Nalinee should show her spirit

EDITORIAL

Published: 24/01/2012 at 02:00 AM
Newspaper section: News

A new cabinet has been sworn in, with 16 important changes from the last government. There is no shortage of controversy, but the unlikely centre of attention is the brand new minister Nalinee Taveesin. Moved from her relatively obscure position as Thailand Trade Representative, Ms Nalinee has quickly found it is very hot under the public spotlight. Because of her appointment as Minister at the Prime Minister's Office, a previously ignored blot on her reputation has put her name in the headlines at home and abroad.

Until now, few people noticed or broadcast that Ms Nalinee was under US economic sanctions because of her relationship with the Mugabe family of Zimbabwe.

In November 2008, the US Treasury Department's Office of Foreign Assets Control "designated" the new Thai minister and three other people _ John Bredenkamp and Muller Conrad "Billy" alRautenbach of Zimbabwe, and Malaysian Dr Mahmood Awang Kechik. They were accused of aiding and abetting the odious Mugabe dictatorship, and enriching themselves. The department singled out Ms Taveesin for helping Grace Mugabe, and accused her of "secretly supporting the kleptocratic practices of one of Africa's most corrupt regimes". Specifically, the Americans said Ms Nalinee had helped Mrs Mugabe to deal in gems, real estate and other transactions.

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johninbkk
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Discussion 15 : 26/01/2012 at 04:28 PM15
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The US Department of Agriculture predicts a ~33% drop in exports due to farm flood damage, India exporting rice for the first time in 3 years, and Vietnam, Brazil, Uruguay, Pakistan, Cambodia and Myanmar all dramatically increasing rice exports swamping the market. The rice scheme, which forces prices higher than that of competitors, is only part of the reduced export problem.

"I respect your choice of supporting Thaksin, John, but Thaksin has blundered here"
What part of 'I completely disagree with TS's rice scheme' did you not understand?
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tcr
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Discussion 14 : 24/01/2012 at 08:02 PM14
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That has nothing to do with her character or judgement.
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This has everything to do with her character and judgement. Neither of which seem to be good.
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Renaissance
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Discussion 13 : 24/01/2012 at 06:29 PM13
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Discussion 12: There are so many references to this by a variety of Thai and international organizations. Start of with a Google search of comments by Korbsook Iamsuri, President of the Thai Rice Exporters Association. I respect your choice of supporting Thaksin, John, but Thaksin has blundered here, I'm afraid.
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johninbkk
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Discussion 12 : 24/01/2012 at 03:56 PM12
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Renaissance D9 - "The 25%-40% drop in Thai rice exports because of his populist rice mortgage scheme is another blunder."
Although I completely disagree with TS's rice scheme (and AV's rice scheme, too), your claim that exports dropped that amount and was caused by the scheme is 100% false. Please supply your source.
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teecee
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Discussion 11 : 24/01/2012 at 12:51 PM11
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Ms Nalinee has obviously traveled enough to know that, although she may have "committed no crime", - if you lay down with dogs - you tend to get up with fleas!
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jacksprat
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Discussion 10 : 24/01/2012 at 12:35 PM10
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I'm surprised the red shirt posters have yet to rush in her defence. After all, she "broke no laws" and the "Thai government doesn't take orders from the US". So what is she is close friends with one of the most evil and corrupt dictators in the world. That has nothing to do with her character or judgement.
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Renaissance
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Discussion 9 : 24/01/2012 at 12:07 PM9
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Nallinee won't resign. The more blunders like this that Thaksin makes, the more fall-out there will be for his "I know nothing about this, let me check first" Assistant PM sister. The more fall-out there is, the more urgency he will have to give to returning to Thailand. The more urgency he gives to returning, the bigger the mess he will create. Raising the salaries of government officials before that of the people is another blunder. The 25%-40% drop in Thai rice exports because of his populist rice mortgage scheme is another blunder. One of many so far. Having a self-serving fugitive run Thailand by Skype doesn't work.
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johninbkk
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Discussion 8 : 24/01/2012 at 11:44 AM8
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"Blame Thaksin, then, for inviting the tyrannical Mr Mugabe to Bangkok in 2002 and pretending he was just another world statesman."
In 2002, Mr Mugabe *was* just another world statesman. The author is recommended to actually research the man and determine the dates of which his actions became dictatorial.

"These are serious allegations against a person who now represents Thailand at the highest level."
An MP of the Dem Party has been accused of murder with full video of the incident, but why is no one asking him to resign?
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pquinlan
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Discussion 7 : 24/01/2012 at 10:28 AM7
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How did she even get considered for the position in the first place? It is mind boggling that these so called Pheu Thaksin strategists waited until she was selected and publicly announced before raising the red flag. Why was she even on any list for consideration in the first place!
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englishjon
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Discussion 6 : 24/01/2012 at 10:03 AM6
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She will only leave if she is told to.

And we all know who will decide that. Like always, he keeps testing what he can get away with and will backtrack if he thinks the heat is too much. If she must go then her reward for past loyalty will have to be given another way.

Meanwhile Thailands international reputation drops another notch.
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