Cabinet sets to work amid complaints

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Cabinet sets to work amid complaints

Published: 21/12/2008 at 03:16 PM
Online news: Politics

Premier Abhisit Vejjajiva's new cabinet set to work Sunday on building reconciliation and reviving the economy, despite the threat of protests over some appointments.

Key ministers from the Democrat Party met to discuss policy matters, a day before an official swearing in ceremony on Monday in front of the revered king.

"After the royal audience tomorrow, the prime minister may call for another discussion of government policy before the cabinet meet for the first time on Tuesday to approve the policies," said deputy interior minister Thaworn Senneam.

The cabinet list was announced Saturday after King Bhumibol Adulyadej signed a royal command approving the ministers, appointed after Abhisit won a parliamentary vote to bring a Democrat-led coalition into power.

Of the 36 cabinet posts, 24 ministers are serving in government for the first time.

Heading the economic team is finance minister Korn Chatikavanij, an Oxford contemporary of 44-year-old Abhisit. The minister formerly worked for investment bank JPMorgan Chase.

But amid a global financial downturn exacerbated by political turmoil in the kingdom, business leaders have criticised the choice of other economic ministers tasked with reviving the country's fortunes.

On Friday members of the business community said they were disappointed by the choice of industry and commerce ministers. Local media said the grumbles prompted a last minute switch to Charnchai Chairungruang as industry minister.

But Pornthiwa Nakasai remains as commerce minister, despite criticism that his appointment was a sop to a coalition party.

Fixing the economy has become an urgent task. The last finance minister admitted growth could be as low as two percent next year because of months of protests that have wracked the country.

Abhisit has vowed to restore unity in Thailand after six months of protests against the previous government, which peaked with an eight-day blockade of Bangkok's airports.

But his cabinet list has also been criticised by other ministers as inexperienced and inappropriate.

The new foreign minister Kasit Piromya was a vocal supporter of a protest group that seized Suvarnabhumi international airport in late November, causing some of the massive economic damage that Abhisit has vowed to mend.

The Democrat leader's nomination came after the ruling People Power Party -- backed by ousted premier Thaksin Shinawatra -- was dissolved by a court, forcing ex-PM Somchai Wongsawat and his cabinet from office.

Abhisit was voted in by parliament on December 15 with the help of defecting lawmakers, and was forced to pick many non-Democrat MPs for top cabinet jobs to appease his hastily-formed coalition, angering some party veterans.

Democrat Party members met on the luxury island Ko Samui for two days of talks ending Saturday, to outline their own policy plans.

Since May, Thailand has been beset by increasingly disruptive protests by the royalist People's Alliance for Democracy (PAD).

The PAD accused the now-defunct PPP of being disloyal to the monarchy and of running Thailand on behalf of Thaksin, who was ousted in a coup in September 2006 and now lives in exile abroad to escape a jail term on corruption charges.

PAD protests reached their peak at the end of November when thousands of its supporters occupied Bangkok's two main airports for about a week, stranding up to 350,000 passengers and causing massive economic damage.

The group only ended its siege after the PPP was dissolved over vote fraud charges related to elections it won one year ago, allowing the Democrats to win over former PPP lawmakers and small parties to form the government.

Meanwhile supporters of Thaksin have vowed to rally on December 28 before moving to parliament when Abhisit gives his first policy address.

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Wongprathoum

Discussion 2 : 22/12/2008 at 12:44 AM2
Congratulation Mr. PM. As the public official to serve the nation, I storly opposed Khun Kasit Piromya to appoint to be the Minister of Foriegn Affairs, due to his action on the street with the PAD. Responsibility is making good decisions about what you do and say, while taking care of yourself and fulfilling your obligations. A responsible person is dependable and well organized. Responsibility also involves understanding cause and effect and accepting that you are accountable for your actions and your decisions. Khun Kasit Piromya used to serve the nation as a high diplomat and the protocol person.

As a public trust, we value the goodness in people/person you meet and the beauty in the world around you. A respectful person believes that other people's ideas, thoughts, and feelings are important. Khun Kasit Piromya was one of the PAD's crews on the street to cause the country for the economic, financial and security damages with no acception about his actions. He cited out that he served the country for 37 years. Remember, if you treat others with respect, they will, in turn, respect you. Show respect for other people by accepting their differences, treating them with kindness and courtesy, and remembering their right to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. Damaging the nation's perproties by occupied the state house and the airports and encouranging the other to do harm the others likes what Khun Kasit did are unacceptable behaviors and characters as nature.

Khun Kasit harrasing and teasing others are also inappropriate behaviors that such a high ranking likes him to serve the country. Khun Kasit has no wisdom, for instance, wisdom is the ability to judge what is true, right and wrong or lasting. Wisdom comes from knowledge and experiences.

Khun Kasit wass lack of self-control, for instance, self-control is taking charge of yourself and your behavior, as well as making good choices and being accountable for your decisions. Khun Kasit was lacking of courage, for instance, courage is being brave when faced with a difficult or scary situation and standing up for yourself, what you know is right, and what you believe in. Khun Kasit was lack of caring, for instance, caring is being supportive and responding to the needs of others with kindness and compassion.

Khun Kasit was lack of trustworthiness, for instance, trustworthiness is being kind of person whom other people can have confidence in. Trustworthy people do not lie or cheat, or steal or take advantage, or do some types of damages to the public properties, etc... Khun Kasit was lack of fairness, for instance, fairness is living by the golden rule: treat others as you want to be treated. The world is not always fair, but the fairness is a worty goal in most of the situations and circumstances. Khun Kasit was lack of perseverance, for instance, perseverance is working hard to reach goals and objectives -- just hanging in there and staying focused even when obstacles stand in your way...

Many people care about you, Khun Kasit and want the best for you. They know that developing good character will being greater success and greater joy to you and everyone else, but the actions you did join the PAD were unacceptable to me and the whole nation and its people. All of the above messages also address to Khun Chamlong Simouang, you were the governor of Bangkok, I cannot belief for the damages that you did to the country as an adult, you never use your common sense. Do you think the Thai people will forget what you lead as one of the core PAD leaders to the country? To me I could call you a trouble makers instead of I could call you a better high ranking officer for the country and good educator???

Here are some of my advices to Khun Kasit, Khun Chamlong, and the other of the core PAD leaders and its member and the whole cabinets of the new PM Abhisit Vejjavjia to manage the government such a very beautiful nation, our beloved homeland: Think before you act, respect yourself and others, work hard, have integrity, ask for help when you need it, do your very best, use common sense, be better listener than just talker, or demonstrators, lead by example, accept responsibility, set goals to accomplish, challenge yourself and its performances which line up ahead of you, tell the truth, believe in yourself, respect others, don't give up, learn from your mistakes, good people never do the same mistake twice, choose kindness and learn to adopt yourself to the society and its group... Good luck Mr. PM.. Again, thanks to allow me to comment on this column, from a loving Thai people. Let's help the government to be freed from the terrorism and communism orbit. Thank you.
DCG

Discussion 1 : 21/12/2008 at 10:14 PM1
Congratulations to the PAD for thwarting efforts of Takshin and his supporters. Another blow to the Republic-minded, anti-monarchial insurgents has been dealt.

The resurgence of Takshin and Republicanism, however, will never cease unless there is, in Thailand, a significant reduction of legislative seats discouraging multitudes of weak National Assembly members from nepotism and corruption.

Thailand's legislative system is large, weak, and corrupt. Instead it should be small, powerful and accountable.

Broaden Thailand's representative districts and reduce, by half, the number of members allowed to serve in the National Assembly. Doing so is Thailand's only hope for a stable political future.

Cabinet sets to work amid complaints