The Nation
Saroj Chavanavirat was officially named as the new foreign minister yesterday, replacing Tej Bunnag, who abruptly resigned last week. Saroj has a daunting task in his new assignment, as he will have to represent Thailand in the eyes of the international community at a time when the country's reputation has been dampened by the current political paralysis.
If Saroj can survive the Cabinet term to the year's end, besides having to explain to the international community the current political situation in Thailand, he will have another major assignment to continue: how to organise Asean meetings, with Thailand currently assuming the Asean chairmanship.
Saroj is widely regarded as being qualified for the post, thanks to his extensive experience in foreign affairs. He was the permanent secretary at the Foreign Ministry and served as ambassador to France.
Saroj becomes the third foreign minister in the Samak government in just seven months.
In fact, Prime Minister Samak never put international policy on his agenda. However, the dispute with Cambodia over the Preah Vihear temple forced Samak's first foreign minister, Noppadon Pattama, to step down because he was accused of failing to protect the country's interests.
Saroj has entered politics at a moment when Thailand is facing unusual and extreme circumstance, when governing politicians are accused of being proxies. The public has become more enthusiastic in participating in democracy and Thailand is under the microscope of the international community due to a series of negative incidents. For instance, the Thai courts have been criticised by certain international media groups for pursuing cases against former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra.
We would not bet on Saroj's longevity in the Samak Cabinet. However, he will still have to prove to the public that he serves the national and public interest despite the current political turbulence. Saroj's performance each day in the Foreign Ministry will matter to the nation.
If Saroj can survive the Cabinet term to the year's end, besides having to explain to the international community the current political situation in Thailand, he will have another major assignment to continue: how to organise Asean meetings, with Thailand currently assuming the Asean chairmanship.
Saroj is widely regarded as being qualified for the post, thanks to his extensive experience in foreign affairs. He was the permanent secretary at the Foreign Ministry and served as ambassador to France.
Saroj becomes the third foreign minister in the Samak government in just seven months.
In fact, Prime Minister Samak never put international policy on his agenda. However, the dispute with Cambodia over the Preah Vihear temple forced Samak's first foreign minister, Noppadon Pattama, to step down because he was accused of failing to protect the country's interests.
Saroj has entered politics at a moment when Thailand is facing unusual and extreme circumstance, when governing politicians are accused of being proxies. The public has become more enthusiastic in participating in democracy and Thailand is under the microscope of the international community due to a series of negative incidents. For instance, the Thai courts have been criticised by certain international media groups for pursuing cases against former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra.
We would not bet on Saroj's longevity in the Samak Cabinet. However, he will still have to prove to the public that he serves the national and public interest despite the current political turbulence. Saroj's performance each day in the Foreign Ministry will matter to the nation.
4 comments:
Whoever, the new person, please try to make peace with Cambodia.
Cambodia are very good at fighting, you know?
Cambodia is also Thailand market as well for about $1 billion per year and we supply cheap labor to you for more than 200,000 workers per year that provide opportunity to Thais to earn ten times higher to work in Taiwain, Arab, Hong Kong, Japan....
Thailand should not give opportunity to Vietnam to take Cambodian market and control ASEAN.
Thailand will have to play hard ball with Cambodia. If Cambodia refuse to cooperate with joint develpment, we'll destroy your government with our military might.
What's wrong with new thai government?...nothing, we do not kill each other like Khmer.
The question is: what new elected gov't going to do about it?
hey the 2nd--you'd better play a fire ball, then you'll get burned. we Cambodians wait and see you burn yourselves.
Hey the 3rd--you thais are now heading the hell--you did kill each other in the demonstration, didn't you know that?
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