Adieu to an army cabinet

Exactly three years, five months and 11 days after the coup on May 22, 2014, the military government under Gen Prayut Chan-o-cha seems to be getting on the right track in looking at the possibility of lowering the number of ex-military personnel in the cabinet, made possible following the sudden resignation of the labour minister this week.

It remains unknown what prompted Sirichai Distakul, who is a retired general, to abruptly resign from the cabinet on Wednesday. But speculation is rife that the fifth cabinet reshuffle by the prime minister will be a major one, and more importantly, Gen Prayut is reportedly looking to replace several of his brothers-in-arms with civilians and technocrats.

This is a welcome move. The current cabinet comprises nearly a third of retired military personnel who maintain close ties with the big brothers in the coup body — the National Council for Peace and Order (NCPO). Over the past four years, these soldiers-turned-ministers have hardly impressed the public as there is little, if any, tangible success.

Among them is Agriculture and Agricultural Cooperatives Minister Gen Chatchai Sarikulya. His ministry, which takes care of millions of farmers, faced a series of complaints regarding plunging prices of farm produce such as rubber and rice. Water management under the Royal Irrigation Department is riddled with problems that leave the country with a cycle of drought and floods.

Another bad apple seems to be Interior Minister Gen Anupong Paojinda.

While the minister deserved some credit for his ability to maintain peace and order since the 2014 coup, he has been embroiled in many controversies, in particular the scandalous purchasing of military devices made when he oversaw the army.

His handling of the purchase of allegedly overpriced speed guns triggered heavy criticism. On top of that, the Interior Ministry has failed to tackle structural problems that would prevent another political crisis in the country.

After nearly four years as prime minister, with absolute power in his hands, Gen Prayut may have learnt from his experience that running a country is quite different from running an army.

This explains why it’s not wise to assign ex-army men to jobs they haven’t been trained for.

One place where military experience is not relevant is the Ministry of Natural Resources and the Environment.

Minister Surasak Karnjanarat can hardly boast of any successes as the state of the country’s environment has deteriorated, with severe pollution and waste issues mounting up.

On top of that, it should be noted this government has had some success — but the improved economic performance is mostly the work of non-military cabinet members.

Having more civilians in the cabinet is good, but it would be better if appointments were based on meritocracy, not nepotism. In short, it’s time Gen Prayut puts the right men in the right job.

Thailand’s reputation has been battered by the military’s controlling nature since the coup.

Changing the composition of the cabinet to have fewer military officers would at least shore up the country’s image.

This is an important move given the political roadmap currently under way.

With the election around the corner, a caretaker government with more civilian elements is something that would appease the international community.

To sum up, Gen Prayut should take this opportunity to undertake a reshuffle that would bring in experienced people who can combat demanding problems and help drive the country’s quality growth, while refreshing our national image on the world stage.

Thailand’s reputation has been battered by the military’s controlling nature.