Romsit loses AMLO post for failure to expedite politically sensitive cases

By ATTAYUTH BOOTSRIPOOM 
THE NATION

 

POL MAJ-GENERAL Romsit Viriyasan

 

POL MAJ-GENERAL Romsit Viriyasan was abruptly removed from his top post at the Anti-Money Laundering Organisation (AMLO) largely because he failed to expedite a number of |long-delayed politically sensitive |cases, especially since the general election is looming, well-informed sources said.

 

Romsit was transferred to an inactive post on Tuesday, less than two months after taking over as secretary-general at AMLO. Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha issued his transfer order under the charter’s Article 44.

 

Prayut said yesterday that though Romsit had done nothing wrong, AMLO’s leadership had been changed to make the agency more efficient. 

 

Romsit worked under Pol General Chaiya Siriamphunkul, who is now chairman of the agency. Romsit’s abrupt removal followed the August 14 meeting of the National Council for Peace and Order (NCPO) chaired by Prayut and attended by deputy PM Prawit Wongsuwan, who had reportedly said there was a top-level discussion on AMLO’s leadership change.

 

In fact, Romsit had only been given the top position on June 29, so the change had come fast and was rather unusual. 

 

For NCPO, the top AMLO post is crucial, especially in view of the looming general election due some time next year. Hence, the AMLO secretary-general has to be someone who can take immediate action to speed up pending cases that are politically sensitive.

 

Romsit’s predecessor, Chaiya, had done a satisfactory job earlier and hence was promoted to the chairman’s post after retirement.

 

Chaiya’s deputy was supposed to run the agency under his watch. However, sources said Romsit had not expedited several pending cases, citing legal and other constraints, which prompted the premier to have him moved to an inactive post in the PM’s Office. 

 

Over the past two months, few key cases under AMLO’s jurisdiction have advanced, especially in relation to politically sensitive cases such as those related to Panthongtae Shinawatra, son of fugitive former premier Thaksin.

 

Panthongtae faces charges from the National Anti-Corruption Commission as well as AMLO related to his alleged wrongdoing in the state-owned Krung Thai Bank loan fraud case.

 

Sources said AMLO would also play a powerful oversight role in the upcoming general election regarding the flow of funds that are used by politicians during the elections. 

 

Even though Romsit was a trusted deputy of AMLO chairman Chaiya, who had personally chosen the former to succeed him as AMLO secretary-general, Romsit did not live up to the NCPO’s expectations. So, there will soon be a replacement as the Prayut government gets ready to hold general elections |next year. 

 

Source: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/detail/politics/30352240

 

-- © Copyright The Nation 2018-08-16

"...POL MAJ-GENERAL Romsit Viriyasan was abruptly removed from his top post at the Anti-Money Laundering Organisation (AMLO) largely because he failed to expedite a number of |long-delayed politically sensitive cases..."

 

The above may or may not be true; when you have an un-elected, un-transparent government, there is simply no way of knowing. The Junta is saying "trust us" and I don't believe their record justifies that trust.

 

"...Prayut said yesterday that though Romsit had done nothing wrong, AMLO’s leadership had been changed to make the agency more efficient. .."

 

Again, "trust me". And again, you have NOT earned trust like that.

 

"...For NCPO, the top AMLO post is crucial, especially in view of the looming general election due some time next year. Hence, the AMLO secretary-general has to be someone who can take immediate action to speed up pending cases that are politically sensitive..."

 

This is a sad situation; if the Junta can't trust someone they appointed themselves a short time ago, it tells me that they think he will not protect them from the law. Sad and disgusting.

 

"...Over the past two months, few key cases under AMLO’s jurisdiction have advanced, especially in relation to politically sensitive cases such as those related to Panthongtae Shinawatra, son of fugitive former premier Thaksin..."

 

There it is; he didn't attack the Junta's enemies' family. Puke. Hey generals! What would you do if someone attacked your families?

 

"...Sources said AMLO would also play a powerful oversight role in the upcoming general election regarding the flow of funds that are used by politicians during the elections. ..."

 

Again, there it is; they want to have someone to ensure they have the means of laying charges if the elections don't go as planned/rigged.

 

No wonder Thai people are so cynical of politics and politicians! This seems to be a case where the Junta is stacking the "independent" organizations with loyalists so that if they do not maintain power legitimately, they have the means (yet again!) to stop a legitimate government through the use of "Independent" agencies.

 

These manipulations make me want to go have a shower...

 

 

 

Edited August 15, 20187 yr by Samui Bodoh
Lack of coffee

Romsit was removed because he asked a disallowed question.

He asked little p why you very rich man.

3 hours ago, webfact said:

Romsit had done nothing wrong,

nothing wrong with doing nothing 

I do it all the time

There are no government organs that are free from political intrigue in Thailand.   Elections were the only mechanism, and that mechanism lay broken by the butt of a rifle.   The next election will have more in common with the Cambodian sham that recently took place than the one that took place in Malaysia.   They fired him over the petty feud with the Shinawatra.  

4 hours ago, webfact said:

Over the past two months, few key cases under AMLO’s jurisdiction have advanced, especially in relation to politically sensitive cases such as those related to Panthongtae Shinawatra, son of fugitive former premier Thaksin. 

 

6 hours ago, webfact said:

…less than two months after taking over as secretary-general at AMLO, he failed to expedite a number of long-delayed politically sensitive cases, especially since the general election is looming

2 month? tzzzzz. How about inactivate those geniuses tinkering on a free and fair but even more politically sensitive election for more than 4 years?

Edited August 16, 20187 yr by Lupatria

Prayut said yesterday that though Romsit had done nothing wrong, AMLO’s leadership had been changed to make the agency more efficient. 

 

In other words he was removed for doing nothing!!

They certainly didn’t give him enough time in the job to properly evaluate him. It is more likely that he went after some “sacred cows” which would be a big No No with the junta. 

7 hours ago, Samui Bodoh said:

"...POL MAJ-GENERAL Romsit Viriyasan was abruptly removed from his top post at the Anti-Money Laundering Organisation (AMLO) largely because he failed to expedite a number of |long-delayed politically sensitive cases..."

 

The above may or may not be true; when you have an un-elected, un-transparent government, there is simply no way of knowing. The Junta is saying "trust us" and I don't believe their record justifies that trust.

 

"...Prayut said yesterday that though Romsit had done nothing wrong, AMLO’s leadership had been changed to make the agency more efficient. .."

 

Again, "trust me". And again, you have NOT earned trust like that.

 

"...For NCPO, the top AMLO post is crucial, especially in view of the looming general election due some time next year. Hence, the AMLO secretary-general has to be someone who can take immediate action to speed up pending cases that are politically sensitive..."

 

This is a sad situation; if the Junta can't trust someone they appointed themselves a short time ago, it tells me that they think he will not protect them from the law. Sad and disgusting.

 

"...Over the past two months, few key cases under AMLO’s jurisdiction have advanced, especially in relation to politically sensitive cases such as those related to Panthongtae Shinawatra, son of fugitive former premier Thaksin..."

 

There it is; he didn't attack the Junta's enemies' family. Puke. Hey generals! What would you do if someone attacked your families?

 

"...Sources said AMLO would also play a powerful oversight role in the upcoming general election regarding the flow of funds that are used by politicians during the elections. ..."

 

Again, there it is; they want to have someone to ensure they have the means of laying charges if the elections don't go as planned/rigged.

 

No wonder Thai people are so cynical of politics and politicians! This seems to be a case where the Junta is stacking the "independent" organizations with loyalists so that if they do not maintain power legitimately, they have the means (yet again!) to stop a legitimate government through the use of "Independent" agencies.

 

These manipulations make me want to go have a shower...

 

Your excellent (as usual) post reminded me of a couple of quotes by the American historian Henry S.Commager.

 

:"The fact is that censorship always defeats its own purpose, for it creates, in the end, the kind of society that is incapable of exercising real discretion."

 

"Men in authority will always think that criticism of their policies is dangerous. They will always equate their policies with patriotism, and find criticism subversive.

Henry Steele Commager
 

 

 

 

 

 

"

 

8 hours ago, webfact said:

Romsit loses AMLO post for failure to expedite politically sensitive cases

"Politically sensitive cases" is used to describe those cases which are likely to embarrass PM Prayut during his election campaign.

They would have people believe that justice is what motivates this action but in reality it is the consequences for the Prime Minister it they don't clear the decks of troublesome matters of public and media interest prior to the the election run-up. Which only confirms what he said he would confirm in September; that he will be running as a candidate.

That fact that Romsit gives all the appearance of a slow thinking senior bureaucrat may not have helped his political career.

" said Romsit had not expedited several pending cases, citing legal and other constraints, which prompted the premier to have him moved to an inactive post in the PM’s Office"

 

Well a military junta wouldnt want "legal constraints" to interfere with their witch-hunt would they? 

So he did nothing wrong, other than doing nothing. Tick, tick, tick. The statute of limitations moves

quickly in Thailand. Delay, delay, delay. One of the ways the rich get off with their crimes. 

What about the dude in the NACC whose done nothing about the other politically sensitive case that the whole nation is, er,  *watching*?