Former Crime Buster Sereepisuth Wants To Make 'an Even Bigger Name': Bangkok Governor Election

[webfact]

EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW

Sereepisuth wants to make 'an even bigger name'

Chularat Saengpassa,

Tanatpong Kongsai

The Nation

Sereepisuth

BANGKOK: -- Declaring he's "the new alternative", former police chief Sereepisuth Temeeyaves talks to The Nation's general news editor Chularat Saengpassa and Tanatpong Kongsai about his decision to run as an independent for the post of Bangkok governor.

The fearless former crime buster, who earned a reputation as "the Hero of Nakae" and as an honest police officer, Sereepisuth has chosen the slogans "Change Bangkok, Change Governor" and "If You Vote for Me, You Get the Entire Royal Thai Police" -- to take on large party candidates like Democrat MR Sukhumbhand Paripatra and whoever the ruling Pheu Thai Party selects.

Sereepisuth is highly confident: as an independent candidate he feels he has the advantage over those under political banners because people are fed up with political polarisation and would likely opt for a neutral candidate.

"When people quarrel, they cannot work together," he said. "When there was a flood, they fought. Now they are fighting because of a water-drainage test. They also fight over budgets. Working together as brothers, having no colour, no class, no institution is the best.''

"If party candidates run against me as individuals without their party banners, I still won't lose. With my life and experience in managing a police force of 200,000 caring for 60 million people, if I had run, I would also have scored more votes than other candidates from the last election such ML Pluem (Nattakorn Devakul) and Chuwit (Kamolvisit)," Sereepisuth said.

"If I win the election, Bangkok will get the entire police because I have long shared a close connection with National Police Chief Pol General Adul Saengsingkaew. I will work closely with him to provide public safety, solve traffic problems, and illegal drugs,'' he said.

Before deciding to join the race, Sereepisuth had a survey conducted to see what Bangkok people wanted from their governor. He said number one on the list was safety, followed by drug suppression and solving traffic congestion.

"I was right. Bangkok people are not dumb and say the number one problem is flooding. [if the top three problems are according to the survey], who else is as qualified as me in terms of law enforcement? Nobody. I arrested many influential figures and mafias while others dared not as they feared they would be counter-sued,'' he said.

Sereepisuth as a policeman who rose to the top post with a work record of arresting anyone who committed wrong regardless of their power, influence or position -- from members of Parliament, judges, a deputy provincial governor, the untouchables and the mafias.

His fights against the communists were daring and earned him the Medal of Bravery and the Hero of Nakae award (named after the district in Nakhon Phanom where he worked). Sereepisuth other bold moves included a raid on a floating gambling den on the Mekong river, the Buri Ram vote buying case, and arresting Chon Buri influential figure Somchai Khunplume (who's still at large over a corruption offence). During his term as crime suppression chief, his office was planted with bombs, the result no doubt of his straightforward working style.

"My working style is unorthodox, different from others because I am not afraid of any problem. I have no fear of influence, most importantly no fear of death. I can do anything. Bangkok people would benefit the most from me if they voted for me,'' he said.

vowed to make Bangkok a nicer capital to live in because the law would be enforced, justice would be done and all illegal activities corrected.

"Garbage on the roads, footpaths taken over by street hawkers. Last year's flood problems were exacerbated because people encroached on waterways and canals. This is the duty of district chiefs,'' he said.

However he said he had sympathy for the poor and would solve the city's difficulties by helping to solve their problems. Street hawkers would be relocated to a market. For those who encroached upon waterways, new houses would be constructed for them to rent at cheap rates. All encroached-on public areas would be turned into green areas to be the lungs of the capital.

Schools under the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration would be opened to the public after school hours so they could use the fields to exercise and play any sports. Bike lanes would be provided. Kids who race on public roads would be provided with their own tracks. All streets would be equipped with electricity, water and CCTV cameras.

Why does a retired police officer like Sereepisuth want to jump into this race after all? "I am physically and intellectually ready and competent to work for the country. I want to die a legend and make an even bigger name for myself before I die,'' he said.

-- The Nation 2012-09-07

[virtualtraveller]

Ha ha! What planet has this guy been on, I'd say that associating yourself with such a dreadfully corrupt and incompetent group would all but kill your election chances. Who was responsible for letting the Red shirts take over Ratchaprasong so easily, I bet the people of Bangkok haven't forgotten that eh?

[BookMan]

"If I win the election, Bangkok will get the entire police because I have long shared a close connection with National Police Chief Pol General Adul Saengsingkaew. I will work closely with him to provide public safety, solve traffic problems, and illegal drugs,'' he said

Nothing about anti corruption measures.

He doesn't want to rock the group he is aligning himself with

[thequietman]

If You Vote for Me, You Get the Entire Royal Thai Police."

Just kicked himself in the balls and canceled any chance he had of winning. what a statement !

[asiawatcher]

Look past the cynics here. He has stated some pet hates thus recognises issues. These include flooding, street hawkers, traffic, drugs et al. He 'does' have track record of taking on crooks but yes, saying he has the police force behind him is not much of a 'win' for a vote.

But my pet hate is not being able to walk down a footpath with tripping over motorbikes illegally parked and being squeezed between illegal hawker stalls. Get rid of that and I would be very happy. Note when the royal entourage decides to drive downtown, magically there are no street vendors - can't have eye pollution seen by elite because it does not exist! Traffic (even pedestrian) congestion using police exacerbates the congestion in multiples. They get paid off by the hawkers and police operating traffic points have no clue and are not interested in learning or changing in what amounts to laziness. Easier to scam a motobike for 100 Baht or a Taxi for 200 Baht than take notice of the congestion. And why do they hit the people with the least money rather than the Mercedes Benz drivers? Simple - because money talks and they may have some 'connections' that could cost the cop a sideways movement. T.i.T.

[jerrysteve]

Vote for this man, and if he gets elected, every Thai person in Bangkok with get 40 Rai & a Jackass + 3 wolves to guard the chicken house unorthordoxed methods would be a keen thing to watch.

He might even give Ms. PM a good old fashioned run for the money as a canditate for PM.

Edited September 7, 2012 by jerrysteve

[jerrysteve]

Sounds like or it reads like he has a good track record...could be a canditate for the PM job

[SICHONSTEVE]

Being able t

Look past the cynics here. He has stated some pet hates thus recognises issues. These include flooding, street hawkers, traffic, drugs et al. He 'does' have track record of taking on crooks but yes, saying he has the police force behind him is not much of a 'win' for a vote.

Note when the royal entourage decides to drive downtown, magically there are no street vendors - can't have eye pollution seen by elite because it does not exist! Traffic (even pedestrian) congestion using police exacerbates the congestion in multiples. They get paid off by the hawkers and police operating traffic points have no clue and are not interested in learning or changing in what amounts to laziness. Easier to scam a motobike for 100 Baht or a Taxi for 200 Baht than take notice of the congestion. And why do they hit the people with the least money rather than the Mercedes Benz drivers? Simple - because money talks and they may have some 'connections' that could cost the cop a sideways movement. T.i.T.

"But my pet hate is not being able to walk down a footpath with tripping over motorbikes illegally parked and being squeezed between illegal hawker stalls. Get rid of that and I would be very happy".

Crikey!!! What a great policy - should be worth 500,000 votes on its own, so half way there!!!

Have you been in touch with him yet as I'm sure he would be grateful for you sharing your 'killer' suggestion with him .

[gamini]

He is a good and honest man. Hope he gets elected

[hellodolly]

Sounds like or it reads like he has a good track record...could be a canditate for the PM job

Well yes it sounds like he has a good record. The only thing I found wrong was he was talking about doing every thing.

If he got elected and tried to fulfill his campaign promises he would be spread so thin that he would accomplish nothing.

If all he did was work on solving the traffic problem He would not get any thing els done and Bangkok would still have a trafic problem.

He is sounding like a typical political wannabe. Pick the things the public wants done the most say he can do it and get elected only to find out he dosen't have the man power or the time to do it all. Much less the money.

[Jaivin2011]

Oh Pleeze! We do not want Bangkok becoming a Police State run by corrupted Police! Khun Seree before trying to run Bangkok, go and do something about changing the Police Force first that is run by senior corrupted officials and with tons of low rank and file police staff who are not only corrupted and dishonests but also stupid.

[Thai at Heart]

Having met him a few times, his reputation, is, that he is unbuyable.

If he is, he has to be worth voting fot.

[Buchholz]

He is a good and honest man.

uhhh... if you say so...

NNT News Date : 09 April 2008

National Police Chief Police General Seripisut has been transferred to an inactive post.

He is alleged of being involved in the longan corruption case in 2004 and the procurement of more than 19,000 motorcycles, creating fake documents, and encroaching on Kwai Noi River in Kanchanaburi province.

In addition, the Police Chief is accused of using the government’s helicopter to travel to his resort during holidays.

.

Edited September 8, 2012 by Buchholz