Govt has set up power network of lackeys: Banyat

 

“This has two points of danger. First, the people will have false hope. For example, the government promised that there would be no flooding but it turned out otherwise. 

“Second, the marketing strategy will bury real problems from public attention and the government will use less effort to solve problems.” 

 

Banyat said the government had tightening its grip on power by transferring favoured officials to key positions.

 

He said government moves to set up a power network would eventually weaken the country.

 

“The government is establishing its power network by transferring permanent officials. It has been doing this blatantly and shamelessly.”

 

This would be fine if the government promoted favoured officials who were qualified and capable. But it was dangerous for the country if the Yingluck administration appointed unqualified officials to key positions.

 

“The trend is very worrying for the country. Think about it. Permanent officials are a mechanism of the country but these mechanisms will turn from serving the country to serve politicians.”

 

One of the dangers of the government appointing unqualified officials to key positions was they felt a debt of gratitude needed to be repaid when serving the administration, and that distorted information on certain issues.

 

He cited the secondment of Gen Chatree Thatti, the previous deputy permanent secretary for Defence, as an example of abuse of power by politicians in the government. 

 

The transfer by the Defence minister prompted Chatree to file a lawsuit with the Administrative Court, which issued an injunction to suspend his secondment to an inactive position.

 

Banyat said another example of abuse of power was the transfer of Pol Col Dusadee Arayawuth from his position as secretary-general of the Public Sector Anti-Corruption Commission (PACC) to become a deputy permanent secretary for Justice.

 

Banyat said Dusadee came out to claim that his transfer was not political persecution only after he said he was carrying out probes into several cases that would upset certain people close to politicians in power. As a result, Dusadee’s about-face could not hide the real motive for his being moved.

 

“Most of all, it will be very sad if the new PACC chief is Pol Col Prawet Moolpramook [deputy director-general of the Department of Special Investigation],” Banyat said. 

 

“Many people may remember that when red-shirt people gave him bouquets for carrying probes into the 2010 crackdown cases, he said he should instead give flowers to the red shirts for sacrificing themselves to serve the country although they have no position.”

 

Banyat said the society should monitor these abuses of power and express opposition to such practices – public sentiment was needed to warn politicians to behave.

 

“Now, the country is in danger because regression has happened in all circles. A sense of rejection has been abundant and the public will not accept politicians [appointing] permanent officials. In the past permanent secretaries won public acceptance and could serve as buffer zones between permanent officials and politicians but things have changed.”

 

The Democrat called on former permanent secretaries and bodies representing permanent officials to come out protect good officials from persecution by politicians.

 

He said former officials and the associations should come out to cry foul immediately if they detect any irregularity, as it was difficult for permanent officials to fight and defend themselves.

 

Banyat said it wasn’t true that the Democrats had not been digging for information to expose alleged wrongdoing of the government. But he said doing such work was difficult because permanent officials were reluctant to cooperate.

 

He said the Democrats had to retaliate against the government on a daily basis because those in power were also trying to steal the show and dominate the media.