Somsak defends B7m European study, football trip

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Somsak defends B7m European study, football trip

Published: 21 Sep 2012 at 00.00
Newspaper section: News

Parliament president Somsak Kiatsuranont has shrugged off criticism of his nine-day taxpayer-funded "study trip" to Europe with 39 media staff and close aides.

He insists he wants the press to learn from foreign experience, but admits he is looking forward to watching a football match there.

A House committee on parliamentary affairs, however, said it would scrutinise Mr Somsak over the 7 million baht trip. He said yesterday he would take press groups to study the operations of the BBC, the Economist, the UK parliament and Oxford University.

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geoffo
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Discussion 4 : 21 Sep 2012 at 07.124
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D1 as Mr Clinton said so eloquently " it all depends on what you mean by not have much to gain".

The no such thing as a free lunch truism applies here like any other place. The fact is Somsak has been sprung taking a tax payer funded junket while parliament is sitting and no amount of gloss will change that fact. Is it a big deal - no, compared to the actions of some other pollies but it is news none the less.
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pitanu
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Discussion 3 : 21 Sep 2012 at 06.553
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KhunBJ@d1 what makes you think that a company listed on SET doesn't have a hidden agenda? Major construction companies are also listed on SET I guess they also don't pay out tea money for government contracts, which would be wishful thinking because all the projects would have cost 30-50% less.
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tansri
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Discussion 2 : 21 Sep 2012 at 05.572
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This trip is just only one of thousands wasteful taxpayer money spending by politicians and Govt. officials. There should be more stringent rules to scrutinize this sort of tour. I certainly don't want to pay my tax to sponsor a tour like this.
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khunbj
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Discussion 1 : 21 Sep 2012 at 05.521
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Well, that was a good explanation to a difficult question, just to clarify Siam Sport is listed at the SET, midsize around 2,5 bn THB turnover, so they can afford it, they are primary engaged with sport media, and will not have much to gain from handing out tickets, tickets they may already have on hand anyway through advertising deals in the PL. So maybe this was another storm that fizzled out (: It did not pop up in other media so maybe the story was a bit created like many others are here to please the true followers.
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