It seems to have been a somewhat difficult meeting.  The new Minister of Finance, Dr Surapong Suebwonglee, and his two deputies, Pradit Pattaraprasit and Second Lieutenant Ranongrak Suwanchawee, recently held their first meeting with the Permanent Secretary and other high-ranking officials of the Ministry.   

Prachatai has come into possession of a tape which purports to have been recorded at this meeting.  The fact that such meetings are normally held in camera, together with the poor sound quality on the tape, seems to indicate that the recording was made surreptitiously, if indeed it is authentic at all. 

Prachatai can recall no tape of any similar meeting.  These initial ministry meetings are normally so formal and predictable that it is difficult to guess the motives of any person wanting either to tape the meeting, or to leak its contents.   

However, in line with its policy of promoting transparency in government, Prachatai has had transcribed and translated such parts of the tape as are decipherable and presents them to our readers.  The speakers have been identified where possible.   

     *     *     *     *     *     *     *     *     *     *     *     *     *     *     *     *     *     * 

Minister Surapong:  [unintelligible] Deputy Permanent Secretaries, Directors-General, and Inspectors-General.  I am sure we look forward to relying on your unrivalled experience and expertise. 

Permanent Secretary:  The Minister is most kind to say so.  Let me respond, on behalf of the Ministry's officials, that we too look forward to working for a Ministerial team with such, er, novel qualifications. 

Minister Surapong:  Yes, well, the first order of business is to decide on the specific responsibilities of the Deputy Ministers and myself.  I understand that it is customary to divide these on the basis of Departments and ... 

Perm Sec:  With all due respect, Minister, but it is normal at this time for the Ministerial advisors to be present and assist in this matter.  Will your team's advisors be joining the meeting? 

Minister Surapong:  Erm, yes, well, there have been a few hiccups in that direction.  Questions of conflict of interest and so on.  The PM is working on the issue and we hope to have a ministerial advisory team in place very soon. 

[The recording is obscured by the sound of coughing, masking the identity of the next speaker.] 

... not bloody having either of his other two sons.   

Minister Surapong:  Er, moving on.  I will of course take responsibility for the Office of the Permanent Secretary. 

Perm Sec:  As the Minister wishes. 

Minister Surapong:  Good.  Now, what else have we got?  The Fiscal Policy Office.   

Deputy Minister Ranongrak:  Oh, fancy that!  I never knew that was part of the Ministry's work.  Shall I take that? 

Minister Surapong:  You think you have the qualifications? 

Dep Min Ranongrak:  Oh yes.  I did a course in PT years ago.  But you must have had training in this as well, Minister, being a doctor and all that.   

[There is the sound of confused mutterings.] 

Perm Sec:  I'm afraid the Deputy Minister has the advantage of us here.  What is PT? 

Minister Surapong:  Er, I'm afraid there is a misunderstanding.  This is Fiscal Policy.  It's nothing to do with Physical Therapy.  Perhaps we could set this matter aside for the moment and ... 

[The tape here picks up two or more conversations going on at the same time.  Among the fragments that Prachatai has been able to make out are: ‘told Suchart I wanted Public Health'  ‘at least I didn't set fire to the bloody joss sticks', ‘so humiliated.  Just wait till I tell my husband to tell Samak' and ‘As if he'll listen'.] 

Minister Surapong:  ... outline of the new government's financial policies ...' 

Dep Min Pradit:  Yes, I've got the list from Ruam Jai Thai Chart Pattana Party.  Suwat says we want lower taxes for businesses, get rid of that 30% reserve requirement, ... 

Dep Min Ranongrak:  Just a minute.  That's not the same as the list I got from the Puea Pandin Party, ... 

[The conversation descends into confused squabbling, interrupted by a mobile phone ring tone playing ‘I Did It My Way'.] 

Minister Surapong:  Yes? ... Yes, sir. ... Of course, sir. ... Yes, I've got that. ... OK, goodbye, sir.  OK, now that call was from Hong Kong.  The government's financial policy will be as follows, ....'