Yukol, Yanyong tipped for top positions

       The Agriculture and Cooperatives and Commerce ministries will today table nominations for their new permanent secretaries for cabinet approval.
       Agriculture Minister Theera Wongsamut, of the Chart Thai Pattana Party,yesterday said the person to replace permanent secretary for agriculture Jaranthada Kanasuta would be a specialist in national agricultural affairs and international cooperation.
       Mr Jaranthada retires at the end of this month.
       Mr Theera said many of the Agriculture Ministry's C-10 officers were qualified for the post of permanent secretary, but he declined to say whom he had chosen.
       A ministry source said Livestock Development Department chief Yukol Limlaemthong, who is known to be close to Bhumjaithai de facto leader Newin Chidchob, would be nominated.
       Mr Yukol was one of Mr Newin's close aides when he was a deputy agriculture minister during the Thaksin administration.
       Yanyong Puangrach, the directorgeneral of the Internal Trade Department,was expected to be nominated for the Commerce Ministry's top position.
       Minister Porntiva Nakasai, of the Bhumjaithai Party, reportedly tabled Mr Yanyong's name at last week's cabinet meeting but the nomination was blocked by Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva.
       Political observers said Mr Abhisit might again oppose Mr Yanyong's nomination because he once argued with the prime minister at a cabinet meeting.
       Others said Mr Yanyong's nomination might be blocked because of the conflict between the Democrat and the Bhumjaithai parties over the nomination of the new national police chief.

PM's choice for police chief looks assured

       Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva has received a boost in getting his choice of the next police chief approved after a member of the Police Commission who earlier abstained from voting said he would now back Pol Gen Prateep Tunprasert.
       Noppadol Inna yesterday said he would support Mr Abhisit's nomination of Pol Gen Prateep on Monday when the commission meets again to vote on the appointment.
       Mr Noppadol, a specialist on the 11-man commission, said he had no problem with Mr Abhisit resubmitting Pol Gen Prateep's name.
       Mr Noppadol's backing for Pol Gen
       Prateep last week would have spared Mr Abhisit the humiliation of failing tosecure his choice for the top police job.
       The new police chief will succeed Pol Gen PatcharPrateep: Now likely awat Wongsuwon,to be police chief who retires at the end of next month.Pol Gen Wichean Potephosree, a police adviser, declined to comment on speculation the prime minister might reappoint him as the acting police chief if Pol Gen Patcharawat was transferred to assist in work at the PM's Office if he is found to have misused 18 million baht in state funds.
       The transfer of Pol Gen Patcharawat would allow Pol Gen Wichean to vote for the new police chief during the next meeting of the Police Commission on Monday.
       The prime minister appointed Pol Gen Wichean as acting police chief while Pol Gen Patcharawat was away in China and in the South earlier this month.
       Democrat MP for Chon Buri Pramual Iempia lashed out at Interior Minister Chavarat Charnvirakul yesterday over his rejection of Mr Abhisit's choice for the new police chief last week.
       Mr Chavarat, who is also on the Police Commission, is leader of the coalition Bhumjaithai Party.
       He said the rejection was inconsiderate on Mr Chavarat's part.
       Meanwhile, the Police Commission committee looking into claims of bribes for positions within the police force had sought an extension of its inquiry by another 15 days.
       Somsak Boonthong, who heads the seven-member committee, said more time was needed as many individuals were implicated.
       The panel yesterday invited regional police chiefs to testify before it.
       Deputy Prime Minister Suthep Thaugsuban yesterday insisted the Police Commission would not change Pol Gen Patcharawat's proposed reshuffle list for officers of the rank of deputy commander and below.

PM denies stalling Yanyong job

       Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva has denied meddling in the proposed appointment of a new commerce permanent secretary.
       The prime minister yesterday said the Commerce Ministry's proposal to name Yanyong Phuangrach, now director-general of the Internal Trade Department, for the ministry job was not tabled for cabinet consideration on Tuesday.
       He said the delay had nothing to do with the rice price intervention scheme or with a power play between himself and the Bhumjaithai Party over who controlled the Commerce Ministry.
       The Democrats and its coalition partner have locked horns over the crop subsidy programme and the appoint-ment of a new police chief to succeed outgoing Pol Gen Patcharawat Wongsuwon.
       It has been widely speculated Mr Yanyong's appointment had been put on hold by Mr Abhisit to make way for negotiations between the Democrats and Bhumjaithai over the nomination of the new police chief.
       Mr Abhisit's attempt to name Pol Gen Prateep Tunprasert the new police boss hit a snag last week when the Bhumjaithai Party rejected the nomination.
       Bhumjaithai was said to have backed Pol Gen Chumpol Manmai for the post.
       Deputy Commerce Minister Alongkorn Ponlaboot yesterday denied the delay in naming a permanent secretary had anything to do with police affairs.
       He said Mr Yanyong's appointment was expected to be submitted to the cabinet for consideration in two weeks.
       Commerce Minister Porntiva Nakasai yesterday said the ministry did not submit its nomination to the cabinet in time.
       She denied speculation about the link between Mr Yanyong's appointment and police matters.
       "The prime minister has not stepped into this. I have a free hand in picking a permanent secretary. There is no stalling," she said.
       Deputy Prime Minister Suthep Thaugsuban said Mr Yanyong's nomination had not been brought before the cabinet.
       Mr Suthep criticised the media for what he said was wild speculation.