Time for Prawit to go

Re: “Prayut slams talk of cracks in cabinet”, ( BP, Feb 14)

Education Minister Dr Teeerakiat Jareonsettasin apologised for referring to Deputy Prime Minister Prawit Wongsuwon flashing 25 ultra-luxury watches he claimed he borrowed from his friends and returned. Thais and others worldwide have been wondering how Gen Prawit obtained the watches, and wondering if the lenders might have had ulterior motives in lending such costly trinkets to a key decision maker on multi-billionbaht arms purchases.

Thus, the education minister said: “This watch saga, if it was I who had been exposed, I would have resigned (from the cabinet) when the first wristwatch came to light.” His comment, however appropriate, was a breach of etiquette, and he is to be praised for apologising.

But like Caesar’s wife, public servants with purse string powers must be above suspicion — and with his consistent stonewalling as to the watches’ provenance, Gen Prawit certainly is acting like he has lots to hide. On top of that, PM Prayut Chan-o-cha’s attempts to protect his handpicked direct report are most unseemly — especially when this junta grabbed power to cleanse us of corruption.

Thus, I suggest that it’s Gen Prawit who crossed a far more significant line than that of Dr Teerakiat. By his dogged refusal to come clean, Gen Prawit has severely and consistently besmirched the reputation of the entire government in the international arena. For his part, Gen Prayut has de facto confirmed suspicions that his junta will not even clean up its own house.

Gen Prayut should hand Gen Prawit his marching papers immediately and apologise to all Thais for not acting promptly to make the matter transparent.

BURIN KANTABUTRA