FORMER election commissioner Somchai Srisutthiyakorn warned that if former deputy prime minister Kittiratt Na Ranong, who is very capable, becomes the chairman of the Bank of Thailand board he would bend to politicians, Naewna newspaper said this morning (Nov. 5).
In a Facebook post Somchai warned that at this moment the country needs a central bank board chairman who is independent and does not cave in to politicians.
He mentioned that he had twice worked with Kittiratt and that he is not an incompetent person but has previously yielded to politicians with this causing damage to the country.
Somchai said he first met Kittiratt on Jan. 14, 2014 and the second time was when they worked together on a special committee considering the 2023 Budget Act for two months.
Kittiratt is fully dedicated to his work, he came early every morning and was seated and listened throughout only speaking when necessary, he said, adding when he did speak it was on issues the government had to carefully peruse.
In 2014 Kittiratt held the position of deputy prime minister of the caretaker government before the election. He came with two directors-general of the Commerce Ministry to ask the Election Commission to approve the cabinet borrowing 20 billion baht from the Bank of Agriculture and Agricultural Cooperatives (BACC) to pay off farmers’ debts with repayment to be made from government-to-government rice sales to China.
Somchai asked Kittiratt two questions with the first being how long would it take for the government to pay off the BACC loan with the answer by the Foreign Trade Department head being approximately two years.
He then asked how long the caretaker government would be in office and the answer was two to three months.
In the end the Election Commission refused to allow this borrowing because the constitution stipulates that a caretaker government cannot incur debts that bind the government in the future.
The polling agency was heavily criticised by the pro-government media for preventing farmers from getting financial assistance.
After three years on Aug. 25, 2017 the Supreme Court sentenced former commerce minister Boonsong Teriyapirom, in former prime minister Yingluck Shinawatra administration, to 42 years in jail in the historical lawsuit involving rice trading scam.
Former Foreign Trade Department director-general Manas Soiploy was also sentenced to 40 years in jail, with several other Commerce Ministry civil servants too charged with conspiracy over the rice dealings.
Somchai added that as he had the opportunity to work with Kittiratt, he does not hesitate to vouch for his knowledge and capabilities, but it is just that while being a capable person he bends to the whims of politicians.
At this moment Thailand needs people who stand by their principles, are independent, and do not indulge the politicians to the point that the country may be damaged, he added.
CAPTION:
Top and Front Page: Former election commission Somchai Srisutthiyakorn. Photos: Thai Rath
Insert: Former deputy prime minister Kittiratt Na Ranong. Photo: Thai Rath
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