US blacklist for new cabinet member | Bangkok Post: learning

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Yesterday was a big day for Nalinee Taveesin, a little bigger than she might have wished.

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US blacklist for new cabinet member

Nalinee: Ties to Mugabes

Yesterday was a big day for Nalinee Taveesin, a little bigger than she might have wished.

First, her appointment as a Prime Minister's Office minister in the Yingluck cabinet was endorsed by His Majesty the King.

Soon afterwards, however, a report surfaced that she was on a list of blacklisted people for having alleged business relations with Zimbabwe's dictatorial president Robert Mugabe.

So, instead of accepting congratulations for her cabinet appointment, she was immediately forced to explain her relationship to the African leader, who is often described as a “tyrant” for his human rights abuses, political violence and partisan prosecutions.

On Nov 25, 2008, the US Department of the Treasury's Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) designated four people as "Mugabe regime cronies".

Ms Nalinee was one of them. In its statement, the OFAC said she had been involved in several financial, real estate and gem transactions on behalf of Grace Mugabe, the Zimbabwean president's wife.

Ms Nalinee quickly dismissed the US action as a big misunderstanding and “inconsequential” to her new role as a cabinet minister.

In a phone interview, Ms Nalinee, who was a Thai trade representative before her name was included in the list of new ministers, said she had known Mr Mugabe and his wife for more than 10 years but never had a business relationship with them.

"I have never traded in gemstones. I have never brought diamonds in for sale. I am friends with the presidents of many countries. This is a case of guilt by association."

She said she was first introduced to the Mugabes during their visit to Thailand in 2002 to galvanise investor interest in economically troubled Zimbabwe and to take a New Year holiday.

She said she was aware of the blacklist because the US sent a letter to her.

"But it was a long time ago,” she said.

Adapted from a story it today’s Bangkok Post by Atiya Achakulwisut. You can read the original story here: http://bit.ly/xjJ9Nt

blacklist – a list of the names of people, companies, products or countries that an organization or a government considers unacceptable and that must be avoided บัญชีดำ,  รายชื่อผู้ที่รัฐบาลไม่ยอมรับหรือต้องถูกหลีกเลี่ยง
cabinet – the group of government ministers who make and approve government policy คณะรัฐมนตรี
appointment – when someone is officially chosen for a job การแต่งตั้ง
endorsed – officially approved รับรอง
surface – to become known เป็นที่รู้, ปรากฏ, เปิดเผย
alleged – claimed to be true although not yet proven ที่ถูกกล่าวหา
dictatorial – using power in an unreasonable way by telling people what to do and not listening to their views or wishes อย่างเผด็จการ
congratulations – something you say to praise someone and say that you approve of or are pleased about a special or unusual achievement  ยินดีด้วย
immediately – happening right after something else with no delay; right away ทันที
tyrant – a person who has complete power in a country and uses it in a cruel and unfair way ทรราช, ผู้ปกครองที่เผด็จการ
human rights – the basic rights which it is generally considered all people should have, such as justice and the freedom to say what you think สิทธิมนุษยชน
abuse – cruel, violent tor unfair treatment, especially of someone who does not have the power to prevent it
violence – physical force with the deliberate intention of causing damage to property or injury or death to people ความรุนแรง
partisan – showing strong and usually unfair support for one particular person, group, or idea ซึ่งถือพรรคถือพวก, ซึ่งลำเอียง
prosecution –the process of accusing someone of a crime and asking a court of law to judge them การดำเนินคดีตามกฎหมาย
treasury – the system or government department responsible for financial matters such as spending and taxation ระบบการคลัง
assets – things owned by a person, company etc., particularly money and property ทรัพย์สิน
designated – marked, separated, or give a name for a particular purpose ถูกกำหนด
regime – a government that controls a country, especially in a strict or unfair way รัฐบาลที่ขึ้นมาปกครองโดยการยึดอำนาจ
crony – a friend or supporter, especially of someone powerful; a person that somebody spends a lot of time with  เพื่อนสนิท, พวกพ้อง, พรรคพวก
involved – taking part or having a role in something เกี่ยวข้อง
financial – involving money เกี่ยวกับเงิน, ทางการเงิน
real estate – property อสังหาริมทรัพย์
gem – a jewel (= precious stone), especially when cut into a particular regular shape อัญมณี, เพชรพลอย
transaction – the action or process of buying or selling something การค้า
on behalf of – as a representative of ในนามของ ในฐานะของ
dismiss – to refuse to accept that something might be true or important ไม่สนใจ,แย้งกลับ
inconsequential – not important or worth considering ซึ่งไม่สำคัญ
role – the purpose or influence of someone or something in a particular situation; function or job บทบาท
trade –  the buying and selling of goods and services การค้าขาย
representative – someone who has been chosen or elected by a person or group to vote, give opinions, or make decisions for them ผู้แทน
guilt – the fact of having done something wrong or committed a crime ความผิด
association – a connection between two things การเชื่อมติดกัน
guilt by association – thought (often unfairly) to have done something wrong because of being friends with or working with someone who has
galvanise – to shock or affect someone enough to produce a strong and immediate reaction กระตุ้น
aware – to know that something exists, or to have knowledge or experience of a particular thing ทราบ

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