Wang Nam Yom faction unhappy with moves

Published on August 04, 2005 - Core members of the ruling party’s 100-strong Wang Nam Yom faction expressed uneasiness yesterday over the Cabinet reshuffle, which saw their leader Suriya Jungrungreangkit shifted to a less significant post.

Udon Thani MP Theerayuth Wanichchang said Suriya, as the Thai Rak Thai party secretary-general, deserved more than the industry portfolio and a place among the deputy prime ministers.

Si Sa Ket MP Jaturong Phengnorraphat said he was astonished to see the transfers of Suriya and deputy faction leader Somsak Thepsuthin, who went from the Tourism and Sports Ministry to the Labour Ministry.

Jaturong said he believed that the Thai Rak Thai’s clinching one-party rule, especially its total control of MP seats from the Northeast, was made possible mainly because of the One Million Cows and the Water against Poverty schemes, both initiated by the faction.

Theerayuth said Somsak had been doing a good job running his tourism-boosting projects, while also proving capable of coping with emergencies like last December’s tsunami. He said both Suriya and Somsak were puzzled by the new assignments decided by their party leader, Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra.

Buri Ram MP Sophon Phetsawang said the Agriculture Ministry would have been a more suitable choice for Somsak than the Labour Ministry. The veteran MP said he personally thought that both Suriya and Somsak could be returned to their former posts in a possible reshuffle in October.

The party moved MP Chaiwat Tinarat up one position from number 77 on the 100-member party list to fill the slot vacated by Pongsak Ruktapongpisal, who was appointed transport minister.