7 replies to this topic

[B.I.G.]

"Police Chief Pol Gen Patcharawat Wongsuwan announced his resignation Wednesday, a few hours after the prime minister transferred him to an inactive post in the PM's Office. Patcharawat said he wanted to take a rest as he has only 21 days left before he reaches his mandatory retirement by the end of this month. He seemed to be in a good mood when he announced his resignation. He then left the Royal Thai police in his vehicle at 5:10 pm.

Earlier Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva transferred Patcharawat to an inactive post in the PM's Office Ministry on Wednesday.Abhisit told reporters that he already signed the transfer order.

The decision was made after meeting with Deputy Prime Minister Suthep Thaugsuban and PM's Secretary General Niphon Prompan, Abhisit said. Deputy Police Chief Pol Gen Thanee Somboonsap will become acting police chief.

The transfer came two days after after the National Anti-Corruption Commission found grounds to seek both criminal and disciplinary actions against Patcharawat for his involvement in the police's crackdown on protesters in front of Parliament on October 7 last year."

http://www.nationmultimedia.com/2009/09/09...cs_30111851.php

[LarryCA]

I am not as familiar with Thai politics as some posters on this board, but I wonder if PM Abhisit has won a battle but lost the war on this matter. It seems to me that this fire fight over the top cop job only made the divisions in the coalition government deeper. Is the job of police chief that powerful ?

[Hedda]

I don't think it's the power of the top job that's precipitated this struggle, as much as it's the power to control who gets all the other police jobs down the line. In that sense, the struggle to appoint the new chief is symbolic of a much larger struggle to see who can control the police as a political force and a responsive tool for crowd control and civil order. Given Thaksin's background as a former cop, he and his Red followers are perceived to have a lingering influence throughout the police force, an influence which PM Opposite is obviously trying to diminish.

It gets really complicated when you add the Thai army into the picture. Under the ISOC law passed by the junta's rump assembly in 2007, the army can become an instant substitute for the police in keeping law and order on the streets. All it takes is for the PM to invoke ISOC and the army's troops become instant policemen for crowd control. In effect, the PM can order up a coup of another color by invoking ISOC and putting the army in control of Bangkok's streets.

Needless to say, the police are not happy with that sort of arrangement, which effectively denies them a great deal of power to influence political events.

[Danny]

The latest news is that the PM is not sure he will accept the police chief's resgination ! What the heck is going on here ?

[Gene]

What the heck is going on here ?

I think this is what they call rubbing your opponent's face in it:

"The embattled national police chief submitted his request for leave of absence Thursday when it became clear that Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva would not approve his resignation any time soon.

Police General Patcharawat Wongsuwan also filed a lawsuit with the Criminal Court against the National AntiCorruption Commission (NACC) and its eight majority members who voted to indict him for criminal and disciplinary offences in relation to the police crackdown on antigovernment yellowshirt protesters last October 7."

http://www.nationmultimedia.com/breakingne...nce-as-a-way-ou

[Hedda]

I think this is what they call rubbing your opponent's face in it:

You are probably right and you have to wonder what Junior Opposite is thinking these days, as he appears to be rubbing salt into the wounds of a police chief who just so happens to the the brother of the Defense Minister.

You know things are not going well for Abhisit when the Nation starts to criticize, which it's been doing for the past week. No matter how you slice it, the way he has handled - or mauled- this police chief issue raises serious concerns about his competence to be PM. He seems to be deliberately and unnecessariy provoking the police by treating the police chief this way. One wonders if his sponsors in the Bangkok elite and their army retainers are reaching the same conclusion.

[B.I.G.]

you have to wonder what Junior Opposite is thinking these days, as he appears to be rubbing salt into the wounds of a police chief who just so happens to the the brother of the Defense Minister.

"Deputy Prime Minister Suthep Thaugsuban on Friday denied a report that the government would replace Gen Prawit Wongsuwon as defense minister with Gen Saprang Kalayanamit, a former deputy permanent secretary for defence.

He also denied that Bhumjaithai, a party in the coalition, had pressured the government to replace Deputy Interior Minister Thaworn Senneam and Deputy Commerce Minister Alongkorn Polabutr, both of the Democrat Party.

The report said the Democrat and Bhumjaithai parties were in deep conflict over the transfer of police chief Patcharawat Wongsuwon and the revival of the Alpine land saga."I have not heard anybody talk about a cabinet reshuffle. ''The coalition parties are still united," said Mr Suthep, adding that there was no such pressure from Bhumjaithai."

http://www.bangkokpost.com/breakingnews/15...efence-minister

[BORG]

This is getting almost comical:

"Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva said he has not yet scheduled a meeting of the Royal Thai Police board for approving the new police chief's nomination.

Speaking during his weekly TV programme, Abhisit said he was not certain whether he could convene the police board meeting before leaving for an overseas trip or not."