Thairath, August 3, 2005 - The senators critique the new cabinet and wonder that Chainand Charoensiri, Deputy of Transport Minister, got his position because of his relatives. Nakorn Rachasima Senator Sawai Pramanee said this reshuffle does not contain the right person and he does not understand why the PM took Air Chief Marshall Kongsak to take over the Interior Ministry. It is like compensation for a friend. The senator is not confident that Air Chief Marshall Kongsak can manage like a CEO governor.
Khaosod, August 3, 2005 - Wangnamyom faction is downgraded [former Transport Minister Suriya's faction]. The members come to comfort Somsak Tepsutin and Suriya Jungrungroengkit. Meanwhile Kroo Aoi (Jaturon Chaiseang) taking charge of the Education Ministry is admired and approved. "Maew” [nickname of PM Thaksin] took the new cabinet to pledge to the King and listen to the King's speech.
Matichon, August
3, 2005 - Cabinet is not the right person
for right job. Thaksin adjusts the cabinet for
whom?
The face of Thaksin 2/2 [Thai way to designate
cabinets--the second cabinet of Thaksin's second
term], although reshuffling for 17 positions,
looks the same. By looking at the ministers’
face, it has to say not only it is “old whisky
in the old bottle,“ but also the wrong reshuffle.
New people from outside the circles of power are
not excited, because all involved in the reshuffle
are adherents to Thai Rak Thai or Shinawatra family
associates.
Matichon, August
3, 2005 - A poll point out that "Maew
2/2" is not cool - only Thaksin adherents
win
On August 3, a Suan Dusit poll surveys 1220 people
in Bangkok and outlying areas for their opinion
of the cabinet reshuffle of Thaksin 2/2. It found
that 60.23% think the government work will be
the same, because most people are still from the
old team, 27.0% think that it will be better and
12.7% think that is worse because the ministers
are not in the right jobs. They are pleased by
the new Tourism and Sport Minister, Pracha Malinon,
followed by Jaturon Chaisaeng, Education Minister.
For the persons they are disappointed with the
most are Suriya Jungrungroengkit followed by Newin
Chidchob, Deputy Prime Minister.
Manager, August 3, 2005 - The King gave a speech and repeated to the new cabinet to strictly follow their pledge and suggest to them to consider the meaning of the words in the pledge. He pointed that if they follow strictly, it will be propitious for themselves, the nation and the people.
Manager, August 3, 2005 - Pa Noh (Sanoh Tienthong) compliments that the P.M. is prudent in the reshuffle and that Thaksin 2/2 is getting the right man for the right job. Also that Jaturon Chaisaeng is suitable for the Education Minister before admonishing that the “Wang Namyom faction” should not cheer only their own group.
'Poojadkuan',
Manager, August 3, 2005 - After the
cabinet reshuffle of Thaksin 2/2, which has not
passed one day, not only is stock market vigorous,
but also agricultural goods are selling as well.
Some products sold out were water chestnut [haew
in Thai--this word also means disappointed].
Also sold out was pennywort, [bourbok in
Thai--a vegetable eaten with namprik or
in a drink--this leaf is known to cure people
who are sore inside their bodies or mentally hurt
or who received ridicule from people who disappointed
in love]. These sales make merchants are very
happy. [This is a joke meaning that people who
are disappointed or have a broken heart or are
mentally hurt buy these plants and this is the
reaction to the new cabinet.]
More Poojadkuan columns
Editorial: Big reshuffle but it
is the same - Thairath, August 5, 2005
It can be said that the big cabinet reshuffle
under the leader, Thaksin Shinawatra, was quicker
than expected, because it was only two months
for the Thaksin 2 government. Although there are
some critics who say it is the big reshuffle,
it gives a little hope to people to solve urgent
problems of the country because this is the descending
government.
The 17 new name list of cabinet reshuffle did
not impress people. Most were reshuffled like
playing musical chairs. This is the same as the
Thaksin government 1 that reshuffled the cabinet
10 times in 4 years. For this time is the 12th
for PM Thaksin.
If Thai society hopes the government is serious
on prevention and combating corruption in the
bureaucracy and politics, the cabinet reshuffle
did not give a new hope. Even the minister who
was the target of criticism, does not crash, but
gets two positions. This shows that they do not
care about criticism.
The situation in the three southern border provinces
which became more serious in the present government
and it became the urgent critical problem of country.
However this cabinet reshuffle did not show the
stronger team for security. On the contrary, the
person selected to be Interior Minister, although
he was the group captain commander, he had no
experience in security and in the south.
The southern problem makes the PM make frequent
changes in the responsible person such as changing
the Deputy Minister of Security , Defense Minister,
Interior Minister, Police Commander, Army Commander
and others. But solving the problem is still like
looking for a needle in the dark or a blind man
trying to size up an elephant by touching a part
of the whole. How long does it take until we are
able to say that go to the right way finally?
The editor said that cabinet reshuffle of 17 positions including the old and new persons look like musical chairs, but the person did not seize the chairs by themselves, the PM managed it for them. To adjust the cabinet for the best should be the best for people. It should not be up to feeling, emotion and pleasing of the PM or his close friends. Or saying it is the best and then adjust continuously and also say that it was the best reshuffle, but the work of the ministers was not the best. People want to hear that the PM accepts that cabinet reshuffle was due to errors. If it was not because of error, it is not necessary to adjust the cabinet continuously including grouping the ministers struggling with big problems, the economy, the poor, debt, corruption ,etc. Whatever way he chooses he should reveal to the public frankly and not employ circumlocution.