formed as a public organisation, its seven units had acted independently and adopted the parent organisation's laws when striking business contracts or procuring equipment. This spurred uncontrolled spending. While some of the units could have "shared the back office" or rented cars to reduce costs, each opted to have its own support.

Most of the units rented large offices and had fancy decorations requiring huge design and equipment costs. However, the TCDC, which has a three-year rental agreement for space rent in The Emporium, spent Bt102 million on decoration and paid Bt60 million in rent for 2005 and last year.

From now on, all contracts must be endorsed by the OKMD, Apinan said. He is certain this will streamline both management and spending. Also, he hopes this will eventually convince the public that the organisation will be cautious and controlled in its future spending - something that will keep all units in existence to benefit the Kingdom in the long term.

- The Nation

[sriracha john]

It's good to see that Thaksin and his buddy decided to set up the TCDC on such a frugal and thrifty property site as The Emporium.

And to think you only had 1.2 billion baht of OKMD's 4 billion baht.

Thanks for being so considerate and thoughtful with the taxpayers money.

Well done, guys.

oh, before I forget, can I ask a question?

If the TCDC was set up, as per The Nation's article, "to inspire Thai youth to start creating design masterpieces", how come the "The Shop@TCDC" has most of its items for sale from a Paris company, Pylones?

At least that's what the online version offers:

http://www.tcdc.or.th/shop.php?section=sho...d=15&page=2

Not sure where the majority of items at "The Shop" on the 6th floor of The Emporium come from.

UPDATE

Thaksin's pet project scrutinized

Audit: Output doesn't justify hefty budget

The Office of the Auditor-General (OAG) is looking into lavish spending by the Office of Knowledge Management and Development (OKMD), a brainchild of the ousted Thaksin Shinawatra administration to turn the country into a knowledge-based society. OAG's deputy chief Pisit Leelavachiropas said the Thaksin government seemed to have set up the office to serve political ends rather than the national interest . The OAG was conducting a routine investigation into the OKMD in terms of its value for money and transparency, when it stumbled on high expenditures. Since it was set up in 2004, budgets of more than five billion baht had been allocated to the organization, which had spent nearly three billion baht. Half of that went into executive salaries, said the source. The OKMD has seven units: Thailand Creative and Design Centre at the Emporium shopping mall, Thai Knowledge Park, Thailand Centre of Excellence for Life Sciences, the Centre for the Promotion of National Strength on Moral Ethics and Values, the National Centre for the Gifted and Talented, and the National Institute for Brain-Based Learning. OKMD was run by Pansak Vinyaratn, a chief adviser to then prime minister Thaksin when it was created in 2004. The board was made up of Mr Thaksin's close aides, including Shin Corp CEO and executive chairman Boonklee Plangsiri and Prommin Lertsuridej, a secretary-general to Mr Thaksin when it launched. The source said Mr Pansak received a big pay cheque as TCDC chairman, as much as 300,000 baht a month; much more than the prime minister's own salary.

Continued here:

http://www.bangkokpost.com/News/16Apr2007_news01.php

UPDATE

Big-spending government body fights for survival

Launched in the Thaksin era as a public organization to promote Thailand's competitiveness, the Office of Knowledge Management and Development (OKMD) has been criticized for the extravagant spending of the seven units operating under its control, and there have been questions about whether the organization is really necessary.

New OKMD chairman Apinan Poshyananda, who took over last November, admits all of the claims but says the organization and its units are vital for Thailand and that they should remain, even with a sharp budget cut.

"The concept is good and has raised positive feedback. The units need re-engineering, in order to reduce their operating costs and fine-tune their operations so that benefits are maintained," he said.

The OKMD and its units have spent a total of Bt3.21 billion in the three years since being established in 2004. Their expenses this year total just over Bt1.068 billion. However, for fiscal 2008, they will be allocated only Bt809.65 million after a sharp cut in the proposed budget of Bt1.3 billion.

The huge spending prompted an audit by the Auditor-General's Office, which concluded that the OKMD and its seven units were not spending their budget economically. Last year alone, office rents and interior decoration cost nearly Bt485 million.

The seven units under the OKMD banner are the National Institute for Brain-Based Learning (NBL), the National Centre for the Gifted and Talented (NGT), Thailand Knowledge Park (TK Park), the National Discovery Museum Institute, the Thailand Creative and Design Centre (TCDC), the Thailand Centre of Excellence for Life Sciences and the Centre for the Promotion of National Strength on Moral Ethics and Values.

Most of the spending has gone towards office rents and investment.

Apinan admits the spending could have been lower if the units had been more careful in managing their costs. For example, TK Park moved its office twice before finally settling on the 7th floor of CentralWorld. The three venues required a total of Bt200 million for decoration.

Another question raised by the Auditor-General's Office regards salaries of Bt300,000 per month for some directors of the eight organizations.

Salary cuts are an issue Apinan has promised to tackle, in order to ensure lower spending and the survival of all. While in the process of recruiting its new director, parent organization OKMD brought the director's salary down from Bt300,000. The boards of all units will also be smaller, and the OKMD's directors will be tasked with monitoring the work of the units to streamline their operations.

"We won't overhaul everything. We're reducing what we can, and in doing so I'm applying the government's sufficiency policies," Apinan said.

Aside from re-engineering, the OKMD must soon address the urgent problem of office-lease contracts. A committee was set up to evaluate the options of relocating the offices to cheaper premises or remaining at the current venues. However, Apinan said if new venues were recommended, they must remain in central Bangkok; otherwise, the units' accessibility and thus viability would be reduced. He is negotiating with Chulalongkorn University to reach long-term lease contracts for its Hi-Tech Square, at special rates.

As part of the management overhaul, the NBL will be merged with the NGT, because of overlapping work. This move was part of advice delivered by a task force that evaluated all units in January.

An independent appraiser has also been commissioned to evaluate the units' success.

"We're looking not at financial gains, but rather at non-financial gains," Apinan said. "For example, how has the TCDC helped develop the country's design industry? How many gifted children has the NGT located? We will tell the public about the answers we receive."

Apinan is confident the answers will be satisfactory. "These are not somebody's pet projects. If they had no good, they would have been dissolved in January." Apinan said that hopefully, the appraiser's report would pave the way for higher budgets, which are needed for relocations or extensions of lease contracts.

Meanwhile, all units have been told to think of how to make money and to seek greater cooperation with other organizations in expanding the OKMD's funding.

Apinan said the OKMD planned to expand brain-based learning to 492 state schools across the Kingdom, open 80 special libraries and work with tambon administrative organizations in opening more TK Parks upcountry.

The OKMD will also join with Thammasat University's Lampang campus, Chiang Mai University, Burapha University, Khon Kaen University and Maha Sarakham University to open mini-Thailand Creative and Design Centres upcountry, he said.

Apinan believes the lavish spending of the past can be attributed to poor management. While the OKMD was formed as a public organization, its seven units had acted independently and adopted the parent organization's laws when striking business contracts or procuring equipment. This spurred uncontrolled spending. While some of the units could have "shared the back office" or rented cars to reduce costs, each opted to have its own support.

Most of the units rented large offices and had fancy decorations requiring huge design and equipment costs. However, the TCDC, which has a three-year rental agreement for space rent in The Emporium, spent Bt102 million on decoration and paid Bt60 million in rent for 2005 and last year.

From now on, all contracts must be endorsed by the OKMD, Apinan said. He is certain this will streamline both management and spending. Also, he hopes this will eventually convince the public that the organization will be cautious and controlled in its future spending - something that will keep all units in existence to benefit the Kingdom in the long term.

- The Nation

UPDATE

Government defends relocating of national design centre

PM's Office Minister Dhipavadee Meksawan defended Thursday the relocation of the Thailand Creative and Design Centre to Chulalongkorn University's Jaturas Jamjuri Building, saying the treasury would save nearly 50 Million Baht over six years.

The Thailand Knowledge Park (TK Park) and Office of Knowledge Management and Development (OKMD) would also be moved to the same place to form an integrated edutainment centre, she said.

Earlier she met with a group of Thailand Creative and Design Centre members led by actress Siriyakorn Pukkavesh who were seeking a review of the decision to move the TCDC out of the Emporium Tower.

Dhipavadee said the members raised three concerns.

They wondered whether the Jaturas Jamjuri Building could provide the TCDC the same services as provided by the Emporium Tower, whether the decision-making process for selecting the Jaturas Jamjuri Building was transparent and whether the new location would be as convenient to most members as the current one.

Dhipavadee said the idea of grouping the TCDC, TK Park and OKMD at one place in the downtown Sam Yan area as an edutainment centre was not new.

The Thaksin Shinawatra administration initially wanted to gather the three on the Rajamangala University of Technology Tawanok Uthenthawai campus but faced obstacles, so the three were opened in shopping malls instead. She promised the group that she would ensure that the services provided at the new location would not be inferior.

Dhipavadee said the move would greatly cut down on operating expenses. In the first six years the relocated TCDC would run up expenses of Bt96.6 million plus moving expenses of Bt81 million, which would total Bt177.6 million. That was much cheaper than paying rent at the Emporium Tower of 221 Million Baht over the period, and that did not even include utility bills. She said the savings would be used to improve the OKMD.

In the TCDC member group's statement released to the press yesterday, they claimed that the OKMD's study on the TCDC move had mentioned the unworthiness of the idea and the disadvantage of having lower quality and standard services and increased expenses on promoting target groups to come to the TCDC at its new location. The moving of other agencies under the OKMD would also require an explanation to the Auditor General's Office because the move would mean the OKMD would be paying rent for the Jaturas Jamjuri Building while not using the existing sites, which were recently renovated.

The group said they want the OKMD to scrap the TCDC relocation plan because the Emporium was actually cheaper. From 20082013, it would cost the new site some Bt206 million for the total space of only 3,057 square metres. That works out to a cost per square metre of Bt67,562. But the Emporium office had 5,196sqm and incurred Bt221 million in expenses, so the expense per square metre would be only Bt42,578.

They also want the OKMD to review its policy to merge the TCDC with the National Discovery Museum Institute and the OKMD executives' performances to be scrutinized.

The OKMD had nearly two months ago resolved to fold the TCDC into the National Discovery Museum Institute to create the Thailand Discovery and Creative Centre, they said, adding that the new agency was in the process of finding a director.

However, the OKMD executives never explained the new location study results, the service support plan and the compensation scheme for members and private sector donors who had supported the TCDC. The noted that the latest OKMD had already signed a letter of intent with the Jaturas Jamjuri Building on November 28 and was about to ink a lease for the space, they said.

The TCDC is one of the seven agencies under the OKMD umbrella. The others are the National Institute for BrainBased Learning, National Centre for the Gifted and Talented, TK Park, National Discovery Museum Institute, Thailand Centre of Excellence for Life Sciences, and Centre for the Promotion of National Strength on Moral Ethics and Values.

- The Nation

[Scott]

I think people are reading too much into this. This is just a nice lady doing her wifely job of coming home ahead of her husband to clean the house and red carpets for his triumphant return!