By The Nation
Published on August 8, 2009

Generals already endorsed
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The Police Commission resolved yesterday to go ahead with the appointment of 152 police generals it endorsed last month. Their appointments had been suspended by the prime minister amidst rumours of bribes for positions.

The commission convened for a meeting that was chaired by Deputy Prime Minister Suthep Thaugsuban. The meeting at the Royal Thai Police headquarters lasted longer than two hours.

The meeting agreed to have the royal decree on the new structure of the Royal Thai Police be announced in the Royal Gazette on August 15, with the new structure becoming effective from the following day, as had been planned earlier, Royal Thai Police spokesman Lt-General Watcharapol Prasanrajakit said.

The commission, following a discussion on certain legal issues, also resolved not to make any changes to the list of 152 police generals to be appointed in the annual personnel transfer, according to the spokesman. The list was endorsed by the commission on July 3.

It was agreed yesterday that the list should be submitted for royal endorsement as soon as the royal decree on the new structure of the police force becomes effective, the spokesman said.

He said the last major issue discussed by the commission members yesterday involved appointment of deputy national police chiefs.

"The authority of appointing deputy national police chiefs belongs to the police chief. If General Patcharawat Wongsuwan, the national police chief, resumes his work after a leave of absence, it is he who is going to do it. If he is absent, the caretaker police chief will do it. The appointment must be done by August 16," the spokesman said.

Patcharawat is on a long leave of absence at the suggestion of Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva, who appointed General Vichien Pojphosri as the caretaker police chief.

Watcharapol said that yesterday's meeting of the Police Commission did not discuss the complaint by the most senior deputy police chief, General Priewphan Damapong, that the recent appointment of the caretaker police chief did not take the merit of seniority into account. However, Watcharapol said that as a deputy police chief in charge of human resources, he had assigned relevant officials to look into legal details about the complaint.

Before chairing yesterday's meeting, Suthep responded to Priewphan's claim that one reason he failed to be appointed could be because he is related to ex-premier Thaksin Shinawatra, who is considered a rival of the ruling Democrat Party. Priewphan is a brother of Thaksin's former wife, Pojaman .

"The law does not state that any relative of Thaksin cannot become national police chief. And the law also does not require that only a relative of Thaksin can be appointed the police chief," Suthep said.

The police spokesman said yesterday that a commission meeting to select a new national chief has not been scheduled, adding that the date would depend on the prime minister, who is the commission chairman ex-officio.

The spokesman said yesterday's meeting also expressed concern about the allegations of bribery in exchange for police positions. It was agreed that immediate action should be taken if evidence was found confirming the allegation.