Thai PM Picks Thaksin In-Law As Police Chief

[Tropicalevo]

to be expected for the last few months. Apparently, he was the only candidate, so not much choice left.

I'm sure he got the job on merit. Give him a chance. We shouldn't assume he got the job because of his family connections.

[Tropicalevo]

This Issan farmer has about 500 hens, but no rooster, and he wants chicks. So, he goes down the road to the next farmer and asks if he has a rooster that he would sell. The other farmer says, "Yep, I've got this great rooster, named Shin. He'll service every chicken you got, no problem."

Well, Shin the rooster costs 3,000Baht, a lot of money, but the farmer decides he'd be worth it. So, he buys Shin. The farmer takes Shin home and sets him down in the barnyard, but first he gave the rooster a pep talk. "I want you to pace yourself now. You've got a lot of chickens to service here, and you cost me a lot of money. Consequently, I'll need you to do a good job.! So, take your time and have some fun," the farmer said, with a chuckle.!

Shin seems to understand, so the farmer points toward the hen house and Shin takes off like a shot. WHAM! Shin nails every hen in the hen house - three or four times, and the farmer is really shocked.

After that, the farmer hears a commotion in the duck pen and, sure enough, Shin is in there. Later, the farmer sees Shin after a flock of geese down by the lake. Once again - WHAM! He gets all the geese. By sunset he sees Shin out in the fields chasing quail and pheasants.

The farmer is distraught and worried that his expensive rooster won't even last 24 hours. Sure enough, the farmer goes to bed and wakes up the next morning to find Shin on his back out in the middle of the yard, mouth open, tongue hanging out and both feet sticking straight up in the air. Buzzards are circling overhead.

The farmer, saddened by the loss of such a colorful and expensive animal, shakes his head and says, "Oh, Shin, I told you to pace yourself. I tried to get you to slow down, now look what you've done to yourself."

Shin opens one eye, nods toward the buzzards circling in the sky and says, "Shhhh .. they're getting closer."

Old joke, but true. Just shows how some folks no matter how much they have but it's not enough.

Good one but I heard it first from Dave Allen

[chadintheusa]

Maybe she thought that people wouldn't notice her putting a family member in charge of the police if they are busy treading water. Maybe Yingluck should focus on the crisis at hand instead of expanding the family's grip on power.

Edited October 19, 2011 by metisdead
Corrected misspelling of PM's name.

[alexakap]

Thai PM Picks Thaksin In-Law As Police Chief

....and during the very same time, water has came to thousand of houses and the number of business locations...Hail govt!!!

Idiots. Simply idiots.

[mca]

I may have found the answer. The article on the Thai-language version of MCOT online gives the position as ผู้บัญชาการตำรวจแห่งชาติ, which thai2english.com translates as Director-General of the National Police Bureau. Therefore, he is indeed the man to issue the rules for extensions of stay, or a competent official deputised by him.

Update: In his first policy statement Police General Priewpan Damapong announced that the visa rules would be relaxed for westerners. The new rules would include free 5 year tourist visas, 10 year marriage and retirement visas with no monetary proof of ability to support and the abolition of the 90 day reporting requirement.

Opposition leader Abhisit Vejjajiva immediately denounced the new rules as too lax and threatening Thai society.

News Flash: News feeds of some "obsessed to the point of you're concerned about their mental health" anti-government TVF posters having nervous breakdowns due to a conflict of interest have been widely reported.

[webfact]

Priewpan to be police chief

The Nation

The Police Commission yesterday approved the promotion of Pol General Priewpan Damapong to commissioner-general of the National Police Office.

"The prime minister will soon forward his appointment for royal endorsement," said General Ek Angsananon, secretary of the Police Commission.

Priewpan has been the acting police chief and is also the most senior deputy commissioner-general.

The post became vacant when the Yingluck Shinawatra-led government transferred General Wichien Pojphosri to the National Security Council in a move widely seen as aimed at helping Priewpan rise to the top of the police force.

Priewpan is an elder brother of former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra's ex-wife Pojaman na Pombejra.

Ek said the Police Commission also decided to restore the position of the National Police Office's commander, which was cancelled in 2009.

"But we have not yet decided who should get this post," the spokesman said.

The government's earlier move to name a new secretary-general for the Southern Border Provinces Administration Centre (SBPAC) has raised suspicion from some corners.

Pol Lt Colonel Tawee Sodsong got the important post at SBPAC while his predecessor Panu Utai-rat was abruptly shifted to the PM's Office as an adviser.

"Why should he be transferred? The government should provide a clear explanation," said Asst Professor Abdulrosa Wan-ali, deputy dean of humanities and social science at Yala Rajabhat University.

-- The Nation 2011-10-20

[alexakap]

The Police Commission yesterday approved the promotion of Pol General Priewpan Damapong to commissioner-general of the National Police Office.

"The prime minister will soon forward his appointment for royal endorsement," said General Ek Angsananon, secretary of the Police Commission.

Priewpan has been the acting police chief and is also the most senior deputy commissioner-general.

The post became vacant when the Yingluck Shinawatra-led government transferred General Wichien Pojphosri to the National Security Council in a move widely seen as aimed at helping Priewpan rise to the top of the police force.

Priewpan is an elder brother of former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra's ex-wife Pojaman na Pombejra.

I now feel I am fully protected. Hail govt!

[somo]

Do any of you really expect anything else? Why the shock horror at a bit of nepotism. Like so many foreigners you all seem to think anything not done the same way as back home is to be criticized. Wake up TIT!

Western countries are no better. prime ministers, presidents, chancellors etc all get to appoint supporters in many powerful positions and of course they do so. It's politics!

[EyesWideOpen]

Do any of you really expect anything else? Why the shock horror at a bit of nepotism. Like so many foreigners you all seem to think anything not done the same way as back home is to be criticized. Wake up TIT!

Western countries are no better. prime ministers, presidents, chancellors etc all get to appoint supporters in many powerful positions and of course they do so. It's politics!

Wait a minute...... Are you implying the nepotism is good, and a excellent path for Thailand ??? And that farangs who have never seen national nepotism should keep quiet as this is the Thai way ?? Wow...........

[transam]

Do any of you really expect anything else? Why the shock horror at a bit of nepotism. Like so many foreigners you all seem to think anything not done the same way as back home is to be criticized. Wake up TIT!

Western countries are no better. prime ministers, presidents, chancellors etc all get to appoint supporters in many powerful positions and of course they do so. It's politics!

But not all from the same family eh.

[SAffer]

Do any of you really expect anything else? Why the shock horror at a bit of nepotism. Like so many foreigners you all seem to think anything not done the same way as back home is to be criticized. Wake up TIT!

Western countries are no better. prime ministers, presidents, chancellors etc all get to appoint supporters in many powerful positions and of course they do so. It's politics!

But not all from the same family eh.

When he says Western, he means; West African.

[Thaddeus]

Do any of you really expect anything else? Why the shock horror at a bit of nepotism. Like so many foreigners you all seem to think anything not done the same way as back home is to be criticized. Wake up TIT!

Western countries are no better. prime ministers, presidents, chancellors etc all get to appoint supporters in many powerful positions and of course they do so. It's politics!

But not all from the same family eh.

Quite.

I wonder what post the family poodle will get.

[EyesWideOpen]

Do any of you really expect anything else? Why the shock horror at a bit of nepotism. Like so many foreigners you all seem to think anything not done the same way as back home is to be criticized. Wake up TIT!

Western countries are no better. prime ministers, presidents, chancellors etc all get to appoint supporters in many powerful positions and of course they do so. It's politics!

But not all from the same family eh.

When he says Western, he means; West African.

You guys are bitter, but pretty dam_n funny....

Edited October 20, 2011 by EyesWideOpen

[Steely Dan]

There are many historical precedents for such blatant cronyism at the expense of one's own Country. Emperor Caligula made his horse a senator, which makes me wonder whether Yingluck has a pet poodle to take on a ministerial job - it would then be a poodle twice removed.

[Steely Dan]

Do any of you really expect anything else? Why the shock horror at a bit of nepotism. Like so many foreigners you all seem to think anything not done the same way as back home is to be criticized. Wake up TIT!

Western countries are no better. prime ministers, presidents, chancellors etc all get to appoint supporters in many powerful positions and of course they do so. It's politics!

But not all from the same family eh.

Quite.

I wonder what post the family poodle will get.

That's spooky I honestly posted before reading your post. The poodle it is then, with a red rinse I think.

[somo]

Do any of you really expect anything else? Why the shock horror at a bit of nepotism. Like so many foreigners you all seem to think anything not done the same way as back home is to be criticized. Wake up TIT!

Western countries are no better. prime ministers, presidents, chancellors etc all get to appoint supporters in many powerful positions and of course they do so. It's politics!

Wait a minute...... Are you implying the nepotism is good, and a excellent path for Thailand ??? And that farangs who have never seen national nepotism should keep quiet as this is the Thai way ?? Wow...........

I make no judgement just point out that it is normal so ask why you are surprised and that it is hypocrytical for foreigners here to claim the high moral ground and criticise when the same goes on their countries. Family ties are stronger here that's all

[Thaddeus]

Do any of you really expect anything else? Why the shock horror at a bit of nepotism. Like so many foreigners you all seem to think anything not done the same way as back home is to be criticized. Wake up TIT!

Western countries are no better. prime ministers, presidents, chancellors etc all get to appoint supporters in many powerful positions and of course they do so. It's politics!

But not all from the same family eh.

Quite.

I wonder what post the family poodle will get.

That's spooky I honestly posted before reading your post. The poodle it is then, with a red rinse I think.

Don't forget the sash and oodles and oodles of medals. (for doing sweet fa)

[transam]

Do any of you really expect anything else? Why the shock horror at a bit of nepotism. Like so many foreigners you all seem to think anything not done the same way as back home is to be criticized. Wake up TIT!

Western countries are no better. prime ministers, presidents, chancellors etc all get to appoint supporters in many powerful positions and of course they do so. It's politics!

Wait a minute...... Are you implying the nepotism is good, and a excellent path for Thailand ??? And that farangs who have never seen national nepotism should keep quiet as this is the Thai way ?? Wow...........

I make no judgement just point out that it is normal so ask why you are surprised and that it is hypocrytical for foreigners here to claim the high moral ground and criticise when the same goes on their countries. Family ties are stronger here that's all

, So David Cameron should make his mum chancellor.

Edited October 20, 2011 by transam

[renaissanc]

Just need one of Thaksins family in the military now and its game over.

Scary, actually! If he can get a crony or relation to head the Army as well. Together with controlling the Police, Jatuporn's work on creating a huge Red Shirt Village Federation, and his ability to allocate funds to people who will control whom the rural people vote for, Thaksin and his cronies will be able to do anything and be as corrupt as they like, and they will think that nobody will be able to anything about it.

However, the Yellows and other coloured groups will grow in strength and the Red Shirt mobs will become more and more violent in order to protect Thaksin from the growing opposition to Thaksin. Thaksin's Police and Army will get involved and stir up more anger and opposition until we have some kind of civil war. With that, Thaksin and his cronies will flee to Dubai and start all over again with Miracle Thailand election promises to the rural folks and vote-buying. Thaksin will be re-elected because "Thaksin always looked after us", ....

Yes, I know that Thaksin has promised again not to get involved in politics again, but as the expression goes, if I was given 1,000 Baht for every time Thaksin made a promise, ...

Edited October 20, 2011 by renaissanc

[Tanaka]

And just how did get to become the most senior deputy???

...

Thank you for digging that one up. I had been wondering about it.

Ramrodded right to the position BIL wanted him in.

And how come he was the only applicant? What happened to the qualified applicants?

[kennalder]

Do any of you really expect anything else? Why the shock horror at a bit of nepotism. Like so many foreigners you all seem to think anything not done the same way as back home is to be criticized. Wake up TIT!

Western countries are no better. prime ministers, presidents, chancellors etc all get to appoint supporters in many powerful positions and of course they do so. It's politics!

You mean like "Heck of a job" Brownie?

Michael Brown with a resume more padded than a Thai bra, was exposed by a natural storm--Hurricane Katrina.

Perhaps history does have a way of repeating itself. Padded resume story. http://www.time.com/time/nation/article/0,8599,1103003,00.html

[animatic]

Do any of you really expect anything else? Why the shock horror at a bit of nepotism. Like so many foreigners you all seem to think anything not done the same way as back home is to be criticized. Wake up TIT!

Western countries are no better. prime ministers, presidents, chancellors etc all get to appoint supporters in many powerful positions and of course they do so. It's politics!

You mean like "Heck of a job" Brownie?

Michael Brown with a resume more padded than a Thai bra, was exposed by a natural storm--Hurricane Katrina.

Perhaps history does have a way of repeating itself. Padded resume story. http://www.time.com/...1103003,00.html

A classic case of cronyism. Brown should never have had the job.

Bush really was an anomaly, but we are stuck with him as legacy.

But the systematic screw ups here rival no other place.

5 days warning of a HUGE act of god and then catch up

versus

1.5 months warning, and serial mistakes,

turning a natural disaster into an act of god situation.

[Gers1873]

nepotism (noun)

patronage bestowed or favoritism shown on the basis of family relationship, as in business and politics:

Surely not in Thailand??? I am quite shocked by this..... so shocked I need another drink

[Thaddeus]

And just how did get to become the most senior deputy???

...

Thank you for digging that one up. I had been wondering about it.

Ramrodded right to the position BIL wanted him in.

And how come he was the only applicant? What happened to the qualified applicants?

He may have run out of relatives now.

(well, we can hope)

[EarthAlien]

Just need one of Thaksins family in the military now and its game over.

Nice one Rick,... remind me to never get into a game of chess with you,.. your strategies would be unbeatable

[bangkokrick]

Just need one of Thaksins family in the military now and its game over.

Nice one Rick,... remind me to never get into a game of chess with you,.. your strategies would be unbeatable

I have been known to state the obvious before, but it appears that not everyone sees the obvious. especially the Thais.

[louse1953]

here we go

Same same but not different.Back to the future,putting everything in place for bro's return Moses like to stop the water.He'll just let her stew a bit longer to show she's not up to it and return triumphant.Only 11 days to Nov.I rekon she'll be glad to hand the reins over before she has a breakdown.

[gamini]

I realize that Thai politics are a bit strange, but there must be some sort of law against becoming the PM, then packing every post with a relative. This is beyond cronyism......... I have never seen this in a western country before, so this must be a special Thai thing....... Hey maybe she is tired of the job, and wants a coup.......

It happened in Sri Lanka when Mrs Bandaranike became prime minister in the 60's. She gave all the top jobs to her relatives and brought the country from the second richest in Asia to one of the poorest. She came to power because she was the wife of the former prime minister who's polices and popularity were similar to Taksins. Everything much the same as here.

[ES1]

Just need one of Thaksins family in the military now and its game over.

Nice one Rick,... remind me to never get into a game of chess with you,.. your strategies would be unbeatable

Urrrum, you must not be much of a chess player then. Moves that obvious are only found in checkers actually. It's not nearly that simple though. You can put people in charge of stuff but until you have the country by the balls you can't get their hearts and minds to follow. You can't just put some token loyalist in charge of the military and expect everyone to follow them. And then there is the Monarchy. Not to mention it was not just the army and their leadership but everyday people that made the last uprising successful.

Edited October 20, 2011 by ES1

[SICHONSTEVE]

here we go

There may be trouble ahead................