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The PM’s not-so-secret visit
- Published: 21 Feb 2012 at 11.23
- Online news: Easier Stuff
The Prime Minister’s “secret’ visit to the Four Seasons Hotel earlier this month has become a little less secret. The latest person to admit he attended the meeting there is Deputy Prime Minister Kittiratt Na- Ranong.
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The PM’s not-so-secret meeting
Deputy Prime Minister Kittiratt Na- Ranong
Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra’s “secret’ visit to the Four Seasons Hotel earlier this month has become a little less secret.
We know she met a group of businessmen there, one of who was Srettha Thavisin, president of property developer Sansiri Plc. On the government side, one participant was Deputy Prime Minister Kittiratt Na- Ranong who spoke about the matter for the first time yesterday.
"I can confirm that I was really there. I also know all of those who sought to meet the prime minister. I understand they did not want to meet the prime minister at Government House because they did not want to be seen as siding with the government, because certain groups of people dislike the government," Mr Kittiratt said.
He said the Four Seasons is used for meetings at an international standard.
Mr Kittiratt said the prime minister's duty is to listen to opinions from as many people as possible because her government is open to all suggestions, both official and unofficial.
Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra (left) and Sansiri president Srettha Thavisin
Ms Yingluck on Monday dismissed suggestions there had been any conflicts of interest involved when she met the group of businessmen at the hotel.
She insisted the hotel meeting was open and not a secret.
"In fact, the media knew very well that we went there openly. I can assure you that there were no conflicts of interest involved," she said.
The opposition Democrats, however, remain suspicious. Chavanond Intarakomalyasut yesterday said the meeting between Ms Yingluck and the businessmen might coincide with a decision by the Treasury Department to delay adjusting the appraisal price of land for another six months as well as to extend the deadline for the enforcement of city planning covering 12 cities for another year.
Adapted from a story in today’s Bangkok Post by Pradit Ruangdit and Manop Thip-Osod
property – land owned by someone ที่ดิน, อสังหาริมทรัพย์
participant – someone who takes part in something ผู้เข้าร่วม
matter – a situation or subject which is being dealt with or considered เรื่อง, ภารกิจ, งาน
sought (past tense of seek) – asked for something, or to tried to get something พยายามได้มา
side with – to support one side in a disagreement or competition เข้าข้าง, สนับสนุน
standard – a level of quality that is normal or acceptable for a particular person or in a particular situation มาตรฐาน, บรรทัดฐาน
duty – something that you have to do because it is part of your job, or something that you feel is the right thing to do หน้าที่, ความรับผิดชอบ
opinion – your feelings or thoughts about somebody/something, rather than a fact ความเห็น, ความคิดเห็น, ทัศนคติ
suggestion – an idea or a plan that you mention for somebody else to think about ข้อเสนอ, ข้อเสนอแนะ
official – done by people in authority or decided by the government; announced publicly เป็นทางการ
unofficial – not formally approved by anyone in authority ไม่เป็นทางการ
dismiss – to refuse to accept that something might be true or important ไม่สนใจ,แย้งกลับ
suggestion – the possibility that something is true, or evidence showing that something may be true ข้อชวนคิด
conflict of interest – a situation in which someone cannot make a fair decision because they will be affected by the results ผลประโยชน์ทับซ้อน
insist – to keep saying very firmly that something is true ยืนกราน ยืนยัน
media – newspapers, television, radio, etc. สื่อ
assure – to tell someone that something is true or will definitely happen ให้ความมั่นใจ, ยืนยัน
opposition – of a political party that is not part of the government ฝ่ายค้าน
suspicious – a feeling that someone or something cannot be trusted — มีความสงสัย, ด้วยความสงสัย, สงสัย, พิรุธ
coincide with – to happen at the same time as something else เกิดขึ้นพร้อมกับ
Treasury Department – the government department in charge of overseeing government possessions, appraisimg real estate (property), and overseeing money production กรมธนารักษ์
delay – to make something happen at a later time than originally planned or expected เลื่อน
adjust – to change something slightly, especially to make it more correct, effective, or suitable ปรับ
extend – to add more time ยืดออกไป
appraisal – a judgement of the value, performance or nature of somebody/something การประเมิน
enforcement – the process of making sure that something happens, especially that people obey a law or rule การบังคับใช้กฎหมาย
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