EDITORIAL
After the new government was announced, some critics charged that the cabinet was formed by unaccountable, back-room political deal-making. Others lamented the number of "square pegs in round holes" - ministers with little background or understanding in the work and duties of their ministries. Both groups often centred on the new minister of public health, Chalerm Yubamrung. In his first week on the job, Pol Capt Chalerm made several astounding decisions that proved his eye was completely on the political ball. His early job performance actually went against his sworn duty to protect and improve the health of Thai people.
Of course, it was not Mr Chalerm's fault that he came into office just as the scandal of tainted milk became known in China. Few people in the world realised that Chinese milk wholesalers had discovered the murderous black art of putting melamine into milk powder. But a week into his term of office, Mr Chalerm told reporters that he knew little about this dangerous practice. Meanwhile, he secretly ordered civil servants at the Ministry of Public Health to play down information and action towards any imported Chinese milk products.
In fact, the reaction of the ministry and its Food and Drug Administration during the early days of the unfolding case of tainted milk products was, to be polite, laconic. More than two weeks after breaking news from China said that melamine-contaminated milk had killed babies, the first Thai tests were announced. The FDA said it had found traces of melamine in milk powder imported by a major dairy firm - but not enough to cause human harm.
There was one more announcement: The FDA barred the Thai company from returning 122 tonnes of suspect milk powder to China. The reason, according to the administration: It wanted to conduct more tests. As Mr Chalerm's policy of don't ask, don't tell about Chinese-origin milk kicked in, information dried up. The minister, at his press conference, said he "really had no clue" about the melamine scare. But he intended to travel to the Chinese embassy to assure Ambassador Zhang Jiuhuan that he would do everything possible not to embarrass China. In Mr Chalerm's world, Chinese trade relations beat public health. This would be intensely worrying if Mr Chalerm held any government position. Since he is the minister in charge of protecting the health of 63 million fellow citizens, it is scandalous.
It is also clear that Mr Chalerm is acting on his own. Prime Minister Somchai Wongsawat, his foreign minister and the economic ministers responsible for overseas trade have never even hinted what Mr Chalerm has baldly stated - that it is somehow against the interests of Thailand to give clear information and test results about the melamine-tainted milk.
Nor is China any longer trying to cover up this terrible case of shady businessmen run wild. There is plenty of evidence that Beijing tamped down this story until after the Olympics. But now, with at least four deaths and tens of thousands of sick babies, China has begun to make heads roll, both in government and business circles. Mr Chalerm's cover-up is hugely perilous to the health and well-being of Thais, but also is fruitless.
Like the prime minister and all other cabinet ministers, Mr Chalerm took an oath in front of His Majesty the King to work for the good of the nation and citizens. As the top guardian of public health, he has not done this. One hopes there will be an investigation to discover just how much Mr Chalerm has inhibited the professional personnel at the ministry in their job of keeping Thais protected from contaminated products.
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