Police have celebrated the National Police Day this year without their most senior officers due to continued government delays in appointing senior commanders.
Officers in all provinces conducted ceremonies yesterday to mark the day without any provincial police chiefs present to commemorate the event, observers said.
The government has not yet appointed provincial police chiefs because of struggles within the ruling coalition.The annual appointments are normally completed before the end of the fiscal year, Sept 30, when civil servants including police officers who have reached 60 years usually retire.
Deputy Prime Minister Suthep Thaugsuban, who is responsible for national security, said the Police Commission would meet this Friday to discuss appointing local police chiefs. The list of appointments had been prepared and should be approved at the meeting, he said.
But Mr Suthep did not say when the appointment process would be finalised and refused comment on the cause of the delays.
The appointment of a replacement for former national police chief Patchar-awat Wongsuwon, who retired two weeks ago, has proved a serious obstacle.
Traffic police said they marked Police Day yesterday by avoiding issuing tickets and handing out fines to drivers who violated traffic laws, opting instead to give verbal warnings.
Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva asked officers in his national address to cooperate with government efforts to find a solution to the economic, political and administrative challenges facing the country. He also promised to give his full support to the police.
Mr Abhisit reminded officers to use peaceful means to solve conflicts, promote national reconciliation and protect the royal institution.
Convicted former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra yesterday used Twitter to criticise the delayed police reshuffle.
The retired police lieutenant-colonel said he had not seen police morale at such a low ebb for many years. Thaksin offered the police his moral support and made a wish to help them overcome the continuing economic and political crises.
Mr Suthep, meanwhile, sidestepped the question of when the government would appoint a new national police chief to replace Pol Gen Patcharawat.
He said he could not comment as the decision rested with the Royal Thai Police Board which was chaired by the prime minister.
Mr Suthep refused to comment on speculation that the new national police chief has already been decided.
Former PM's secretary-general Niphon Phromphan was reported to have told guests at a recent party at Mr Suthep's Surat Thani home that the prime minister had accepted a "special signal" over who should be appointed the next chief.
Mr Niphon and Mr Suthep were said to have backed the Bhumjaithai Party's nomination of deputy police chief Chumpol Manmai for the post, but Mr Abhisit has supported acting national police chief Pateep Tanprasert.
Mr Abhisit nominated Pol Gen Pateep at the two past board meetings only to have his choice rejected.
Mr Niphon recently resigned from his post as PM's secretary-general.
Tuesday, October 13, 2009
Thursday, October 8, 2009
TOP LEADERS AT DAGGERS DRAWN
Cracks appear to have widened within the Democrat Party. Recently, the Democrats held an internal meeting to sort out their own grievances. The longer they stay in power, the deeper divisions they face among their hierarchy.
Many Democrat MPs are now defecting to the camp of Banyat Bantadtan, an adviser to the party, pitting him against Suthep Thaugsuban, the secretary-general. Chuan Leekpai, head of the advisory committee of the party, is trying to juggle the power within the party.
Banyat and Suthep still have some old scores to settle. Suthep backed Abhisit Vejjajiva when Abhisit challenged Banyat for the leadership of the Democrat Party.
Many Democrats now feel that Suthep will take matters in his own hands and put his own interest above that of the party. At the same time, Abhisit is working too closely with Suthep.
Political sources said that in the internal meeting Suthep did not pull his punches, knowing that many knives were out for him. "Had it not been for me, you people would not have come this far," he was quoted as saying. Suthep would like the Democrats to shower him with gratitude rather than with contempt.
To which Banyat retorted promptly that "without you, we would have been much better off today."
This clash signalled a fresh round in the battle for power within the Democrat Party, which is facing even more complications arising from the resignation of Niphon Promphan, the secretary-general to the prime minister. Niphon decided to bow out after his failure to lobby for General Jumpol Manmai to become the next police chief. Niphon had played out his cards and had to assume responsibility. Jumpol has lost out to General Patheep Tanprasert, who has managed to serve as acting police chief in a political compromise.
This episode has hurt enormously the credibility of Abhisit, who engaged in a see-saw battle against Police Chief Patcharawat Wongssuwan for a whole month before the chief be edged out.
With Niphon's departure, Abhisit has indicated he will mount a minor reshuffle of the Cabinet. But will it be a minor or a major reshuffle?
Korbsak Sabhavasu, the deputy prime minister, will be moved out of his job and replace Niphon as secretary-general to the prime minister. Korbsak is the real economic czar, now overseeing the economic management policy of the Abhisit government. He has the trust of Abhisit. Korn Chatikavanij, the finance minister, is no match to Korbsak's experience and depth.
Korbsak is reluctant to face a change in his role as economic czar at this juncture but will have to take up the new assignment for the sake of the party. Trairong Suwannakhiri, the Democrat veteran, will succeed Korbsak as deputy prime minister. Trairong has received full backing from Chuan.
Political sources said the could be a reshuffle at the Foreign Ministry. They said One-art Khlamphaiboon, who is quite a capable Democrat, could replace Kasit Piromya as foreign minister in this round of Cabinet reshuffle.
October is a bad month for Thai politics as it is a convenient time to rock the boat. General Sonthi Boonyaratglin, the 2007 coup leader, is making his presence felt in the political scene, while General Chavalit Yongchaiyudh has agreed to head the Pheu Thai Party. The Bhum Jai Thai Party has taken an order from the red shirt political clique to launch an amendment to the constitution.
Abhisit is trying to hang tough in his office as the political environment deteriorates into quicksand. Between now and the end of the year, a snap election could be called at any time.
Many Democrat MPs are now defecting to the camp of Banyat Bantadtan, an adviser to the party, pitting him against Suthep Thaugsuban, the secretary-general. Chuan Leekpai, head of the advisory committee of the party, is trying to juggle the power within the party.
Banyat and Suthep still have some old scores to settle. Suthep backed Abhisit Vejjajiva when Abhisit challenged Banyat for the leadership of the Democrat Party.
Many Democrats now feel that Suthep will take matters in his own hands and put his own interest above that of the party. At the same time, Abhisit is working too closely with Suthep.
Political sources said that in the internal meeting Suthep did not pull his punches, knowing that many knives were out for him. "Had it not been for me, you people would not have come this far," he was quoted as saying. Suthep would like the Democrats to shower him with gratitude rather than with contempt.
To which Banyat retorted promptly that "without you, we would have been much better off today."
This clash signalled a fresh round in the battle for power within the Democrat Party, which is facing even more complications arising from the resignation of Niphon Promphan, the secretary-general to the prime minister. Niphon decided to bow out after his failure to lobby for General Jumpol Manmai to become the next police chief. Niphon had played out his cards and had to assume responsibility. Jumpol has lost out to General Patheep Tanprasert, who has managed to serve as acting police chief in a political compromise.
This episode has hurt enormously the credibility of Abhisit, who engaged in a see-saw battle against Police Chief Patcharawat Wongssuwan for a whole month before the chief be edged out.
With Niphon's departure, Abhisit has indicated he will mount a minor reshuffle of the Cabinet. But will it be a minor or a major reshuffle?
Korbsak Sabhavasu, the deputy prime minister, will be moved out of his job and replace Niphon as secretary-general to the prime minister. Korbsak is the real economic czar, now overseeing the economic management policy of the Abhisit government. He has the trust of Abhisit. Korn Chatikavanij, the finance minister, is no match to Korbsak's experience and depth.
Korbsak is reluctant to face a change in his role as economic czar at this juncture but will have to take up the new assignment for the sake of the party. Trairong Suwannakhiri, the Democrat veteran, will succeed Korbsak as deputy prime minister. Trairong has received full backing from Chuan.
Political sources said the could be a reshuffle at the Foreign Ministry. They said One-art Khlamphaiboon, who is quite a capable Democrat, could replace Kasit Piromya as foreign minister in this round of Cabinet reshuffle.
October is a bad month for Thai politics as it is a convenient time to rock the boat. General Sonthi Boonyaratglin, the 2007 coup leader, is making his presence felt in the political scene, while General Chavalit Yongchaiyudh has agreed to head the Pheu Thai Party. The Bhum Jai Thai Party has taken an order from the red shirt political clique to launch an amendment to the constitution.
Abhisit is trying to hang tough in his office as the political environment deteriorates into quicksand. Between now and the end of the year, a snap election could be called at any time.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)