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Thailand-Final Government of Thailand 2014 JHUMUNC 2017 1 Government of Thailand 2014 Topic A: Escalating Violence and Dividing Factions Topic B: The Political State of Thailand As we assert our place as the new Committee Overview leaders of Thailand, this cabinet must also firmly establish the guidelines for this new In May of 2014, our military forces government. We will discuss and revise the overthrew the government in a coup that led interim Constitution implemented after the to a suspension of the Constitution, martial coup in order to ultimately bring forth the law, a curfew, and nationwide censorship. start of a new political age for Thailand. The military has arrested the former Prime Minister, accused her of bribery and corruption, fired every member of her Parliamentary Procedure cabinet, and abolished the House of Representatives. In the months following This committee will abide by the this abrupt shift in power, I, Prayut Chan-o- rules of standard parliamentary procedure. cha, the new Prime Minister and former Un-moderated caucuses will be in order, in Commander in Chief of the Thai Royal order to allow delegates to discuss crises and Army appointed by the King of Thailand, exchange ideas freely. Throughout the have assembled my own cabinet of 35 course of this committee, various crises ministers. Since its establishment as a simulating real time situations will be constitutional monarchy in 1932, Thailand reported to the delegates to resolve. has been rife with issues of political control Delegates may, either by themselves or with and growing political factions. In recent others, pass directives as a call to action. years, our country has struggled with Delegates are further encouraged to multiple changes of power within the communicate with other delegates and crisis government, which has led our people to members via communiqués. Each delegate lose faith in us. will be representing a real member of the The purpose of my newly proposed Thai cabinet, and will thusly inherit said cabinet, serving under the military junta members’ powers in assuming his/her role. named National Council of Peace and Order It is also important to note that as this (NCPO), is to usher in a new era of peace committee takes place in the year of 2014, and prosperity. In such a time of distress and you will be assuming duties of each cabinet chaos, we must address the divisive factions member in that year. The chair of the in our political parties that could lead to committee will be representing the Prime protests, violence, and ultimately, a Minister and will thusly inherit his powers fractured country. Furthermore, we must do as well. our part to assure the people of Thailand of our ability to lead the country through such unchartered and divisive times. 2 Delegate Biographies government protests that occurred in 2013- 2014, and was a rumored PM candidate Thanasak Patimaprakorn during the protests. Patimaprakorn is currently one of the six deputy prime ministers serving under Anupong Paochinda Prayut Chan-o-cha’s cabinet and is the Paochinda is currently the Minister of Minister of Foreign Affairs. He previously the Interior, and previously was the served as Thailand’s Chief of Defense Commander-in-Chief of the Royal Thai Forces, in which he was in charge of all Army from 2007 to 2010 and Chan-o-cha’s three branches of the Royal Thai Armed predecessor in the military. He was a crucial Forces. In his previous military role, he was figure during the 2006 Thai coup that also a subordinate to the then-army chief, deposed PM Thaksin Shinawatra. Prayut Chan-o-cha. In his current positions, Furthermore, in the 2010 “Red Shirts” Patimaprakorn works to strengthen uprising, Paochinda initiated a military Thailand’s communication with foreign crackdown of protest movements. governments, and in particular has been working with the Prime Minister to establish Wissanu Krea-ngam closer ties to China. Krea-ngam is one of the six deputy Prime Ministers in the new cabinet. He was Adul Sangsingkeo the former deputy Prime Minister under Sangsingkeo is currently the Minister of Thaksin Shinwatra’s government from 2002 Social Development and Human Security. to 2006, during which time he was Previously, he served as the National Police responsible for legal and parliamentary Chief of the Royal Thai Police, where he affairs. He was a major figure in drafting the partnered with the UN Office on Drugs and post-coup 2014 interim constitution. Crime to aid in drug control within Thailand and South East Asia. In his current position, Paiboon Khumchaya Sangsingkeo is working on policies to help Khumchaya is the Minister of Justice in improve the quality of life for the the new cabinet. He is responsible for the underprivileged, disabled, and impoverished continued reinforcement of martial law post- populations. He has also worked to control coup. Khumchaya previously served as an human trafficking within Thailand. assistant army chief in the Thai military. Prawit Wongsuwan Pridiyathorn Devakula Wongsuwan is one of the Deputy Prime Devakula is one of the six deputy Prime Minsters as well as the Minister of Defense. Ministers appointed in the new cabinet. He was previously the Commander-in-Chief Devakula formerly was the governor of the of the Royal Thai Army and served as the Bank of Thailand and a minister of finance Minister of Defense for Thailand from 2008- in Chulanont’s interim civilian government 2011 under then-PM Abhisit Vejjajiva. in 2006. He was heavily critical of Yingluck Wongsuwan has maintained close ties with Shinawatra’s economic policies, and served PM Chan-o-cha, dating back several years to as an economic advisor post-2014 coup to when they served in the 21st Infantery the National Council for Peace and Order. Regiment together, and even formed a military clique known as the “Eastern Tigers.” He greatly supported the anti- 3 Yongyuth Yuthavong chief under General Paochinda in the Thai Yuthavong is one of the six deputy military. Prime Ministers in the new cabinet. He was previously the president of Thailand’s Pannada Diskul National Science and Technology Diskul is the Minister attached to the Development Agency until 2004, and served Office of the Prime Minister (OPM). The as the Minister of Science and Technology OPM is the central executive agency of the from 2006 to 2008. He has worked to shift government, and works to assist the PM in Thailand from an agricultural-based execution of duties and manage policies. It economy into an industrial and digital one. also acts to record and assist the cabinet in various manners. Sommai Phasee Phasee is the Minister of Finance in the Pichet Durongkaveroj new cabinet. In his new position, he faces Durongkaveroj is currently the Minister issues such as the reforming the tax system, of Science and Technology in the new repaying government loans from a long- cabinet. He previously served as the director accrued debt, and increasing long-term of the e-ASEAN Coordination Center, investments in the country. The Ministry of which is involved with the ASEAN Finance is considered on the most important (Association of Southeast Asian Nations). and influential ministries in the government. The Ministry of Science and Technology (MOST) is responsible for forwarding Pornchai Rujiprapa policies and plans in advancement regarding Rujiprapa is currently the Minister of policies and research for science, Information and Communication technology, and innovation. Technology. The Ministry of ICT has worked to set up panels for national Don Pramudwinai broadband policies, promotion of e- Pramudwinai is the Deputy Minister of commerce and digital content, and digital Foreign Affairs, serving with Thanasak economy laws. The ICT Ministry has also Patimapragorn, the Minister of Foreign been working to restructure multiple state Affairs. Pramudwinai was previously the agencies. Ambassador of Thailand to USA and also a Representative of Thailand to the United Sutee Markboon Nations. Markboon is the Deputy Minister of Interior under the new cabinet. He, along Surasak Kanchanarat with the Minister of Interior Anupong Kanchanarat is the Minister of Labor, Paochinda, is in charge of local and was previously the permanent Secretary administrations, internal security, and of Defense in the Thai military. The appointing governors to the provinces in Ministry of Labor helps oversee labor Thailand. administration and protection, skill development, and employment promotion. Udomdej Sitabutr Sitabutr is the Deputy Minister of Narong Pipathanasai Defense, and works under the Minister of Pipathanasai is the Minister of Education Defense, Prawit Wongsuwan. Sitabutr and previously was the Chief of Navy in the previously held the position of deputy army Thai military. He supported integration with 4 the ASEAN economic community (AEC) as Topic A: Escalating Violence means of expanding educational opportunities and student exchange. and Dividing Factions Chakramon Phasukavanich Introduction Phasukavanich is the Minister of Trade and Industry under the new cabinet, and was The events leading up to and after previously the permanent secretary of this major political shift serve as an Ministry of Industry from 2004 to 2014. The indication of the issues the cabinet must ministry is responsible for promoting and address. It is extremely critical that the regulating industries. Phasukavanich has cabinet both appeal to the public in such been a huge supporter of moving towards precarious times and still maintain its new sustainable practices within industries. role in government. In the aftermath of Prayut Chan-o-cha’s ascension to power, he Kobkarn Wattanavrangkul and his cabinet will have to deal with the Wattanavrangkul is the Minister of lingering concerns of protesters from Tourism and Sports, and previously served previous political crises, the potential as the CEO of Toshiba Thailand. She is one growth of new protesters, and criticisms of the only two women in the new cabinet.
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