Uttama favourite to replace vexed Nitya

POST REPORTERS
Uttama Savanayana, assistant to Commerce Minister Somkid Jatusripitak, is leading the other two candidates to take over the top job as Thailand's chief negotiator with the US in the free trade agreement (FTA) talks. Mr Uttama, Suvit Meksincee, another aide to the commerce minister, and Thai Trade Representative Panpree Bhahitthanukorn were named by Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra yesterday as the team that will carry on the negotiations, after he confirmed in Roi Et's At Samat district that Nitya Pibulsonggram had stepped down as head of the Thai team.

One of the three will eventually be appointed the leader of the Thai team.

Sources close to the Thai-US FTA talks said Mr Uttama, 45, would be finally picked by Mr Somkid to take the lead because he was now the most trusted by the minister.

Mr Uttama has been told by the minister to be on the floor at a seminar on Tuesday to give business leaders an overview of the development of the FTA.

That could be a sign of his future role, one source said.

Mr Uttama was deputy dean of the National Institute of Development Administration's business administration faculty before entering the business world at Siam Commercial Bank, which was headed by Mr Somkid's elder brother.

Mr Panpree and Mr Suvit said yesterday that they were not aware of the decision by the prime minister to have the three carry out the mission left by Mr Nitya, the former Thai ambassador to the US and former foreign permanent secretary.

Mr Uttama pledged to follow government policies if appointed head of the negotiating team, but refused to provide details.

Mr Nitya reportedly wanted to resign, citing the pressures of the job, after last week's FTA talks in Chiang Mai. He was a target of protesters who burned his effigy during a rally against the agreement.

But sources said the former career diplomat was very frustrated because of the different style of working with Mr Somkid, the key cabinet figure in charge of talks with other countries on free trade agreements, including the one between Thailand and the US.

He once complained about the difficulty of finding Mr Somkid when he needed consultations, one source said.

Mr Thaksin said he finally allowed Mr Nitya to resign as head of the negotiating team after he explained that he was discouraged at being misunderstood and slandered by non-governmental organisations, but promised to support and advise the team. Mr Nitya could not be reached for comment.

Mr Thaskin believed the resignation would not affect the Thai-US FTA talks since Mr Uttama was already working closely with Mr Nitya and the negotiators were focusing on teamwork.

The next round of the FTA talks will be moved to the US. With Mr Uttama taking the lead, the country expects the talks with Washington to move forward more quickly, due to his full backing from politicians, sources said. ''The prime minister wants to focus on aggressive marketing-oriented talks rather than diplomatic talks, which can cause more delays and disadvantages,'' one source said.

Yesterday, the FTA Watch group issued a statement expressing regret over the resignation of Mr Nitya and demanded policy makers instead take responsibility

By Bangkok Post On 20 Jan 2006

  List of All    
  Print version