Abhisit Vejjajiva's cabinet has some controversial facesMonday, 22 December 2008
BBC News
Thailand's king has sworn in a new cabinet, with an appeal for peace and order following months of protests.
The cabinet includes some controversial appointments by the new prime minister, Abhisit Vejjajiva.
The new foreign minister, Kasit Piromya, was an open supporter of anti-government protests that shut down the country's main airport last month.
Other key ministries have gone to those who defected from the old government, allowing Mr Abhisit to take power.
Mr Abhisit was selected as prime minister by parliament last month, becoming Thailand's third leader in as many months.
He managed to win power after some supporters of former leader Thaksin Shinawatra, who was deposed by the military and remains in exile overseas, defected to side with Mr Abhisit's Democrat Party.
'Bringing back harmony'
The deeply revered 81-year-old Thai king spoke slowly and with a hoarse voice as he presided over the swearing-in ceremony.
After the ceremony, Mr Vejjajiva said he would heed the king's words and "bring back harmony" to Thailand.
He has pledged to ease political tension and revive the economy.
But Mr Abhisit has already come under criticism from business leaders and even some members of his own party for his cabinet appointments.
Two powerful ministries - interior and transport - have gone to the faction whose defection from the previous government swung the balance of votes in Mr Abhisit's favour.
Mr Abhisit has pledged to ease political tension and revive Thailand's economy
That faction is led by a notoriously mercenary local politician, says the BBC correspondent in Thailand, Jonathan Head.
He adds that it is also difficult to deny deals were done with the smaller parties who joined the coalition; for example the important commerce portfolio has been given to the politically-inexperienced owner of a large massage parlour.
But the biggest controversy surrounds Mr Abhisit's choice of foreign minister, Kasit Piromya, our correspondent says.
Mr Kasit is an unapologetic supporter of the People's Alliance for Democracy (PAD) protest movement, and still defends its occupation of Bangkok's international airport last month.
He is a very experienced diplomat - he was ambassador to Germany, Japan and the US - but observers have voiced concern about how his links with the PAD will influence his job as foreign minister.
Mr Kasit may, for example, find it difficult to improve ties with Cambodia, given the PAD's vitriolic attacks over the disputed temple along their common border.
One Thai newspaper accused him on Monday of displaying abysmal judgment.
The cabinet includes some controversial appointments by the new prime minister, Abhisit Vejjajiva.
The new foreign minister, Kasit Piromya, was an open supporter of anti-government protests that shut down the country's main airport last month.
Other key ministries have gone to those who defected from the old government, allowing Mr Abhisit to take power.
Mr Abhisit was selected as prime minister by parliament last month, becoming Thailand's third leader in as many months.
He managed to win power after some supporters of former leader Thaksin Shinawatra, who was deposed by the military and remains in exile overseas, defected to side with Mr Abhisit's Democrat Party.
'Bringing back harmony'
The deeply revered 81-year-old Thai king spoke slowly and with a hoarse voice as he presided over the swearing-in ceremony.
THAI CABINET"If you help each other you can give the country peace and order, and make the country get through the current situation," King Bhumibol Adulyadej said in a televised address.
- Prime Minister: Abhisit Vejjajiva
- Foreign Minister: Kasit Piromya
- Finance Minister: Korn Chatikavanij
- Defence Minister: Prawit Wongsuwon
- Interior Minister: Chavarat Charnvirakul
After the ceremony, Mr Vejjajiva said he would heed the king's words and "bring back harmony" to Thailand.
He has pledged to ease political tension and revive the economy.
But Mr Abhisit has already come under criticism from business leaders and even some members of his own party for his cabinet appointments.
Two powerful ministries - interior and transport - have gone to the faction whose defection from the previous government swung the balance of votes in Mr Abhisit's favour.
Mr Abhisit has pledged to ease political tension and revive Thailand's economy
That faction is led by a notoriously mercenary local politician, says the BBC correspondent in Thailand, Jonathan Head.
He adds that it is also difficult to deny deals were done with the smaller parties who joined the coalition; for example the important commerce portfolio has been given to the politically-inexperienced owner of a large massage parlour.
But the biggest controversy surrounds Mr Abhisit's choice of foreign minister, Kasit Piromya, our correspondent says.
Mr Kasit is an unapologetic supporter of the People's Alliance for Democracy (PAD) protest movement, and still defends its occupation of Bangkok's international airport last month.
He is a very experienced diplomat - he was ambassador to Germany, Japan and the US - but observers have voiced concern about how his links with the PAD will influence his job as foreign minister.
Mr Kasit may, for example, find it difficult to improve ties with Cambodia, given the PAD's vitriolic attacks over the disputed temple along their common border.
One Thai newspaper accused him on Monday of displaying abysmal judgment.
11 comments:
Hey Thailand has lost democracy. The minority urban elites won and the majority rural peasants lost.
This new guy going to be a problem with cambodia...if Hun continue more flip flop, wars will break out with thailand..i don't know what ta hell Hun Sen doing right now? seem to me that he's not serious to go forward! No wonder our lands keep shrinks everyday!!
studies have shown that the elitists are the most corrupted people on the planet! the constitution is created to protect the ordinary citizens from the abuse of their rulers or leaders, not the other way around. if it rings truth for cambodia, it is also applies to any other gov't on the face of our earthly planet.
these elitists group are Sam Rainsy friends. I hope no war between Thai friend and Cambodian firend.
ទោះបីយ៉ាងណាក៏ដោយ ខ្មែរយើងគ្រប់គ្នា កុំភ្លេចខ្លួនឲ្យ សោះ។ ដូចយើងធ្លាប់ដឹងហើយថាយួនឈ្លោះនឹងយួនដីយួនកាន់តែរីក។ ខ្មែរឈ្លោះនឹងខ្មែរដីខ្មែរកាន់តែរួញ។ យ៉ាងណាមិញ សៀមកាន់ជើងថាក់ស៊ិនពាក់ អាវ ក្រហម ឈ្លោះនឹងសៀមកាន់ជើងអាប់ឌីស៊ិត ពាក់ អាវលឿង តែសៀមនៅតែចង់លេបទឹកដីព្រៈវិហារដដែល។
បើខ្មែរមិនភ្ញាក់ខ្លួនពេលនេះទេ នៅតែចងគំនុំ យកស្លាប់ យករស់ ជាមួយតែខ្មែរគ្នាឯង ដោយឆ្កួត តែនឹងអំណាច ពុលនឺងបុណ្យស័ក្តិ ៥០ឆ្នាំទៀត សពខ្មែរយើងដែលស្លាប់ទៅ នឹងរកតែដីកប់ឲ្យព្រលឹងបានស្ងប់មិនបានផង ។
Why did Thai King not attend the swearing ceremony of old selected government leaded by Samak and Somchhay instead attending swearing ceremony for governemnt selected Abhisit?
As you know this Siamese Bougee KINGKOBA he want to swear only his Party, Urbanization Democrazy( Yellow Shir-it). This New Siamese GVT personal are Siamese KingKOBA Children they have only Mothers but their Father is anonamous, no one alowed to name their Father. is the one eye LAW. You have Choice either Joint LOK Kru Khmer or go alone!, Siam Descrimination against Thai, Thai can't go to bed with your Yellow Democrazy!.
Down Ah Siamese Bavo Thai!
This is internal issue of Siam.
End of day it is the Hun Sen's Government to decide if they really take the issue seriously and if they are committed to protect Cambodia's sovereignty.
If not then Khmers must think of ways!
Absolutely! and there is no doubt about it that Preah Vihear Temple issue will resurface and this man will have a difficult time to decide. He is walking a very fine line and most people fail.
AH Abhisit Vejjajiva can win over Thailand but this mother fucker can never win over Cambodia!
The judgement day is coming for AH Abhisit Vejjajiva!
เป็นฑูตได้ไงวะ(ครับ)นี่ ใช้ภาษา คนบ้า คนบ้าๆบอๆ,เฮงซวย กับผู้นำชาติอื่น ก่อนพูดอะไรออกไปคิดบ้างนะ ดูธรรมเนียมฑูต การตอบถามของทางตะวันตกน่าจะดีก ว่า "You are suck, Kasit"
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_UCi-mgmIDs
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