The Surayud Cabinet
His Majesty the King issued a royal command to approve the Cabinet of Prime Minister Surayud Chulanont.
The full list of Surayud's Cabinet is: Deputy Prime Minister and Industry Minister: MR Pridiyathorn DevakulaDeputy Prime Minister and Industry Minister: Kosit Panpiemras PM's Office Minister: Kunying Dhipavadee Meksawan PM's Office Minister: Thirapat Serirangsan Defence Minister: Gen Boonrawd Somtas Foreign Minister: Nitya Pibulsonggram Deputy Foreign Minister: Sawanit Kongsiri Tourism and Sports Minister: Suvit Yodmani Social Development and Human Security Minister: Paiboon Wattanasiritham Agriculture and Agricultural Cooperatives Minister: Thira Sutabutra Deputy Agriculture and Agricultural Cooperatives Minister: Rungruang Isarangkura Na Ayudhaya Transport Minister: Admiral Theera Haocharoen Deputy Transport Minister: Sansern Wongcha-um Natural Resource and Environment Minister: Kasem Sanidwong Na Ayudhaya Information and Communication Technology Minister: Sitthichai Pookaiyaudom Commerce Minister: Krirkkrai Jirapaet Energy Minister: Piyasvasti Amranand Interior Minister: Aree Wongsearaya Deputy Interior Minister: Banyat Jansena Justice Minister: Charnchai Likitjitta Labour Minister: Apai Chandanachulaka Culture Minister: Khunying Khaisri Sri-aroon Science and Technology Minister: Prof Dr Yongyuth Yuthavong Education Minister: Wijit Srisa-an Public Health Minister: Doctor Mongkol Na Songkhla Deputy Industry Minister: Piyabutr Cholvijarn ------------------------------------------------ Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister: MR Pridiyathorn Devakula Do not let interim Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister Pridiyathorn's personal enthusiasm fool you, or the fact that sometimes he rides a motorcycle to work. Pridiyathorn plays a calculated game with twist. He is sometimes seen as cunning and not interested in earning respect. But for those who have worked under him - at the Bank of Thailand (BOT) or the Export-Import Bank of Thailand - he has won nothing but praise. "He is exceptional," said one senior BOT official. Pridiyathorn has always been considered a trouble-shooter. He helped former Finance Minister Tarrin Nimmanahaeminda after the 1997 crisis as a go-between with the central bank. And like it or not to ousted Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra, Pridiyathorn was a nucleus for maintaining international confidence in the eyes of the foreign investors. Pridiyathorn spent much of his career at Thai Farmers Bank, since renamed Kasikornbank, where he was both a top banker and a top administrator. At the BOT, he was one of the youngest central-bank governors in the world and last year won The Bankers Magazine's Asian Bankers Award for best central-bank governor. But his new role is his biggest challenge yet. ------------------------------------------- Deputy Prime Minister and Industry Minister: Kosit Panpiemras With a life-long interest in rural development, Kosit, the new interim deputy prime minister and industry minister, has been a long-time confidant of Privy Councillor General Prem Tinsulanonda. He brings a knowledge of how to drive the rural economy to the interim government. His skills at the highest national level have been built up over the years. Kosit was finance minister briefly in the Suchinda Kraprayoon government following the military coup against the Chatichai Choonhavan government in 1991 and agriculture minister in June 1992, where he put to work his plans for developing rural Thailand. He has spent most of his career at the National Economic and Social Development Board, where he rose to the position of deputy secretary-general in 1986. He has four outstanding features. First, he is honest, credible and much sought-after as a policy-maker. Second, he is far-sighted, being the first economist to predict the 1997 financial crisis. Third, his experience at Bangkok Bank may provide a good platform for exploiting all mechanisms for giving rural Thailand a sustained economic boost. Fourth, he speaks his mind. ------------------------------------------ PM's Office Minister: Khunying Dhipavadee Meksawan Khunying Dhipavadee Meksawan, newly appointed PM's Office Minister, has the task of completing a new round of bureaucratic reform, which is her expertise, over the next year. Dhipavadee, 60, is a veteran civil servant and the first woman to hold the top post of the Civil Service Commission (CSC), which she joined after graduating from Harvard University with a master's degree in Public Management. As CSC secretary-general she was a key architect of the bureaucratic reform under the Thaksin government, restructuring government agencies and forming new ministries. Among her achievements are the introduction of an early retirement programme for civil servants and a cap on civil service recruitment. Dhipavadee's success with bureaucratic reform paid off with a bigger post as the first permanent secretary of the newly founded Information and Communications Technology (ICT) Ministry in 2002. But she was hampered by her unfamiliarity with the field and was moved two years later to the post of permanent secretary of the Culture Ministry, where she served until retirement. The experienced bureaucrat said the interim prime minister had called and asked her to help work on bureaucratic reform aimed at increasing professionalism, efficiency and honesty. Responding to criticism about her service under the Thaksin government, she said, "A professional bureaucrat must be able to work well no matter who leads the government. I have been a civil servant for a long time and it could be said that I was a bureaucrat of all governments." Dhipavadee has also received numerous awards for women. -------------------------------------------------- PM's Office Minister: Thirapat SerirangsanFormer reporter and academic Thirapat Serirangsan claims he will work to increase freedom of the press in Thailand as well as reform national politics. He incurred the wrath of the Thaksin-Shinawatra administration as a critic and kept in the headlines last year with his formation of the www.corruptionwatch group that embarked on an independent examination of alleged graft in the previous government. The new minister was a co-founder of the Thai Rak Thai Party but quit shortly before the 2001 election. He is currently a political scientist at Sukhothai Thammathirat Open University. Before he turned to academia he started his working life as a news reporter. As president of the Political Science Association of Thailand he has been a high-profile critic of the Thaksin government. Thiraphat said he was preparing draft legislation to prevent prime ministerial conflicts of interest. Thiraphat has a PhD in political science. -------------------------------------------------- Defence Minister: Gen Boonrawd SomtasGeneral Boonrawd Somtas is a weekly golfing partner of Interim Prime Minister Surayud Chulanont. But he was surprised to receive a telephone call just four days ahead of Sunday's announcement of his appointment as defence minister. "I am still surprised about the news but willing to serve 'the boss' in whatever capacity I can," Boonrawd said. During his one-year in the portfolio he said he would devote his attention to forging unity among the armed forces and resolving unrest in the South. Surayud and Boonrawd's friendship dates back to their cadet days at the Armed Forces Military Preparatory School. They were graduates of Pre-Cadet Class 1. Subsequently, the two enrolled at Chulachomklao Royal Military Academy before entering the infantry as Class 12 officers. Both opted to serve in special warfare operations. They saw action in separate theatres - Surayud fought the insurgency in Laos and Thailand's Northeast while Boonrawd was deployed in Vietnam. Their paths crossed again when they attended the Army's Command and General Staff College. As the top graduates, Boonrawd won a scholarship to further his training in France while Surayud was dispatched to Fort Leavenworth in the United States. Their career paths have been almost a mirror image. While serving in the Special Warfare Command Boonrawd was the commander of Second Special Warfare Division and Surayud was his counterpart at the First Division. After Surayud was elevated to Army commander-in-chief in 1998, he handpicked Boonrawd to serve as his chief of staff a year later. When the Thaksin-Shinawatra government came to power in 2001, it became clear it wanted to realign the military. Surayud promoted Boonrawd to joint chief of staff in 2002. Boonrawd's mission was to prepare the ground for his boss to follow him to Supreme Command Headquarters the following year. The Supreme Commander and his joint chief of staff retired from active military service in 2004. -------------------------------------------------- Foreign Minister: Nitya Pibulsonggram Nitya, 65, received his higher education at Dartmouth College, where he graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in the field of Government. He continued his graduate studies at Brown University, where he received a Master of Arts in Political Science. Nitya was a career diplomat, beginning his diplomatic service in 1968 when he joined the Foreign News Division of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs' Information Department. His first foreign posting was from 1976 to 1980 when he was assigned to Thailand's Permanent Mission to the United Nations in New York, where he served as First Secretary and was later promoted to Minister-Counsellor and then Deputy Permanent Representative in the last two of the four years. In 1980, he returned to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs as Deputy Director-General of the Information Department and, the following year, was appointed Deputy Director-General of the Department of Political Affairs. From 1983 to 1987, he held the post of Director-General of the International Organizations Department. Then, he moved to New York City where he served for eight years as the Permanent Representative of Thailand to the United Nations in New York. From 1996 to 2000, He was Ambassador to the United States. Prior to his retirement from diplomatic service, he served as Permanent Secretary to foreign affairs from 2000-2001. He is married to Pacharin Pibulsonggram, who was born in Massachusetts. -------------------------------------------------- Deputy Foreign Minister: Sawanit Kongsiri Sawanit Kongsiri, 64, obtained Master Degree in International Relations from School of International Service, American University , Washington , D.C., U.S.A. From 1966-2002, Sawanit was director general of Information and Economic Affairs departments, Deputy Permanent Secretary, Ambassador to Austria (concurrently accredited to Hungary ), Ambassador to International Atomic Energy Agency, Ambassador to UNIDO, Ambassador to People's Republic of China (concurrently accredited to DPR Korea and Mongolia ), and Ambassador to Australia (concurrently accredited to Fiji and Vanuatu ) From 2003 - 2006, Sawanit was Assistant Secretary General of the Thai Red Cross (Foreign Relations) -------------------------------------------------- Tourism and Sports Minister: Suwit Yodmanee Newly appointed interim Tourism and Sports Minister Suvit is another dark horse. He served as deputy spokesman for the Chatichai government from 1988-91. In the Anand Panyarachun government, he served as spokesman. However, Suwit is better known for his role in defending the image of his father-in-law, Field Marshal Thanom Kittikachorn, leader of the military junta in the 1970s. Suvit has tirelessly travelled the world to tell the international community Thanom was innocent and not involved in two of the country's biggest political tragedies: the massacres of October 14, 1973, and October 6, 1976. With his background, there is doubt about how well Suvit can handle his job overseeing tourism, which contributes about 10 per cent of the gross national product. -------------------------------------------------- Social Development and Human Security Minister: Paibool Watanasiritham Social Development and Human Security Minister Paiboon Wattanasiritham was born on March 24, 1941. In 1967, Paiboon obtained a bachelors degree in economics from the University of Hull in the UK. After graduation, he started his career at the Bank of Thailand, rising to executive rank by the time he left in 1980. He has held executive posts at various organisations including the Stock Exchange of Thailand, the Moral Centre, the Community Organisations Development Institute, the Government Savings Bank and the National Economic and Social Advisory Board. He is also a former senator. He was the man behind such highprofile projects like the village revolving funds and People's Bank. Moreover, he has worked for many nongovernmental organisations over several decades where he was seen as downtoearth and won respect among academics. -------------------------------------------------- Agriculture and Agricultural Cooperatives Minister: Thira Sutabutra One of the surprising appointments was Thira, the new interim agriculture minister. Emerging from nowhere, his responsibility is relevant to his management background as former rector of Kasetsart University. With the government's "Kitchen to the World" scheme still on, Thira must draft the country's agriculture development plan. And his background in plant pathology should help boost the country's farm production. -------------------------------------------------- Deputy Agriculture and Agricultural Cooperatives Minister: Rungruang Issararangkura Deputy Agriculture Minister Rungrueng Israngkura, 67, is another Cabinet member who was appointed to his former ministry. He started his government service in the Agriculture Ministry and retired in 1999 as deputy permanent secretary. After retirement, he served as a committee member of the Forestry Industry Board. -------------------------------------------------- Transport Minister: Adm Thira Haocharoen Theera, 66, is a surprising choice for the position of Transportation minister. He was a veteran in the Navy and his last position before retirement was Navy Commander in Chief. He was posted to be military attache in Washington DC before returning to take post of deputy navy commander in chief in 1997. He was promoted to take -------------------------------------------------- Deputy Transport Minister: Sansern Wongcha-um Deputy Transport Minister Sansern Wongchaum, 58, was former secretarygeneral of the National Economic and Social Development Board (NESDB). Born on January 29, 1948, Sansern graduated from the Faculty of Economics, Thammasat University, and earned a masters degree in business economics from Bridgeport University, Connecticut, US. He resigned from his position as NESDB secretarygeneral post in January 2002 when he still had six years of service left, saying he wanted to spend more time with his family. However, he was criticised for not getting along with Thaksin Shinawatra government and it was suggested that political pressure was his actual reason for leaving. Sansern was seen to be keen on mapping a national plan for mass transit and logistics - the two key areas where the ministry must work to ease worsening traffic congestion and reduce energy consumption. Deputy Transport Minister Sansern Wongchaum, 58, was former secretarygeneral of the National Economic and Social Development Board (NESDB). Born on January 29, 1948, Sansern graduated from the Faculty of Economics, Thammasat University, and earned a masters degree in business economics from Bridgeport University, Connecticut, US. He resigned from his position as NESDB secretarygeneral post in January 2002 when he still had six years of service left, saying he wanted to spend more time with his family. However, he was criticised for not getting along with Thaksin Shinawatra government and it was suggested that political pressure was his actual reason for leaving. Sansern was seen to be keen on mapping a national plan for mass transit and logistics - the two key areas where the ministry must work to ease worsening traffic congestion and reduce energy consumption. Deputy Agriculture Minister Rungrueng Israngkura, 67, is another Cabinet member who was appointed to his former ministry. He started his government service in the Agriculture Ministry and retired in 1999 as deputy permanent secretary. After retirement, he served as a committee member of the Forestry Industry Board. -------------------------------------------------- Natural Resource and Environment Minister: Kasem Sanidwong Na Ayudhaya Newly appointed Natural Resources and Environment Minister Kasem Sanitwong Na Ayudhaya is a prominent conservationist and a pioneer who drew up a natural and environment conservation plan for the country. Kasem, 68, holds a bachelor's degree in Science from London University and a master's in Economics from Williams College in the US. He started his career at the National Economic and Social Development Board and later became secretary-general of the National Environment Board, deputy permanent secretary of the former Ministry of Science, Technology and Energy. He was also director-general of the Department of Science Service and permanent secretary of Science and Environment Ministry. He resigned from the latter post in 1998, one year before he was due to retire. -------------------------------------------------- Information and Communication Technology Minister: Sitthichai Pookaiyaudoom Also little known is interim Information and Communications Technology Minister Sitthichai. Prior to this ministry post, he was rector of Mahanakorn University of Technology, which he founded in 1990. He was also a member of CAT Telecom Plc's board from 1984-86. His achievements include winning the National Research Council of Thailand's first prize for a device that measures the humidity of paddy rice. From 1990-98, he was visiting professor at the University of London's Imperial College of Science, Technology and Medicine. -------------------------------------------------- Commerce Minister: Krirk-krai Jirapaet Krirk-krai's return to the ministry, where he used to serve as permanent secretary, brought joy to officials familiar with the tough style he exhibited during his 20 years of service, with a focus on trade negotiations. His experience in trade talks should be a particular asset, which is probably why Pridiyathorn nominated him for the job, according to one insider. During the Thaksin era, Krirk-krai was transferred from his job to the PM's Office. But despite political intervention, he continued to work directly on trade negotiations as executive director of the International Institute for Trade and Development, as well as head trade negotiator for the Thai-European Free-Trade Association pact. As Thailand's former ambassador to the World Trade Organisation, Krirk-krai will also help boost the Kingdom's image and attract trade and investment. -------------------------------------------------- Energy Minister: Piyasvasti Amranand Energy Minister Piyasvasti Amaranand, 53, graduated in mathematics from Oxford University's Brasenose College in the UK He attended the London School of Economics for his master's degree in economics and mathematical economics and a doctorate in economics. Piyasvasti served as secretary general of the National Energy Policy Office from April 2001 to May 2002. However, he decided to quit the government to turn to the private sector. Piyasvasti was a main critic who attacked the Thaksin's government energy policy, especially the policy to selectively subsidise certain businesses. -------------------------------------------------- Energy Minister: Piyasvasti Amranand Energy Minister Piyasvasti Amaranand, 53, graduated in mathematics from Oxford University's Brasenose College in the UK He attended the London School of Economics for his master's degree in economics and mathematical economics and a doctorate in economics. Piyasvasti served as secretary general of the National Energy Policy Office from April 2001 to May 2002. However, he decided to quit the government to turn to the private sector. Piyasvasti was a main critic who attacked the Thaksin's government energy policy, especially the policy to selectively subsidise certain businesses. -------------------------------------------------- Justice Minister: Charnchai Likhitjittha Deputy Prime Minister and Justice Minister Charnchai Likhitjittha became president of the Supreme Court in 2005 and retired from the post last month after turning 60. But he worked as a senior judge at the Thon Buri Civil Court up till last week. Born on April 25, 1946, Charnchai graduated from Thammasat University's Faculty of Law. He was made deputy director-general of the Southern Bangkok Civil Court in 1995, and a Supreme Court judge in 1998. He became president of the Appeal Court Region 1 in 2003 before being appointed deputy president of the Supreme Court two years ago. While deputy Supreme Court president, Charnchai was selected as a judge in the court's Criminal Division for Holders of Political Positions to consider the case against the National Counter-Corruption Commission (NCCC) for malfeasance after they issued a regulation increasing their own special allowances. He was one of the three minority judges who found the commissioners not guilty, saying they had no intention to commit an illegal act. -------------------------------------------------- Labour Minister: Apai Chandanachulaka It is old memories for the new Labour Minister. Apai Chandanachulaka returns to his old stomping grounds where he served as Labour permanent secretary until then minister Suwat Liptapanlop transferred him to the Social Development and Human Security Ministry. Shortly after, Apai became a judge of the Constitution Court. He was one of six justices in the minority who voted to consider a complaint submitted by senators seeking to impeach then prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra for conflict of interest over his ownership of Shin Corp shares ahead of its sale to Temasek Holdings. He also ruled in the case of National Counter Corruption Commission illegal allowance increases. -------------------------------------------------- Culture Minister: Khunying Khaisri Sriarun Professor Emeritus Khunying Khaisri Sriarun, 69, appointed Culture Minister, admitted worrisome for the new position to produce the best outcome and policies. A respectable scholar, Khunying Khaisri was a former president Siplakorn University during 19881996. At present she serves as a committee and secretary of the Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn Foundation, and also holds a number of various positions in Thai academics such as president Naresuan University Council, president Silpakorn University Council, and an expert to sit on committee for Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn Anthropology Centre. Earlier this year, she joined ten senior scholars, including respected sociologists, anthropologists and historians, urged former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra to resign to halt the political crisis and prevent violence breaking out. However, for her new responsibilities, there are at least five major projects awaiting to be completed such as the restoration of historical monuments and temples project, the national cultural development centre project, the construction of the Tsunami National Memorial project, the Film Act procession, and the ministry restructuring project. -------------------------------------------------- Education Minister: Wijit Srisa-arn Education Minister Wijit Srisaan was born on December 22, 1934 in Chachoengsao. Wijit, 72, has an impressive educational background. He won a Fulbright scholarship and obtained his doctorate in educational management from Minnesota University in the US. He later taught at Chulalongkorn University's Faculty of Education. He also served as secretary general of the Office of the Civil Service Commission, permanent secretary for the University Affairs Ministry (now the Office of Higher Education Commission), rector of Sukhothaithammathirat Open University and Suranaree University of Technology. While at the helm of the Sukhothaithammathirat, he introduced a distanceeducation system to Thailand for the first time. Wijit was also among the drafters of the National Education Act of BE 2542, which has been the master plan for education since it took effect. In the political arena, Wijit was once a partylist Democrat MP. However, he quit the Democrat Party a few years ago. --------------------------------------------------
Public Health Minister: Doctor Mongkol Na Songkhla Public Health Minister Dr Mongkol Na Songkhla is a veteran of the Public Health Ministry and was its permanent secretary before retiring. Dr Mongkol Na Songkhla brings with him high expectations. He is credited with playing a crucial role in sending a former public health minister to jail on graft charges. He is now expected to eradicate corruption at the ministry and develop effective policies to regulate tobacco, alcohol and drugs. Born on January 16, 1941, Mongkol received his medical training at the Mahidol University Faculty of Medicine. He earned a masters in public health in the Netherlands. In 1976, he was named Outstanding Rural Doctor of the Year. He previously served as director of Phimai Hospital, director general of the Medical Services Department, secretarygeneral of the Food and Drug Administration and permanent secretary for Public Health.
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