From: kamol@ipied.tu.ac.TH (Kamol Hengkietisak)
Newsgroups: soc.culture.thai
Subject: Bangkok Post Nov 18: Minister responds to Officer's criticism
Date: 18 Nov 1992 19:51:35 +1100
Organization: Mail/News gateway
NNTP-Posting-Host: munnari.oz.au


CABINET ministers yesterday reacted strongly to comments by a 
senior military officer Monday that there was only 
"business-politics" at present and no "politics of honour".
 
Deputy Finance Minister Trairong Suwannakhiri was particularly 
incensed by the comments by Territorial Defence Department 
director Lt-Gen Yuthapan Makkaramanee, saying officials should 
"watch their mouth" and beware of the "stain of dictatorship in 
their subconscious".
 
In a further test of the political atmosphere, Lt-Gen Yuthapan 
also said his friend and fellow Class 5 officer, disgraced former 
prime minister Gen Suchinda Kraprayoon, should enter politics in 
an effort to recover his honour and reputation by returning to the 
premiership.
 
Mr Trairong, a Democrat Party executive, said government officials 
should be careful of what they say and bear in mind where their 
duties lay and take care of that.
 
The people now understand the political system and take an active 
interest, while civil servants are people they have hired to do a 
limited job.
 
He said he did not see how the country was under a system of 
"business politics" and did not know how much of an understanding 
the critic had of the democratic system.
 
"If one's subconscious still has the stain of dictatorship then 
one may see the democratic system as bothersome," he said.
 
  Mr Trairong said people should just do their jobs and not "shoot 
off their mouth by interfering with others". 
 
He said the problems the Chuan Leekpai administration was now 
facing were caused by previous administrations, including the 
budget bill and Amnesty Executive Decree.
 
Deputy Commerce Minister Jurin Laksanavisit said Lt-Gen Yuthapan's 
comments may be the result of a "narrow mind".
 
He also said he did not know whether it was possible for Gen 
Suchinda to enter politics and return as prime minister to recoup 
his honour, but people should enter politics for the benefit of 
society and not to revive their lost honour.
 
Deputy Prime Minister Banyat Bantadtan said the comments by Lt-Gen 
Yuthapan would not have any effect on the political arena just 
like during the "ancient times" because everything had changed and 
military leaders generally expressed good opinions of the 
Government.
 
Whether or not Gen Suchinda can return to politics will be up to 
the people to decide and will be known when the time comes.
 
He said he did not take the comments of one soldier as 
representative of the whole military. He did not view it as 
political interference.
 
Interior Minister Chavalit Yongchaiyudh said Lt-Gen Yuthapan had 
the right to offer comments in public but he should have 
considered whether his doing so was appropriate.
 
He said everyone should try to help enhance internal stability and 
unity because the country had many problems which needed to be 
solved.
 
He said people who wanted to enter politics should have the desire 
to help solve the country's problems, not just salvage their 
"dignity" as Lt-Gen Yuthapan suggested.
 
Deputy Interior Minister Chamni Sakdises also said politics was 
not a matter of individual honour but of national affairs. A 
person must have the right line of thinking before he volunteers 
to serve the country.
 
"The May incident should be a clear indication of what the people 
think," he said.
 
Both Defence Minister Vijit Sukmark and Deputy Defence Minister 
Sombat Rodphothong said Lt-Gen Yuthapan's comments were only a 
personal opinion.