Yingluck to oversee national security

Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra has decided to take charge of national security policies herself, electing not to assign any deputy prime ministers to the role.

Published: 03/11/2012 at 12:00 AM
Writer: Post Reporters

Speaking after a cabinet meeting yesterday to delegate responsibilities to deputy prime ministers, Ms Yingluck said none have been appointed to take charge of national security.

She said there would instead be an integrated operation to tackle security problems under the existing structure in which the Southern Border Provinces Administration Centre (SBPAC) and the Internal Security Operations Command (Isoc) will play key roles.

The prime minister said she has delegated responsibilities to her deputies to jointly tackle unrest in the far South.

See also: 3 insurgents arrested

Deputy Prime Minister and Education Minister Phongthep Thepkanchana has been assigned to supervise legal affairs and legal disputes, while Deputy Prime Minister Chalerm Yubamrung would supervise the SBPAC.

Mr Chalerm was also assigned to oversee the National Intellegence Agency and to be deputy chairman of the committee for strategic development of the southernmost provinces, of which the prime minister is the chairwoman.

The Isoc would come under the supervision of army chief Prayuth Chan-ocha.

Yutthasak Sasiprapa, who was recently removed from his role as deputy prime minister in charge of national security, would serve as Ms Yingluck's adviser as she tackles national security operations.

The inclusion of Mr Chalerm and Mr Phongthep in the security operation would help boost work efficiency in the command centre, the premier said.

She assured that there would be no coordination problems among those assigned to tackle the southern violence.

Mr Chalerm said it may not be necessary to appoint a deputy prime minister to direct national security operations, but all agencies must work together to develop security measures.

Chaisit Shinawatra yesterday denied he had been under pressure to quit the prime minister's advisory post to make way for Gen Yutthasak.

He said he decided to leave the post himself and his resignation had no political implications.

Gen Yutthasak said the prime minister, who serves as Isoc director, might assign him to assist work at the agency.

"I am ready to work, because of my intention and concern about the southern situation," the 78-year-old retired general said.

A source said the removal of Gen Yutthasak from a deputy prime minister post in the recent cabinet reshuffle caught him off guard.

He reportedly felt neglected and initially refused to take the advisory post.

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Discussion 1 : 05/11/2012 at 02:03 AM: From the results of the last two days, she's doing a bang up job. NOT.
Discussion 2 : 03/11/2012 at 08:53 PM: android - "Discussion 2 brilliant : PM's taking up the leading role in security affairs is indeed acting in faith of the nation. " Funny that you're the same guy always saying she doesn't need to be involved. Can you take a firm stance on an issue instead of following whichever way the wind appears to be blowing?
Discussion 3 : 03/11/2012 at 06:16 PM: For the usual Thaksinites who are saying 'Give Yingluck a chance...', two thoughts spring to mind. 1) Since being elected, she has not implemented a single successful policy (please try to prove me wrong). Therefore she has HAD her chance and failed. 2) Employing a complete novice in this role is a matter of life and death for thousands of people. While the rice industry MIGHT recover from her ineptitude, the dead won't rise again.
Discussion 4 : 03/11/2012 at 06:14 PM: Will she copy her brother's idea to drop paper cranes on the South to bring peace. We all know how well that worked.
Discussion 5 : 03/11/2012 at 06:05 PM: We're all doomed... 16 months ago she was a glorified secretary in a property company. She only got THAT job because of her surname (just like she got this one). What qualifications does she have to take a job in national security? Anyone? As I recall the last time there was a security issue regarding Iranian terrorists, she did nothing and the next thing there were explosions in Bangkok.
Discussion 6 : 03/11/2012 at 04:30 PM: to#30 Eric : "Very admirable of PM Yingluck to take such a hot potato and high profile issue adding to her already heavy work load and responsibilities. Thai people would appreciate her determination to serve the country" Yes, but the country will have to wait for her determination because our Mrs PM is going to leave Thailand during two weeks (Laos, Bali, UK, Phnom Penh...) So the southern insurgents have two weeks good bloody days before them!!!!!
Discussion 7 : 03/11/2012 at 03:43 PM: Any screen writers out there? I have been taking notes and we could have the next blockbuster soap opera here ... its about a banana republic led by a dysfunctional family that blunders through governing, making every mistake in the book .......
Discussion 8 : 03/11/2012 at 02:46 PM: Close to 70 million people in Thailand, and she could not find anyone more qualified to take the job. Interestng!
Discussion 9 : 03/11/2012 at 02:06 PM: Sorry to ask, but what's the PLAN for the South? Is there a plan? Something like creating a Muslim executive, next to a Bhuddist executive, manned with respected members of the different components of the community (yes, even extremists), to meet together in a monthly session and discuss specific points of an agenda together and try to find a consensus? The BIG issue will be for them to learn about the necessity to compromise... And shouldn't one prepare for the kind of AUTONOMY that will be needed as an outcome of the debate? Pharangs' dreams, who's really, truly, wanting peace in the South, outside of the poor people living there?
Discussion 10 : 03/11/2012 at 02:05 PM: Very admirable of PM Yingluck to take such a hot potato and high profile issue adding to her already heavy work load and responsibilities. Thai people would appreciate her determination to serve the country as she step right into the escalating southern turmoil. The south unrest need urgent solutions and decisions and none better serve than the PM. This is better than Ahbisit who promise to end the south unrest within 2 years but really never got involved personally.
Discussion 11 : 03/11/2012 at 01:28 PM: She may be a better negotiator than some of the previous people, women are usually better than men they have to be as violence and force are not in there vocabulary. Admit it force has not achieved anything to date if anything it has escalated it.
Discussion 12 : 03/11/2012 at 01:14 PM: Great posts from you all.... Thank you, I especially liked the one about the. "Fugitive," it was great... So she will be in charge of Security of the Nation, when her brother is a Fugitive from Justice???? Never extradited on warrants to stand trial? I am a fair minded person, but please..... another pretty face, in another pretty place.... Here is my opinion.... Before she takes over security, how about..... Just how about, she may take care of what is pending..... Like in her brother??????? Dog's and Pony's do not add up in my mix....... Just my thought..... Thailand ???? I love you, but you sure need an education....... What
Discussion 13 : 03/11/2012 at 01:11 PM: Amazing Thailand; Where reality defies and/or exceeds fiction.
Discussion 14 : 03/11/2012 at 12:29 PM: Yingluck to oversee national security? Hardly. The fugitive has been in charge since day one.
Discussion 15 : 03/11/2012 at 12:13 PM: All of the comments seem to assume that the Government actually wants to resolve the situation in the South... why would you do that when you can make so much more money by having the problem? Putting someone in the job, who has proven her incompetence time and again, makes perfect sense.
Discussion 16 : 03/11/2012 at 11:52 AM: Another victory for meritocracy. No, sorry, I meant, another victory for nepotistic corruption and incompetence. #15 - she has already demonstrated a complete disregard for administering the country in favor of whitewashing her brother.
Discussion 17 : 03/11/2012 at 11:14 AM: Well, she doesnt have any experience or training in security measures. But nothing has been been working so far so hope she will have a positive effect.
Discussion 18 : 03/11/2012 at 11:10 AM: not a good idea for the PM to take control of the escalateling violence in the deep south ,no doubt the local people there distrust her ,as her brother was responsible for the masscare in tak bai whilst on his watch
Discussion 19 : 03/11/2012 at 10:58 AM: They slowly learn, to put this southern security stuff to one person at the top who can make decisions I suggested here last week. The next what they should do is the PM should get some competent foreign advisers how to handle the southern problem, sorry but Thai cant handle this as it is seen since several years now, this cant be draged on and on as they usually do. I would suggest to get an almost instant relief down south sent at least about 100.000 uniformed guys to the south and make at all roads road blocks at about every 5 km and search every car, this will make it almost impossible for the gangsters to move. With this tactic they had
Discussion 20 : 03/11/2012 at 10:49 AM: Its just like a big game of useless musical chairs where everyone is a winner except the taxpayer .
Discussion 21 : 03/11/2012 at 10:27 AM: Thank God. We can all rest easier now that we know Yingluck is watching over us.
Discussion 22 : 03/11/2012 at 10:06 AM: I say give her a chance. People complain that she does not show leadership, well, here she is stepping up to the plate. She couldn't do any worse than what we've seen in the past. And who knows, maybe the way to win the south is through Charm and not Chalerm.
Discussion 23 : 03/11/2012 at 09:45 AM: D10 Android - There is a very simple thing that could be done to improve Thailand's growth, security and understanding ... appoint ministers that have background in that their ministry's field. As long as the Pheu Thaksin continue to appoint ministers as favors, the cabinet will be nothing more than a dog & pony show.
Discussion 24 : 03/11/2012 at 09:43 AM: How quickly we forget! Remember Thaksin thinks, my clone acts. The new foreign minister in charge of the Southern problem is our good friend in Dubai. Let's hope he does a little better than he did with Bangkok traffic and ya ba.
Discussion 25 : 03/11/2012 at 09:39 AM: Yea... I expected the 'howls' that preceded my post. Personally, I'm more interested in performance than 'qualifications.' If she is a good manager, then she will coordinate & not lead the effort. Anyway, she's made her decision, so, in a Democracy we get to evaluate her results.
Discussion 26 : 03/11/2012 at 09:33 AM: We want Yingluck Shinawatra to resign as Prime Minister of Thailand.
Discussion 27 : 03/11/2012 at 09:33 AM: The 78 year old general Yuttasak should stay home to enjoy a retired life. Only a young blood could give hope for the Southern !!!!
Discussion 28 : 03/11/2012 at 09:27 AM: It's pity that our Mrs PM cannot find the right person for the big job... Like Phongthep Thepkanchana who is surely a good, but not for Education (the 3rd Education Minister in one year - very sad noticiing). Like Surapong who is one the worst Foreing Minister, but he is relative of Shinawatra clique Finally our Mrs PM should take in charge nearly all Ministries !!!
Discussion 29 : 03/11/2012 at 09:03 AM: Chalerm - National Intelligence Agency = Oxymoron
Discussion 30 : 03/11/2012 at 08:46 AM: Discussion 2 brilliant : PM's taking up the leading role in security affairs is indeed acting in faith of the nation. The security in south is a complicated and long term issue to be dealth with by the thai government irrespective it is under the PT or Dem or other tenure. Narrow vision comments always criticize the matter but never put forth a solution.
Discussion 31 : 03/11/2012 at 08:42 AM: Lets her take charge and see what she has in mind ....usaly i would say she has no experience and its true but i have a feeling that someting positive will hapend with her decision ...i will give her the chance to show us what she can do .....i think she doesnt trust her own team (and i understand ) she prefer to take control by herself...let see ;;; i hope its not a game ....this is a Very Very important move for her .very interesting to see her do this...
Discussion 32 : 03/11/2012 at 08:11 AM: As Prime Minister she is ultimately responsible for all government matters including national security so there is no news here, However since she intends to get directly involved on a personal level it is time for the good people of Thailand to begin folding their origami birds once again.
Discussion 33 : 03/11/2012 at 07:51 AM: The south needs someone at cabinet level thinking and acting on it full time, not only to handle the powerful personalities involved (for example: Chalerm and Gen Prayuth) but also to coordinate, rationalise and simplify the 'spaghetti junction' of ministries and agencies involved. Any PM already has a full agenda - not least regular overseas visits - so cannot give this the focus or indeed the visit time to the south that it requires.
Discussion 34 : 03/11/2012 at 07:43 AM: Oh dear!
Discussion 35 : 03/11/2012 at 07:12 AM: Alice in Blunderland. How can a Prime minster of LESS than 18 months of political experience in her life consider that she is capable of taking charge of the national security policie of the whole country?
Discussion 36 : 03/11/2012 at 06:35 AM: He reportedly felt neglected and initially refused to take the advisory post. You just can't make this stuff up. As Jutaporn said when he was ignored by Yingluck "It's only a game".
Discussion 37 : 03/11/2012 at 05:49 AM: This people makes me sick.
Discussion 38 : 03/11/2012 at 04:21 AM: I swear her face is looking more square everyday. Does she understand the responsibility she's taken on? It means she can't avoid the South anymore and pretend it doesn't exist(well, it should mean that). Let's see what happens.
Discussion 39 : 03/11/2012 at 03:43 AM: Don’t they have anybody competent who can do the job? Or did all competent people fail to become Ministers because Thaksin’s henchmen had to be served first. Hopefully one day the Thai people will wake up and understand what the voted for.

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