Embattled Nalinee asked to lift the nation's image | Bangkok Post: news

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Embattled Nalinee asked to lift the nation's image

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.

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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Your comments

  • Discussion 22 : 25/01/2012 at 09:47 PM22

    First of all, yes it's dreadfull that nalinee is associated with the mugabe's. But wait a moment,should it not be the hague that should be taken notice of? Not the US.
    Maybe she is not the best person for the post, due to her association with the family, but also
    give her a chance also. See what she does,

  • Discussion 21 : 25/01/2012 at 06:26 PM21

    What needs a person most who should promote Thailand’s national image? Yes a completely untainted image him/herself! We can argue if the sanctions imposed by the US Treasury Department are right however they are imposed and the own party!!!! not the opposition puts a question mark behind the person who is supposed to work on improving the image of Thailand.
    Unfortunately are few of the bloggers – always the same anyway – don’t get it at all; the only blame and blame others especially the opposition party.

  • Discussion 20 : 25/01/2012 at 05:55 PM20

    bula D11 : How can someone who socializes with a globally despised mass murderer, torturer and thief of the grandest scale enhance Thailand's image in the International Political arena?

  • Discussion 19 : 25/01/2012 at 05:01 PM19

    "Established in 2006 by order of then prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra, the office is responsible for promoting the national identity"

    Well, she's doing a great job already. Since a great number of people around the world associated Thailand with dodgy deals and dubious morals, our shiny new minister has already greatly promoted the Thai national identity.

    Right on, Nalinee, show the world!

  • Discussion 18 : 25/01/2012 at 03:38 PM18

    US had a responsibility to set the stage to clear this using legal channel and avoid confusion over allege that has no bearing.

  • Discussion 17 : 25/01/2012 at 01:31 PM17

    Writing here is a total waste of time. Write your goverment. Tell them what is happening here. Tell them to stop doing business with Thailand. Tell them to issue warnings about this goverment. Then you might see results. This goverment has people that dont care about rights of people. This is now a lost country. Tell your people.

  • Discussion 16 : 25/01/2012 at 12:27 PM16

    to be honest when l read this article l laughed to myself ms nalinee to promote thailand image when her own status is questionable. you have a deputy agriculture minister who last time l saw was escaping a hotel by bed sheets from arrest,another cabinet politican who had a room full of cash being robbed and so on, a former pm who is on the run, the ex wife having all charges dropped when they came to power l feel so sorry for the thai people who dont understand the bigger picture or maybe in denial its becoming a dictatership country run by one selfish man the country dont deserve this, the way forward is a vote of no confidence in the present government bhumjai party to pull out of the coalition and have a non vote buying honest election and a clear majority elected government everyone have different opinions but two wrongs dont make it right

  • Discussion 15 : 25/01/2012 at 11:31 AM15

    Nalinee has freely admitted she is friend with the Mugabe family, a family responsible for the torture, murder, persecution of its opponents, and financial rape of their country. Shouldn't that be enough on its own to make her unsuitable?

  • dao

    ThailandPost : 1820

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    Discussion 14 : 25/01/2012 at 10:36 AM14

    You would hope we would hit rock bottom when we start putting people who work with Robert Mugabe ,or people who burn the city ,or people who dont pay billions in income tax but no we make them our government .Who will be next in the PT line up .Maybe a drug lord or war crime criminal .

  • utter

    Discussion 13 : 25/01/2012 at 10:22 AM13

    She will promote the morals of Thailand? Perfect as she's demonstrated that biz deals with a mass-murderers wife (and by proxy himself) are ok if you make money.... Money is more important than human life! Promote that moral!
    from iPhone application.

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