CABINET RESHUFFLE
Embattled Nalinee asked to lift the nation's image
- Published: 25/01/2012 at 08:56 AM
- Newspaper section: News
Prime Minister's Office minister Nalinee Taveesin has been appointed to promote Thailand's national image, despite the cloud hanging over her reputation caused by her ties to the Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe.
Nalinee: Reputation still in question
The US has imposed financial sanctions on her as a result of alleged business dealings between herself and the Mugabe regime, but undeterred by the pall which that saga has cast over her appointment as PM's Office minister, the government has now asked her to also oversee an office promoting the Thai identity.
During the first cabinet meeting since last week's reshuffle, Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra on Tuesday presided over the assignment of duties to her new ministers.
As one of the three PM's Office ministers, Ms Nalinee was given responsibility for the National Identity Office.
Established in 2006 by order of then prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra, the office is responsible for promoting the national identity, "the unique and noble values that distinguish Thailand from others, that form the foundation of society and makes it one that is complete with quality, morals, wisdom, thirst for knowledge, generosity and fraternity," according to its website.
Ms Nalinee's other responsibilities are the office of the spokeswoman, the Royal Institute, the National Research Council and the National Economic and Social Advisory Council.
The public organisations under her charge are the Office of Knowledge Management and Development, Thailand Research Fund and Office for National Education Standards and Quality Assessment.
Ombudsman chairwoman Panit Nitithanprapas said her office would ask Ms Yingluck and the cabinet secretariat to explain the controversial appointments of Ms Nalinee and Deputy Agriculture and Cooperatives Minister Natthawut Saikua.
The inquiry follows a complaint filed with the Ombudsman by the Green Political Group questioning the qualifications of the two new ministers.
- Related: All the (former) premier’s men
- See also: Natthawut to help 'all colours'
Ms Panit said the prime minister must clarify if, before appointing the ministers, she considered Section 279 of the constitution, which requires that individuals who exercise government authority must adhere to ethics, good conduct and appropriateness.
Ms Panit said the accusations against Ms Nalinee could end up tarnishing the country's image.
Meanwhile, the Democrat Party on Tuesday filed a petition seeking the impeachment of Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra and Foreign Minister Surapong Tovichakchaikul over the return of an ordinary passport to Thaksin Shinawatra.
Wirat Kalayasiri, a member of the Democrat legal team, asked Senate Speaker Teeradej Meepien to forward the petition to the National Anti-Corruption Commission.
Mr Wirat said the petition was signed by 145 MPs, more than the 125 required under Section 270 of the constitution. Mr Teeradej must verify the names of the petitioners within 30 days.
Mr Wirat said Mr Surapong should be impeached for reissuing a passport to ousted prime minister Thaksin, while Ms Yingluck ignored a Democrat request to overturn the decision.
He said Democrat MP for Songkhla Chaiwut Phongphaew sent a letter to the prime minister on Dec 28 last year asking that she revoke the passport, but no action had been taken.
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