Bon apetit: Thailand's Prime Minister Samak Sundaravej cooks Thai food during a cooking workshop in Bangkok. He has been forced out for hosting his show09th September 2008
Daily Mail (UK)
Thailands's prime minister Samak Sundaravej - the first celebrity chef to lead a nation - was today ordered to resign after a court declared he had violated the country's constitution by appearing on his own TV cookery show.
Mr Samak, an associate of the previous premier Thaksin Shinawatra, was found to have contravened a ban on ministers having outside interests by taking money for the show, called Tasting, Grumbling. The court also ordered his entire cabinet to step down.
The decision intensifies the climate of political uncertainty in Thailand, which has been in turmoil in recent weeks after demonstrations led by the People's Alliance for Democracy, the group which forced Mr Thaksin from office two years ago.
One man died in street clashes last week.
In court in Bangkok, judge Chat Chonlaworn said Mr Samak had "violated Article 267 of the constitution" and that "his position as prime minister has ended".
The judgment was broadcast live on television and was greeted with applause from Mr Samak's opponents, hundreds of whom have occupied his government compound since the end of last month.
The ruling People Power Party has vowed to re-appoint Mr Samak as prime minister. "I insist that our party leader will be the prime minister," said Wittaya Buranasiri, chief whip of the six-party coalition led by the PPP.
Mr Samak has not been banned from standing again and it will be 30 days before the ruling takes effect.
Tasting, Grumbling, which ran for more than seven years, featured the food-obsessed and apron-clad Mr Samak, cooking popular Thai recipes and delivering right-wing, anti-Communist political diatribes. It also showed him shopping in Bangkok markets.
After being elected in February by a coalition government which ended 16 months of military rule, he declared: "The constitution does not restrict a prime minister from talking about food."
He continued broadcasting, although the show eventually stopped in April. He said any money earned was only to cover his expenses.
Even after stepping down from the programme, he continued to make food a theme of his time in office, serving chicken to Thai soldiers on the Cambodia border and to Thai athletes heading for the Olympics.
Mr Samak, 72, made his name as an anti-communist radio commentator in the 1970s and is seen as a mouthpiece for Mr Thaksin, until recently the owner of Manchester City, who is wanted in Thailand on corruption charges.
Mr Samak's opponents said they would stay in the compound. "Samak was ousted by the court, but there is no guarantee he will not return in the next few days. So our protest will continue for the time being," said alliance spokesman Suriyasai Katasila.
The leading English-language newspaper The Bangkok Post proclaimed: "Today, Mr Samak looks to have hit a dead end on his political road."
Mr Samak, an associate of the previous premier Thaksin Shinawatra, was found to have contravened a ban on ministers having outside interests by taking money for the show, called Tasting, Grumbling. The court also ordered his entire cabinet to step down.
The decision intensifies the climate of political uncertainty in Thailand, which has been in turmoil in recent weeks after demonstrations led by the People's Alliance for Democracy, the group which forced Mr Thaksin from office two years ago.
One man died in street clashes last week.
In court in Bangkok, judge Chat Chonlaworn said Mr Samak had "violated Article 267 of the constitution" and that "his position as prime minister has ended".
The judgment was broadcast live on television and was greeted with applause from Mr Samak's opponents, hundreds of whom have occupied his government compound since the end of last month.
The ruling People Power Party has vowed to re-appoint Mr Samak as prime minister. "I insist that our party leader will be the prime minister," said Wittaya Buranasiri, chief whip of the six-party coalition led by the PPP.
Mr Samak has not been banned from standing again and it will be 30 days before the ruling takes effect.
Tasting, Grumbling, which ran for more than seven years, featured the food-obsessed and apron-clad Mr Samak, cooking popular Thai recipes and delivering right-wing, anti-Communist political diatribes. It also showed him shopping in Bangkok markets.
After being elected in February by a coalition government which ended 16 months of military rule, he declared: "The constitution does not restrict a prime minister from talking about food."
He continued broadcasting, although the show eventually stopped in April. He said any money earned was only to cover his expenses.
Even after stepping down from the programme, he continued to make food a theme of his time in office, serving chicken to Thai soldiers on the Cambodia border and to Thai athletes heading for the Olympics.
Mr Samak, 72, made his name as an anti-communist radio commentator in the 1970s and is seen as a mouthpiece for Mr Thaksin, until recently the owner of Manchester City, who is wanted in Thailand on corruption charges.
Mr Samak's opponents said they would stay in the compound. "Samak was ousted by the court, but there is no guarantee he will not return in the next few days. So our protest will continue for the time being," said alliance spokesman Suriyasai Katasila.
The leading English-language newspaper The Bangkok Post proclaimed: "Today, Mr Samak looks to have hit a dead end on his political road."
16 comments:
That country has become a sick joke
This is the way it should be for the government that respect their constitution check and balance. Unlike Cambodia, only Hun Sen has the power. Now that is a "sick joke".
11:19PM, IS NOT A SICK JOKE BUT "A SICK COUNTRY"! Like Hun Sen goes dowm over the hill the Thai go against the mountain!
Samak will invite our sick man "HUN SEN" to join the feast.
HUN SEN is going down cause he is not doing anything when the invaders invaded our lands.
Khmer Pride,
Lowell, MA
Regarless, Thai government listent to their people. They always find ways to get out of a bad situation, it doesn't matter who is in power. True democracy is always for the people which is contrary to the Cambodian government that never concern about its people well being.
Wow?! This is ridiculous, forcing someone to resign over a cooking show. How pathetic is that? The PAD stops at nothing to overthrow the samak government.
Samak elected by the people of Thailand, to force him of the office is violated the people right. But again, what do you expect from Thailand?
That is bad for Mr.Hun Sen's government. Remmeber that the PAD may protest against their gov. about this and that, especially about Preah Vihear. It was Samak who stood the ground and fully recognized that this temple beblong to Cambodia and not them. He did the atmost honorable act for one. Whatever it is, the PAD just don't want him or trust him enough and they will find way to get him out. It's very very interesting to see how the Cambodian government will handle the desput over the temple or land surrounding it. Right now, there is no problem with Gov. To gov. It just people that don't agree with it. It's hard to provoke a war from a none confrontation governments. Without Mr. Samak gov. things can turn ugly. It 's also interesting to see how Mr. Samak will win over this one. He did say, the Thai constitution did not ban a PM from talking about food and he was again right just like he defended the right of Cambodia to have her ownership over Preah Vihear. Good or bad from anyone, he is a decent man. May he find hope and his dream realize.
Dumb and Stupid people get upset over a person that love cooking. Don't worry Mr. Samak. They cann't prove that you stole money from those PAD for your show, because you didn't! You love peace and you work hard for your money. They can go to hell!
No! it's out of a god damm mind people who hate people that love cooking and it those ... people, you know.
Cooking is not a problem.
Governing is a problem.
Samak is elected to lead the government, not to be a cooker.
It's just like Hun Sen. Nothing to
do... He has time to give the diploma to the students.
Any of you guys have remembered
that prime minister of Canada
or president of USA go to give
diplomas to one of the universties?
That's just sick. Not even
a minister in America does that.
Khmer Canadian
this is ridiculous to be forced out of office just because his hobby happened to be cooking. who says a man can't cook. in a free, democratic and open society, anyone can be whoever they want to be without fear of taboo or reprisal. this goes for cambodian society as well. look at the US society, for instance, everyone gets equality opportunity and there is no gender bias in jobs; and being a chef is a job, too. god bless cambodia.
That's because each college and each university in America or Canada has its President and faculty members that do the job already. They took pride in honoring their students themself. Canadian or American cann't waste any more tax pager's money paying those politicians or government personel to come to their schools. There is no needed for those big wigs people. They rather let them worry about solving people day to day' problem or social problem. Their government get paid to just spend their time finding a solution for those important matters and not handling out diploma or graduated certificate! Only you're out of your mind think that they have time to get involved in school stuff. What are those Presidents and school faculty members are for Khmer Canadian?. You're so dumb and wasted living in the development country and not able to understand those development countries' people. Never never thought that you're so dumb until today. Bye stupid.
Yeah, did Mr. Hun Sen trying to take the job away from teachers and Principles in Cambodia too? Why they are not important? Why just him that is so important? He needs to get lost and give those teachers and Principle a chance to be shined for one.
American and Canadian's President honored their teachers, principles, school and university's Presidents or Faculty members thru their speeches when they address their Nation not going to each school handling a diploma or Graduated certificate. That is just dumb.
To all KHMERS,
Please do not waste your precious times on AH E BAH THAI. Let them go to hell with their dying king.
Love you all Khmers,
Regards,
KhmerNY
Did I support Hun Sen's actions?? LOL
My statement is that Hun Sen has
nothing to do.
So even handling a diploma to student
is important action for him.
So if people really choose.. Samak or Hun Sen.
They have chose these bastards to
govern a country.
Not for cooking or giving diploma.
Nor go to Karaoke everyday like most
of the CPP high classes does.
Khmer Canadian
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