Priewpan nominated as the prime minister's adviser
The Nation

BANGKOK: -- The Cabinet has acknowledged the appointment of former National Police chief Pol General Priewpan Damapong as an adviser to Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra, Government Spokesman Teerat Ratanasevi said yesterday.

Cabinet approval is also being sought for the appointment of General Kwanchat Klaharn, a former commander of the Fourth Army Area, as secretary to the defence minister, a position concurrently held by the PM.

Pol General Phanupong Singhara na Ayutthaya, a former deputy secretary-general to the premier who worked under Chalerm Yoobumrung when he was deputy PM, has been proposed to as secretary to Labour Minister Chalerm.

Former PM's Office Minister Sansanee Nakpong has been proposed as an adviser to the finance minister. These four people are among 30 political appointees.

All nominations need to pass qualification checks before the expected Cabinet approval next week, according to the spokesman.

Teerat yesterday prematurely tweeted about the appointments before realising later that the process involved further checks regarding qualification. Later he tweeted that the nominees needed to be scrutinised regarding their qualifications before the approval next week.

"Some people may not have resigned yet from their companies before the appointment," Teerat said.

Amphon Kittiamphon, the Cabinet's secretary-general, said people in the list have not yet been legally appointed until the completion of checks by the Secretariat of the Cabinet.


-- The Nation 2013-07-20

Can I assume Priewpan was appointed due to his qualifications and political savvy, rather than as a reward for being a family member?

In all seriousness it must be a galling prospect for any youngsters that aspire to a life in politics, when it is clear the only important qualification is having Shinawatra DNA.

Are these 30 people replacements or just a new generation of piglets?

Can I assume Priewpan was appointed due to his qualifications and political savvy, rather than as a reward for being a family member?

In all seriousness it must be a galling prospect for any youngsters that aspire to a life in politics, when it is clear the only important qualification is having Shinawatra DNA.

Apart from family connections I'm sure the only ability many of these advisers have, or need, is the ability to say Yes

Banana Republic

No, to above question. Police General Priewpan Damapong has retired from the RTP after reaching mandatory retirement age.

Edited July 20, 201312 yr by OzMick

General Kwanchat Klaharn is the person that Thaksin put in charge to sort out the problems in the South back in 2005, I wonder if that "success" is on his CV...

Can I assume Priewpan was appointed due to his qualifications and political savvy, rather than as a reward for being a family member?

In all seriousness it must be a galling prospect for any youngsters that aspire to a life in politics, when it is clear the only important qualification is having Shinawatra DNA.

Past performance obviously not a factor in selection, as national police chief he kept a very low profile, hardly ever seen, no valuable comments.

Obviously keep the dynasty as large as possible and all close to the big chair.

Pol General Priewpan Damapong, was the police General in charge of the crack down of drugs. So can he be held responsible for the murder of over 2400 innocent people?

I think they just wanted Dr. Thaksin's ex-brother in law to be on he payroll. I'll bet he doesn't have many responsibilities. Nepotism at it most prominent best.

Another member for the ice cream gang?

.........now they can meet any time...anywhere...and nobody can question their topic of discussion or motive.....

....control the military...control the police.....hmmm...what next......

I assume he has been appointed due to his experience with rapid promotions through the ranks. His record for this was outstanding, almost incredible.

Surely if KY wanted advice from a relative she could just ask them over dinner like most families do?

Banana Republic

Banana Rice Republic?

.........now they can meet any time...anywhere...and nobody can question their topic of discussion or motive.....

....control the military...control the police.....hmmm...what next......

The courts

KY? I hope that abbreviated form of the PM's name flies long and high.

KY? I hope that abbreviated form of the PM's name flies long and high.

What an insult to my home state!