Porntip fires new salvo at senior police

Forensic work in far South obstructed

BANGKOK: -- Khunying Porntip Rojanasunan yesterday claimed the work of the Institute of Forensic Science in the deep South had been obstructed by some senior police officers.

Khunying Porntip, who is the institute's deputy chief, also said the southern unrest stemmed largely from state injustice, and that security problems in the region remained unsolved because of local people's distrust of state officials.

The government had failed to bring the situation there under control despite the formation of the Southern Border Provinces Peace-building Command (SBPPC), while the Justice Ministry's work to help find suspects did not have the cooperation of high-ranking police officers.

''I tried to petition Prime Minister Thaksin [shinawatra] last year through his close aides when the problems occurred, but they told me to contact Pol Gen Priewphan Damapong instead,'' said Khunying Porntip. Pol Gen Priewphan is a deputy national police chief and Mr Thaksin's brother-in-law.

''A senior ministry official then made an appointment for our meeting _ which has always been delayed. And no one has called me back until now,'' she added.

According to Khunying Porntip, she continued her work in the deep South for another month. She received good cooperation from the Fourth Army but she also encountered many problems. She asked for help from the prime minister but but had a chance to talk to Mr Thaksin for only five minutes.

The government later set up the SBPPBC without gathering enough opinion from all concerned. This further complicated the problems in the deep South.

''Senior police officers sent to work there obstructed the work of the Institute of Forensic Science in every way by feeding other officers with false information that DNA test results were useless in judicial procedures, thus causing confusion.

''They also issued letters threatening to punish any officers who sent evidence to the institute for examination, citing regulations on evidence transfer in order to hamper Justice Ministry's work,'' said Khunying Porntip.

Her institute had conducted DNA tests in order to identify the killers of Rapin Ruankaew, a Pattani-based judge who was shot dead by three gunmen on Sept 17. The institute collected DNA samples from a motorcyclist's crash helmet but the police did not allow a DNA matching test on a prime suspect. By moving the motorcycle, which was a piece of evidence, the police had also caused the evidence to become contaminated, she said. The police later arrested a student activist as a prime suspect in the judge's murder.

Khunying Porntip said the results of the institute's DNA tests could give the police more evidence to nail some southern unrest suspects. However, the Royal Thai Police Office gave an order on April 20 barring its officers from handing over evidence to the institute and the military.

Her talks with Muslim leaders in the deep South in the past two months revealed that the locals had no faith in the judicial system. Many hated both police and soldiers and believed the officers themselves were behind the unrest in the region.

''Thailand is going to collapse. We are trying to tell the government but its leader never hears us. Now, the [southern] people hate and fear [state officialse]. They told us that some abducted people had been thrown out of helicopters,'' she said.

--Bangkok Post 2005-06-15

I have a lot of respect for Khunying Porntip Rojanasunan and what she stands for but think she need to keep her back well protected. Ruffling the feathers of some of these ego maniacs could result in the good lady being permanently removed if she creates too many waves . It would seem that nobody is safe from "those" in the position of power (read corrupt power) who only consider themselves and couldn't give a rat's arse for anybody else.

go for it, Khunying Porntip

The Khunying does have Palace patronage

She is a star, shame about the rest of them tho

The Khunying does have Palace patronage

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Is there a web site were one could go and learn more about her? She seems to have more backbone then any one involed in the unrest.

very refreshing i hope she catches the general publics backing, with a high profile in the general public eye that would keep her a little safer one would think.

good girl

Seconded

Khunying Porntip, who is the institute's deputy chief, also said the southern unrest stemmed largely from state injustice, and that security problems in the region remained unsolved because of local people's distrust of state officials.

It's strange we never hear a word from the actual chief of the institute. No doubt a career bureaucrat. It reminds me of when Sukhumvit Road first changed to a one-way system, which few people thought would work - the whole plan was drawn up and promoted by the deputy chief of the traffic police. All the chief ever said was, "It's his idea!"

Khunying Porntip, who is the institute's deputy chief, also said the southern unrest stemmed largely from state injustice, and that security problems in the region remained unsolved because of local people's distrust of state officials.

It's strange we never hear a word from the actual chief of the institute. No doubt a career bureaucrat. It reminds me of when Sukhumvit Road first changed to a one-way system, which few people thought would work - the whole plan was drawn up and promoted by the deputy chief of the traffic police. All the chief ever said was, "It's his idea!"

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I think that tradidtionally the chief (in every department)is actually retired....but stays on so that if any of his friends need a favor he can pull strings and get things arranged....also receiving full pay.....

She is one BRAVE woman ! Hope that she can get all the supports she needs....but then again, all those around her are trying to tone her down!

She is a star, shame about the rest of them tho

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Absolutely...Suggest maybe ThaiVisas.."Lady of the YEAR"

I have a lot of respect for Khunying Porntip Rojanasunan and what she stands for but think she need to keep her back well protected. Ruffling the feathers of some of these ego maniacs could result in the good lady being permanently removed if she creates too many waves . It would seem that nobody is safe from "those" in the position of power (read corrupt power) who only consider themselves and couldn't give a rat's arse for anybody else.

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For a person with so much exposure, keeping quiet on such matters would be the worst thing to do. She speaks what she thinks and what she thinks is usually spot on. It's sad to see these people trying to get her share of the spotlight. Send them back to directing traffic.

For a person with so much exposure, keeping quiet on such matters would be the worst thing to do. She speaks what she thinks and what she thinks is usually spot on. It's sad to see these people trying to get her share of the spotlight. Send them back to directing traffic.

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It was not my intention to suggest that she keeps quiet, I am all for her standing up and speaking her mind and it's a shame there are not a lot more like her, my concern is that NOBODY is safe from the idiots who are on theirt power trips.