NATION ANALYSIS
Out of favour Camronwit to swap with chief in North
The Nation

BANGKOK: -- The transfer of Metropolitan Police Bureau (MPB) commander Lt-General Camronwit Toopgra-jank appears to have been devised to facilitate upcoming political situations to favour the ruling Pheu Thai Party, as well as another election with his successor - Pol Lt-General Suthep Dejraksa, from a regional command in the North - seen as more gung-ho and more composed, analysts say.

Suthep, former commander of Provincial Police Region 5 in Chiang Mai, has been close to key Pheu Thai figures - Yaowapa Wongsawat, sister of fugitive PM Thaksin Shinawatra, and his long-term ally Yongyuth Tiyapairat.

With Camronwit due to retire by September, Suthep is of more use in the long run, apart from his other qualities preferred by Pheu Thai.

Camronwit, who will swap his post with Suthep, has reportedly fallen out with national police chief Pol General Adul Saengsingkaew, who is less than happy about his handling of anti-government protesters and letting them into the MPB during a series of clashes last year, police sources said.

He has also allegedly displeased Thaksin over several matters, including revealing a photo of the fugitive former PM presenting him with his police rank, they added.

Camronwit is seen as a red-shirt police chief and one who was close to Wuthipong "Ko Tee" Kottham-makhun, a lese majeste suspect on the run - and that has affected the image of the police force.

Adul reportedly tried previously to transfer Camronwit, who responded by saying publicly that he may quit and take action against his superiors if he was shifted unfairly. Adul later devised an order to take action against station chiefs based in Bangkok and their superiors if people were found operating illegal gaming machines in their jurisdiction.

After a raid earlier this month was conducted at a gaming den in Bangkok, led by a bureau commander on a direct order from Adul, the national police chief had a legitimate reason to transfer Camronwit away from Bangkok to lead the Provincial Police Region 5 in the North. This post has jurisdiction over eight provinces including Chiang Mai, where it is based.

The Police Commission yesterday approved the transfer order, under which Camronwit and Suthep will swap positions. The move will become official when it is endorsed by caretaker Deputy PM Pracha Promnok next Wednesday.

The reshuffle also sees a number of key positions switched, including the approved resignation of Pol Lt-General Ekkarat Meepreecha, who will retire at the end of September, as an assistant national police chief. He has cited health problems as the reason.

Camronwit reportedly asked if he could return to Provincial Police Region 1, which covers provinces near Bangkok, but this allegedly failed because Region 1 commander Pol Lt-General Nares Nantha-chote, has strong ties to Thaksin, Yingluck, and Thaksin's former wife Khunying Pojaman.

-- The Nation 2014-04-26

My God!!

The nepotism is astounding.

But you can shuffle them all you like

YOU CAN'T POLISH A TURD!

Woopy, i agree it is ridiculous, but every Govt in the history of Thailand has done the same thing, why now has it just become an issue.

Interesting to see just who and how some of these senior Police "officers" are involved with Thaksin and how they are being moved at his behest for future operations. How anyone could think "the Police" are impartial in any way, shape or form is deaf, dumb AND blind.

Double post

My God!!

The nepotism is astounding.

But you can shuffle them all you like

YOU CAN'T POLISH A TURD!

YOU CAN'T POLISH A TURD!

That is true, but you can decorate it and give it a promotion.

This brief article shows just how much the entire police force needs to be built up from the floor

Sent from my Nexus 4 using Thaivisa Connect Thailand mobile app

This is delicious, Infighting in the ranks. One Thaksin buttboy against another Thaksin buttboy. Now that Gen. Adul has defected away from PTP control, many other high-ranking police, that are not so well connected, are holding their fingers into the political wind to see which way they will blow. These people are survivors first and lackeys second and when it looks like the end of Thaksin's rule, there will me mass defections and those such as Kamronwit, who have taken a strong pro-Thaksin positions, will be out in the cold.

My God!!

The nepotism is astounding.

But you can shuffle them all you like

YOU CAN'T POLISH A TURD!

MythBusters might have proven you wrong, but otherwise I think you are correct.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_detailpage&v=yiJ9fy1qSFI

Seeing as this new police chief is close to Yongyuth, perhaps he will be able to arrest and charge Yongyuth over the attempted assassination of the elderly couple that Yongyuth and his gang of red bandits carried out. They sprayed the old couples house with thousands of rounds from automatic weapons, and the old couple survived by hiding behind their refrigerator, forever earning Yongyuth the moniker " DuYen".

Seriously, why does the police chief needto pay fealty to a fugitive on the run from justice? I mean, it's a really bad start to the job when your credibility is less than zero before even having set foot in office.

Woopy, i agree it is ridiculous, but every Govt in the history of Thailand has done the same thing, why now has it just become an issue.

It appears only to be an issue with the PTP as one former insider has fallen from grace while another is being elevated closer to grace.The only thing ridiculous about it is that someone who is not an elected official within the Thai government has the power to hire and fire.

Woopy, i agree it is ridiculous, but every Govt in the history of Thailand has done the same thing, why now has it just become an issue.

it should have become an issue long ago

but better now than never

is this the infamous amart that the reds pretend to fight?

Interesting to see just who and how some of these senior Police "officers" are involved with Thaksin and how they are being moved at his behest for future operations. How anyone could think "the Police" are impartial in any way, shape or form is deaf, dumb AND blind.

An article in the other newspaper said the incoming city chief was also close to Mr. T and an unnamed source was quoted as saying Mr. T trusted him.

Police officers are entitled to have political views but openly allying themselves to politicians of any colour shouldn't be permitted as it does detract from their credibility and impartiality which should be the cornerstones of their job BUT TIT !

The source also suggested Camronwit might go into politics when he retired and may have wanted the new post so he could prepare. Let's hope before he retires he remembers he's still a senior police officer with a job to do rather than being a politician in waiting BUT once again TIT.

The only country where Dimwits are 'swapped' instead of fired !

Really frightening to learn this about the RTP

The police structure totally rotten

Seems a coup has already happened a long time ago - a police coup and is still in place.

Police structure totally rotten

Can this be in a democratic country?

Now I wonder if a military coup would be the best - to chase all the police out of office and build up

an entirely new police force following proper democratic lines

Woopy, i agree it is ridiculous, but every Govt in the history of Thailand has done the same thing, why now has it just become an issue.

True.. but you have to start somewhere to change and change is needed.

Its totally wrong for politicians to control the police.

All that talk about judicial coup while the police is in the pockets of PTP.

My God!!

The nepotism is astounding.

But you can shuffle them all you like

YOU CAN'T POLISH A TURD!

For once you are right,

But isn't that exactly what those that claim Suthep is the messiah, the great savior, the answer to all things and the sovereign body of Thailand are trying to do?

My God!!

The nepotism is astounding.

But you can shuffle them all you like

YOU CAN'T POLISH A TURD!

For once you are right,

But isn't that exactly what those that claim Suthep is the messiah, the great savior, the answer to all things and the sovereign body of Thailand are trying to do?

Could you please explain what you mean by "and the sovereign body of Thailand"

Woopy, i agree it is ridiculous, but every Govt in the history of Thailand has done the same thing, why now has it just become an issue.

Interesting comment.

It seems clear that Thaksin and his affiliates have packed the senior police jobs with relatives and close friends. This degree of nepotism is really astounding.

You say that every government has done this. Can you provide the links you have used to research this?

Also, has the extent of the nepotism in senior police roles increased under PTP or is it the same or less than with every other government in Thai history?

Kamronwit transfering out and one more transferring in is also big boss daddy's boy.

Then? All same same..

Woopy, i agree it is ridiculous, but every Govt in the history of Thailand has done the same thing, why now has it just become an issue.

Interesting comment.

It seems clear that Thaksin and his affiliates have packed the senior police jobs with relatives and close friends. This degree of nepotism is really astounding.

You say that every government has done this. Can you provide the links you have used to research this?

Also, has the extent of the nepotism in senior police roles increased under PTP or is it the same or less than with every other government in Thai history?

What is astounding is them shuffling their people around at the same time Yingluck and "her" cabinet are at risk of being kicked out for... shuffling public officials around to make way for a family member. Absolutely, 100% guaranteed, triple A quality, sameless bunch of crooks.