Foreign Ministry reshuffle looming
Caretaker Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra's influence is looming large over the Foreign Ministry where horse-trading has intensified in the run-up to a reshuffle that will take place before the end of next month, a source said yesterday.
The reshuffle was prompted by current permanent secretary Krit Garnjana-Goonchorn's request to be transferred to a foreign post before his retirement, the source said. While it is the permanent secretary's role to endorse the ministry's new line-up, prominent government figures such as Thaksin and his deputy Surakiart Sathirathai will have a big influence on who the new faces will be. And both want their respective men to be given choice foreign postings. The horse-trading was prompted by Krit's request to swap positions with Suvidhya Simaskul, the ambassador to Tokyo, being rejected. So now Krit's only option is to swap with Virasakdi Futrakul, the ambassador to the United States, and the latter is likely to agree, the source said. Thaksin has earmarked Jullapong Nonsrichai, the ambassador to Beijing, as his pick for London, where one of Thakisn's daughters is currently studying. Rathakit Manathat, the ambassador to Vientiane, would then take over Nonsrichai's post in Beijing. Foreign Minister Kantathi Suphamongkhon only has his hand in some 20 per cent of the new line-up, the source said. The new line-up will also see deputy permanent secretaries Sihasak Phuangketkeow and Pisan Manawapat posted to Geneva and Brussels, respectively. Sihasak will swap with current Geneva incumbent Chaiyong Satjipanon.
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