[Thailand] District chiefs key to winning the war on poverty, says PM

From the Bangkok Post

POST REPORTERS

Roi Et _ Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra let the local district chief gain some hands-on experience yesterday, the third day of his anti-poverty workshop in At Samat district. Assuming the role of trainer, Mr Thaksin watched At Samat district chief Somkiat Ratanamethathorn field problems from eight villagers, and then coached him on how to tackle them.

Mr Somkiat looked nervous, possibly because he knew he was live on TV and being scrutinised by the prime minister.

Earlier, Mr Thaksin said in an interview on Channel 11 that district chiefs were the key to eradicating poverty.

''The district chiefs are responsible. They live, eat and sleep here. They have files [of people living in poverty], like medical files of sick patients. They should diagnose the diseases and give the prescriptions [to end poverty],'' he said.

Mr Thaksin said district chiefs need to do more to help people make money.

''If all 1,000 districts do this, we'll see a major movement in the economy. The government will have to find markets for them,'' he said.

Mr Thaksin sounded offended when asked to comment on criticism he was not doing his job.

''I'm a man who does what he says. I want to send a message that if the prime minister can do it, then who are you to refuse to do this job?'' he said.

Protesters trying to oust him from his job also failed to worry him, as he was elected by a majority of the people.

Diplomatic corps members will vist the poverty workshop tomorrow, said Prommin Lertsuridej, the prime minister's secretary-general.

The Foreign Ministry is arranging the visits to At Samat, said Mr Prommin. A source said that French diplomats were interested in attending.

Democrat leader Abhisit Vejjajiva, meanwhile, said the prime minister's approach could not be used across the board and was likely to create problems.

''I wonder what will happen if people in power don't come down here in the future. Would local authorities then do the job?'' he said. Mr Thaksin was manipulating the media for political gain.

''Even his supporters criticise it [the reality show], so he may need to examine if manipulation of the media will really dupe people into believing that their problems are solved,'' he said.