Yingluck Takes Command 9 Aug 2011 at 07:50

Yingluck takes command 9 Aug 2011 at 07:50

With her husband and young son looking on, new prime minister Yingluck Shinawatra pledged allegiance to the monarchy and her full commitment towards working in the best interests of the country.

Thailand’s first female prime minister Yingluck Shinawatra pays respects to a portrait of His Majesty the King as she receives the royal command appointing her as premier at PheuThai Party headquarters in Bangkok yesterday. MsYingluck is the country’s 28th prime minister. MEDIAPOOL

Note: You have probably heard or read prime minister Yingluck's speech yesterday. The story below gives a good English-language summary. You might also be interested in our new facebook page at: http://www.facebook.com/bangkokpostlearning

Click button to listen to Yingluck speaks and rightclick to download

King endorses Yingluck as PM

National reconciliation tops new govt's agenda

Aekarach Sattaburuth

His Majesty the King yesterday endorsed Yingluck Shinawatra as the country's first female prime minister.

In her first address to the nation after receiving the royal command formalising her premiership, Ms Yingluck vowed her allegiance to the monarchy and pledged to foster national reconciliation.

Her cabinet line-up is expected to be submitted for royal endorsement today.

At 6.40pm yesterday, the secretary-general of the House of Representatives Pitoon Pumhiran brought the royal command to the Pheu Thai Party headquarters in Bangkok.

Mr Pitoon read out the royal command appointing Ms Yingluck as the country's new premier after she was nominated for the top job uncontested on Friday by the majority of members of the House of Representatives.

The royal command, which was countersigned by House Speaker Somsak Kiatsuranont, was then placed before a portrait of His Majesty the King.

Ms Yingluck, the younger sister of deposed prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra, knelt and paid respects before the King's portrait as she received the command, to the cheers and applause of a huge crowd of supporters.

Also present were key Pheu Thai members, Shinawatra family members such as Somchai Wongsawat and Ms Yingluck's elder sister Yaowapa Wongsawat, Payap Shinawatra as well as leaders and key coalition party figures.

Ms Yingluck's husband, Anusorn Amornchat, and her son Suppasek, also attended the ceremony.

The new prime minister enjoys a moment with her husband and son.

Speaking in her inauguration speech televised nationwide, Ms Yingluck said the royal command appointing her as prime minister was the highest honour bestowed upon her and her family. She pledged allegiance to the monarchy and her full commitment towards working in the best interests of the country and the public.

"I would like to thank the public, party members, party MPs and the brothers and sisters who joined in the ideology of democracy in supporting me to become prime minister.

"I regard it as part of my great responsibility to enlist the support and strength of people in all sectors of society to ensure the nation can overcome its problems and win recognition from foreign countries," Ms Yingluck said.

At one point in her speech, Ms Yingluck quoted part of a royal address given by His Majesty the King on Jan 24, 1989 when the King presided over a ceremony to bestow degrees upon graduates at Chiang Mai University. Ms Yingluck also attended the ceremony as a graduate.

The King's speech had stressed the importance of using wisdom to change oneself and improve one's work efficiency. The King also called on the graduates to be willing to coordinate efforts and work with others to achieve the desired results.

Ms Yingluck said she would use the King's speech as a guideline to help with the work of her government.

She promised that she would do her best to bring about happiness and restore national harmony.

She said she realised being a woman prime minister in such difficult circumstances was a challenge and that many people have high expectations of her.

"But I believe that being a woman will not be an obstacle to my work. I am determined to do my utmost to bring about happiness and to ease suffering,"she said. take command – to take up a position of power female – being a woman or a girl สตรี, ผูหญิง, เพศหญิ pay respects to – to show deep admiration for someone แสดงความเคารพ portrait – a painting, photograph, drawing, etc. of a person ภาพวาดหรือภาพถายคน command – an order คําสั่ง appoint – to choose someone officially for a job or responsibility แตงตั้ง,ตั้งใหเป็น headquarters – the place where an organisation or company has its main offices สํานักงานใหญ กองบัญชาการ endorse – to officially approve รับรอง reconciliation – the process of creating a new and friendly relationship again with someone you argued with or fought with การปรองดอง agenda – a list of aims or possible future achievements วาระ address – a formal speech คําปราศรัย formalise – to make an arrangement, a plan or a relationship official ทําใหเป็นทางการ vow – to make a formal and serious promise to do something สาบาน, ปฏิญาณ allegiance – strong loyalty to a person, group, idea or country ความจงรักภักดี the monarchy – the royal institution (higher institution); the throne; the crown ระบอบประชาธิปไตยอันมีพระมหากษัตริย เป็นประมุข pledge – to make a serious promise to do something สัญญา foster – to encourage something to develop สนับสนุน cabinet – the group of government ministers who make and approve government policy คณะรัฐมนตรี line-up – a group or team of people who are involved in a particular job or activity รายชื่อของผูเกี่ยวของ submit – to formally give something to someone so that can make a decision about it ยื่น เพื่อการพิจารณา nominate - to formally propose someone for a job เสนอชื่อ uncontested – not having any competitors ไมมีคูแขง majority – more than 50 percent of a group เสียงสวนใหญ House of Representatives – the main lawmaking body in Thailand, consisting of 500 members สภาผูแทนราษฎร countersign – to sign a document that has already been signed by another person, especially in order to show that it is valid ลงนามรวม House Speaker – the person who is in charge of most of the activities of the House of Representatives ประธานสภาผู แทนราษฎร deposed – forced from a position of power ที่ถูกปลด ไลออกจากตําแหนง kneel –to put one or both knees on the ground (see photo above) คุกเขา applause – showing enjoyment or approval of something such as a performance or speech by clapping the hands repeatedly to make a noise การปรบมือแสดงความชื่นชม key – most important ที่สําคัญ elder – an old person ผูสูงวัย, ผูอาวุโส, ผูอายุมาก coalition – a temporary union of different political parties that agree to form a government together พรรครวมรัฐบาล figure – someone who is important in some way บุคคลสําคัญ inauguration – an official ceremony to celebrate that someone is starting an important new job พิธีสาบานตนเขารับตําแห นง nationwide – throughout a whole country ทั่วทั้งประเทศ bestowed – (of something valuable or important) given มอบให commitment – willing to give your time and energy to something that you believe in; a promise or firm decision to do something การใหคํามั่นสัญญา, การใหคํามั่น, การมอบความไววางใจ ideology – system of ideas and principles on which a political or economic theory is based แนวคิดอันเป็นรากฐานของ สังคม เศรษฐกิจและการเมือง regard – to consider or have an opinion about something or someone เห็นวา,ถือวา responsibility – a duty ความรับผิดชอบ, ความรับผิดชอบ enlist – to ask for and get help or support from someone ขอความชวยเหลือ sectors of society – parts of a country’s society ภาคสังคม ensure – to make certain that something happens or is done ใหการยืนยัน, รับรอง, ใหความมั่นใจ overcome – to succeed in controlling or dealing with something ตอสูอุปสรรคจนสําเร็จสํามารถดําเนินการตอไปได recognition – public praise and reward for somebody's work or actions, the act of accepting that something exists, is true or is official การยอมรับ quote – to repeat the words that someone else has said or written ยกคําพูดมา preside – to be in charge of a ceremony, official meeting, or other event (ทรง) เป็นประธานในพิธี degree – the qualification obtained by students who successfully complete a university or college course ปริญญา graduate – a person who has a university degree ผูรับปริญญา, ผูสําเร็จการศึกษา stress – to emphasise something such as an idea, fact or detail; to explain why something is important เนน wisdom – the ability to make sensible decisions and give good advice because of the experience and knowledge that you have ปัญญา, สติปัญญา efficiency – the ability to work well and produce good results by using the available time, money, supplies etc in the most effective way ความมีประสิทธิภาพ coordinate – to organise the different parts of a job or plan so that the people involved work together effectively ประสานงานกัน desired – wanted ที่ตองการ guideline – official instruction or advice about how to do something สิ่งที่ชวยแนะแนวทางใหปฏิบัติ restore – to cause a particular situation to exist again, especially a good one ฟื้ นฟูสภาพ harmony – when people are peaceful and agree with each other, or when things seem right or suitable together ความ สามัคคี circumstances – facts or conditions that affect a situation เหตุการณแวดลอม challenge – something that needs a lot of skill, energy, and determination to deal with or achieve สิ่งที่ทาทาย, การทา ทาย expectations – the belief that something will happen สิ่งที่คาดหวังวาจะเกิดขึ้นในอนาคต obstacle – a difficulty or problem that prevents you from achieving something; a hurdle อุปสรรค ขวากหนาม determined - wanting to do something very much and not letting anyone or any difficulties stop you ตั้งใจจริง, ซึ่งมุงมั่น utmost – as much as possible: used for emphasizing a quality or feeling สุดขีด, อยางมาก ease – to make a problem, situation or pain less severe or serious บรรเทา suffering – physical or mental pain or problems ความทุกขทรมาน