YINGLUCK PLEDGES NO REVENGE, NO SPECIAL TREATMENT

BANGKOK, Aug 9 (Bernama) -– Yingluck Shinawatra in her first national
address after receiving a royal command as the country's 28th prime minister,
today pledged her administration would not work towards seeking revenge.

Thailand's first female prime minister said taking revenge would only create
more complications and hinder efforts in moving the country forward.

She also ensured that her administration would not grant preferential
treatment to any particular group.

"Instead, with the fullest of my ability and endeavor, I intend to work
towards national reconciliation, end any current sufferings, bring the smiles
back to the faces of the Thais, and prosperity to our country," she said.

Yingluck, from the Pheu Thai party which won the July 3 general election, on
Friday was voted in unnopposed as prime minister by Thailand's Parliament.


She received the royal command from Parliament Secretary-General Pitoon
Phumhiran at the Pheu Thai headquarters, here.

Yingluck said she was privileged to be in a position where she could give
something back to her country and the people.

"For this reason, I ensure that I will not grant preferential treatment to
any particular group," she said.

Yingluck, 44, is the youngest sister of Thaksin whose six years of
premiership ended prematurely as he was ousted in a bloodless coup on Sept 19,
2006.

Thaksin now lives in self-exile since fleeing Thailand in 2008 after being
charged with corruption over his wife's purchase of land in Bangkok and was
later found guilty in absentia and sentenced to two years in prison.



In 2010, the Thai Supreme Court ordered the confiscation of 46 billion Baht
(about RM4.6 billion) of his assets on the grounds of policy corruption during
his premiership from 2001 to 2006.

Yingluck emphasized that her goal was to works towards national
reconciliation and solve the problems of the Thai people and not towards seeking
revenge.

She recognized that as a female prime minister in the current situation was
a challenge met with great expectations from the people.

"I am ready to rise to these expectations and I am certain that my gender
will not act as an obstacle," she said.

On the other hand, she intended to apply the unique characteristics of being
a woman in approaching the country's problems and issues.



She was confident that through the combination of gentleness, strength and
the willingness to listen to other's views, problems could be solved in a
more constructive manner.

Yingluck, who was the former president of SC Asset Corporation, a property
development company before joining the election, said she intended to utilise
her experiences, management and problem solving skills in her new undertaking.

She also urged all sectors of Thai society to unite as they pushed for
change to enhance Thailand's prosperity, to be accepted by the international
community and to lift Thai citizens' standard of living.