Setting records in the Foreign Ministry

In fact, political instability and the changing of foreign ministers have become the norm in Thailand. After the 1992 military coup, the Foreign Ministry changed three ministers, but changing the office holder five times in less than a year is a new record, an official said.

The changes started happening early this year when Nitya Pibulsonggram stepped down in February after the military-installed government led by Surayud Chulanont was voted out. Noppadon Pattama took office but was forced out in July over the Preah Vihear Temple. Tej Bunnag replaced Noppadon, but just 39 days after taking office political pressure on his family forced him to go.

In early September, Saroj Chavanavirat was named foreign minister but many officials at the ministry wondered if he could really be counted. Though His Majesty the King endorsed Saroj's nomination, he could not enforce his authority as minister because the government was brought to an end before he could be sworn in.

Legally speaking, he was a minister with full mandate for 48 hours before Samak Sundaravej was disqualified as premier on September 9 for personally benefiting from a TV show. It must be noted that Saroj was the only foreign minister in Thai history who did not get a chance to set foot in the ministry compound.

However, a senior official said his portrait would still be put up on the wall as the 43rd Minister of Foreign Affairs and that his duration in office would be counted from September 7 to 24, because that was the day the latest minister was endorsed. The Foreign Ministry's website, however, still does not list Saroj as minister.

Sompong Amornwiwat, endorsed on September 24, is the fifth foreign minister Thailand has had this year and nobody knows how long he will last considering the political instability. The People's Alliance for Democracy protestors are still occupying Government House, while the core People's Power Party may be dissolved over election fraud in a few months.

Before year is over, the Foreign Ministry might end up seeing a couple more new chiefs. We can at least take comfort in the fact that Thailand is the only Asean country to set this record.