General admits being a friend of Thaksin
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The appointment of General Prin Suvanadat as deputy transport minister in Yingluck Shinawatra's Cabinet was not a surprise. Prin was a highly trusted classmate of former premier Thaksin Shinawatra while they were in the Armed Forces Academies Prep School
“I am a friend of (ex-) PM Thaksin (and so) I had a chance to be considered and offered this opportunity to work (as deputy transport minister),” Prin frankly admitted when asked whether the chance came due to his abilities or his connection.
“Many others are capable, knowledgeable and very smart. Cabinet reshuffling is the circulation of capable people to work for the country. Although others were not appointed a minister this time, they can wait for the next opportunity,” he said in a message to those failing to get a post, including red-shirt leader Jatuporn Promphan and his supporters.
Prin was commander-in-chief of the First Division, the King’s Guard, which are the main troops covering Bangkok. He was expected to be appointed one of the top five commanders of the Army. His life’s turning point came with the coup on September 19, 2006 when he was sacked from an important post, just as many friends from Class 10 known to be close to Thaksin.
Prin came back as chief of staff and aide-de-camp to the Defence Minister just before his retirement in September. He said he did not feel pressured to take up the new position but proud and glad to get another chance after decades as a permanent government officer.
Although particular areas of responsibility have yet to be assigned, Prin said he was confident, given his experience, he would be able to do the job well.
“It’s not too difficult. Everybody knows about the work (needed) on transportation, as all people have experience of it. They cannot go anywhere unless there is transportation,” he said.
His work as a soldier was about transportation and logistics of the troops, by land transport, marine transport, by air and by train.
“All logistics needs planning. All strategists of a military agency must do the planning, so this is direct experience,” he said.
Prin is a relative and studied in the same pre-cadet class as ACM Sukampol Suwannathat and now, like Sukampol, has come to work in the Transport Ministry. However, although Sukampol was a transport minister and is currently defence minister, he said he was not following in Sukampol’s footsteps.
Prin is critical of claims of horse-trading for cabinet positions, or nepotism, saying such exchanges do no good for the country.
“I don’t want anyone to instigate an issue as it would cause damage. The country desperately needs security since the September 19, 2006 coup. We need unity. Nobody should say something like, ‘this person coming into the post is bad, the other one is better’. Reshuffles are needed to make the country prosper.”
Prin said he wanted society to separate personal issues from his work – although one of his daughters is seeing Thaksin’s son Panthongtae. “It’s about the family, please don’t mix it.”
No matter how Prin reached this position, the important thing is how well he can work and contribute to the country.
