Soon-to-be minister on US blacklist

[FarangFarang]

Soon-to-be minister on US blacklist

A woman expected to be appointed to the Yingluck cabinet, Nalinee Taveesin, is one of the four people blacklisted by the United States government for helping Zimbabwe President Robert Mugabe's corrupt government, according to a report posted on a South African news website. (Photo by Anusorn Sakseree)

Thai businesswoman Nalinee Taveesin

The report was posted by the Mail & Guardian Online on Nov 26, 2008. http://mg.co.za/article/2008-11-26-us-treasury-blacklists-four-mugabe-cronies

The report said the US Treasury Department's Office of Foreign Assets Control issued a statement accusing Ms Nalinee, along with two businessmen and a physician, of helping the "corrupt government" of Zimbabwe's President Robert Mugabe.

Washington blacklisted President Mugabe's four allies in an attempt to raise pressure on the country's "undemocratic" leadership, the report said.

According to the statement, Ms Nalinee, a Thai Trade Representative, was involved in business deals on behalf of President Mugabe and his wife Grace.

The other three blacklisted people are Zimbabwean businessmen John Bredenkamp, Muller Conrad "Billy" Rautenbach and Malaysian urologist Mahmood Awang Kechik.

"US assets controlled by the four are liable to be seized and US citizens are banned from doing business with them," the report said.

Cabinet secretary-general Ampon Kitti-ampon said he was not aware that Ms Nalinee is on the blacklist of the US government.

"However Ms Nalinee's qualifications do not violate the Thai constitution.

"But we'll see whether being blacklisted will cause any problems that can lead to a breach of the law," Mr Ampon said.

http://www.bangkokpost.com/news/local/275710/soon-to-be-minister-on-us-blacklist

[koolbreez]

As long as she has absolutely no dealings with USA people, including anyone American at the embassy, or American businessmen, she is OK, but if she does then they are criminally liable for violating the statutes.

It is now public knowledge so no one can profess ignorance...lolol.

[FarangFarang]

This is funny on so many levels. It's almost like these are plus marks on her CV for a job in the Thai government.

[English_Bob]

I once started a list of people linked to Thaksin and the UDD lovers...

Thaksin - Than Shwe, Hun Sen, Mugabe (now), Seh Daeng, Arisman, Jatuporn, Nattawut, Chalerm, Chalerm's murderous sons, Karun (the dyke destroying, woman beater), arsonists, murderers, thieves, taxi drivers, motocy riders, farmers, hookers and a couple of Ubon Farangs.

Choose your friends wisely.

[pandorea]

Even the PM herself, her name is still on the list in the court for corruption along with her big brother. As we say it in my family.."ถุย!"

[FarangFarang]

PM defends Nalinee posting

Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra has defended her decision to appoint Nalinee Taveesin, who is on a United States blacklist, as a PM's Office Minister.

Ms Yingluck said the appointment of Ms Nalinee would not affect the government.

"We checked Ms Nalinee's background and she passed. Her appointment also meets all requirements under the constitution," she said.

The US Department of Treasury in 2008 blacklisted Ms Nalinee for being involved in several financial, real estate and gem transactions on behalf of Grace Mugabe, the wife of Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe.

The US imposed sanctions on Mr Mugabe and people in his close circle in 2002 for human rights abuses, political violence and partisan prosecutions. Mrs Nalinee on Wednesday denied she had any business with the Zimbabwean president and his wife.

The Isra News Agency said Mrs Nalinee holds a four per cent stake in 25 companies doing business relating to books, CD-ROMs, videotapes, tour guide services, flight and hotel reservations, consumer products, farm products, clothes, cleaning, computers, internet services, telecommunications, spas and property.

Mrs Nalinee is an authorised director of eight of the companies while Kriengsak Charoenwongsak, former list MP of the Democrat Party, is the major shareholder of 19 of them.

Mr Kriengsak said Mrs Nalinee worked for him 10 years ago when he was Zimbabwe's honorary consul-general in Thailand and he had introduced her to the Zimbabwean president.

He said when the president's wife visited Thailand, Mrs Nalinee accompanied her and took her shopping.

Opposition and Democrat Party leader Abhisit Vejjajiva said a blacklist could still affect Mrs Nalinee's job, depending on the work assigned to her.

Ms Yingluck, meanwhile, insisted Pheu Thai list MP and red-shirt leader Natthawut Saikua is qualified for the position of deputy agriculture minister. He has knowledge of agriculture issues, she said.

http://www.bangkokpost.com/news/local/275917/pm-defends-nalinee-posting

[FarangFarang]

Nalinee refuses to budge

Nalinee Taveesin said on Sunday she will not resign as a Prime Minister's Office minister despite intense pressure, particularly from the Democrat Party, as her name on a United States blacklist was a misunderstanding.

Ms Nalinee said in a press conference on Sunday afternoon she would proceed with taking up the post and would not resign.

She said the US Senate had confirmed that she had not been banned from entering the US and that Washington had only prohibited its citizens from entering into personal financial transactions with her.

She claimed she had not been put on a US blacklist as reported.

Ms Nalinee said she had submitted a petition against the US decision more than three years ago, but had so far received no reply.

On her relations with Zimbabwe's President Robert Mugabe, Ms Nalinee denied having any business transactions with him but admitted they were good friends.

She vowed to apply her knowledge and ability to work for the country and denied having discussed the issue with Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra.

Ms Nalinee and other newly-appointed ministers are scheduled to have an audience with His Majesty the King for a swearing-in ceremony on Monday.

Earlier on Sunday, the Democrat Party called for the government to reconsider the appointment of Ms Nalinee as Prime Minister's Office minister.

Party spokesman Chavanond Intarakomalyasut said her appointment was inappropriate as being placed on a US blacklist could scare away investors who wish to do business in Thailand.

"The party wonders why former prime minister Thaksin and Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra insist in appointing Ms Nalinee to the post despite the fact that she has been blacklisted by the US.

"Since she is a person with whom the US prohibits its citizens from having any financial transactions, an immediate effect will be seen among businessmen who will hesitate to invest in Thailand," he said.

Mr Chavanond said the Democrats had obtained information on Thaksin's investment plans in South African countries from a news agency which reported it on Jan 20.

The news agency said Thaksin had planned to take over an ore mining company in an African country.

The appointment of Ms Nalinee as PM's Office minister might be linked to Thaksin's investment plans because she was a mining expert and enjoyed good relations with some African leaders, Mr Chavanont said.

He called for the government to reconsider Ms Nalinee's appointment before the swearing-in ceremony of the new ministers on Monday

http://www.bangkokpost.com/news/politics/276300/nalinee-refuses-to-budge

I will be conducting classes for Thai journalists. The first class will be title, "How to Spot Bullshit 101"

Lesson 1:

She claimed she had not been put on a US blacklist as reported.

She said the US Senate had confirmed that she had not been banned from entering the US and that Washington had only prohibited its citizens from entering into personal financial transactions with her.

If you go to dictionary.com and look up the word "blacklist" the first definition is:

a list of persons under suspicion, disfavor, censure, etc.: His record as an anarchist put him on the government's blacklist.

It would appear to be obvious that being on a list of people that US citizens are prohibited from entering into personal financial transactions with is a blacklist if we use the standard definition of the word blacklist. The word has nothing to do with the person's ability to travel. It is a word used to describe a list which contains people, places, or things that are restricted in some way.