Gen Preecha feels the heat

"Nepotism", giving unfair advantages to your own family, is the word of the day regarding the appointment of Gen Preecha Chan-o-cha's son to an army position. The Bangkok Post's Veera Prateepchaikul explain why it fits.

It is looking more and more like the appointment of Gen Preecha Chan-o-cha to an army position was a mistake. In his commentary yesterday, the Bangkok Post's Veera Prateepchaikul explains why. Below is an excerpt. You can read it in full here: http://www.bangkokpost.com/opinion/opinion/939201/common-practice-maybe-but-its-still-nepotism

Common practice, maybe, but it's still nepotism

Veera Prateepchaikul

It's a classic case of shooting yourself in the foot and is currently the talk of the town on social media – how Gen Preecha Chan-o-cha gave his civilian son a job as an army officer, working for the 3rd Army Region.

It's doubtful critics would have bothered much at all with the appointment of Gen Preecha’s son had the army been a private company and the general the chairman – even if his son was made CEO.

But the truth is the army is not a private company but an arm of the state, funded by taxpayers through the government budget.

It's also true several generals seem to have mistakenly believed the army is their private domain and off-limits to everyone else.  Remember the signs “Army Territory, No Entry” that used to greet outsiders at most military barracks?

It is through this misperception that several sons, sons-in-law and other relatives of the military top brass have been recruited into non-combat military service, as in the case of Gen Preecha’s son.
 
To the critics and those who do not have the same privilege of sending their unemployed sons into military service, or who don’t have the right connections, the practice Gen Prawit (Wongsuwan) described as perfectly normal is called nepotism.

Nepotism has been widely practiced in most state enterprises too.  Ever wonder why there has never been an advertisement for applicants to fill job vacancies at Thailand Tobacco Monopoly, the Government Lottery Office or the waterworks authorities? The truth is that all the vacancies available were quickly filled by relatives of those already working there. That also explains why these organisations are left behind and cannot compete with the private sector.

Honestly, I have sympathy for the young man, Gen Preecha’s son, for being caught in the middle of the controversy through no fault of his own.  He should know that his career path in army service is limited because he did not graduate from the military academy and does not belong to a class at the academy.

Gen Preecha shot himself in the foot through his own misjudgement.   However, the damage is not confined to him, but has inevitably affected the National Council for Peace and Order because of the general’s close connection with the junta.

สามารถฝึกอ่านออกเสียงและดูคำแปลได้ที่ : http://www.bangkokpost.com/learning/learning-from-news/940461/common-practice-maybe-but-its-still-nepotism