SPECIAL REPORT
Aek, Somyot in tight race for national police chief's job
Khwanhathai Malakan
The Nation


Aek

BANGKOK: -- Pol General Aek Angsananont and Pol General Somyot Poompanmoung, both deputy chiefs at the Royal Thai Police, appear to be running head to head for the top post - the winner of which will be announced today. An unnamed national police inspector-general is also in the running.

Under new selection criteria set up by the ruling National Council for Peace and Order (NCPO), acting police chief Pol General Watcharapol Prasarnrajkit will be the one nominating his successor - unlike before the coup, when the national police chief was chosen by a Police Commission.

This time though, outgoing Watcharapol will nominate one candidate from the three and hand the name over to the junta-installed Police Policy Board, which is comprised of NCPO chief General Prayuth Chan-ocha and five other members, including a Defence Ministry permanent secretary.

The selection venue is also different this time, with the meeting being held at the Royal Thai Army headquarters instead of Government House, where the now-defunct Police Commission, in a meeting chaired by prime minister, used to select the national police chief.

Given his public statements and interviews, Watcharapol is not expected to stick to the seniority principle when it comes to selecting his successor.

In other words, Aek might lose out to Somyot despite his seniority.

Seniority also did not apply when Pol General Adul Saengsingkaew was named national police chief in October 2012 even though the other contender - now retired deputy police chief Pol General Pansiri Praphasawat - was his senior.

Should Watcharapol decide to come to a compromise, he might choose Somyot - who retires in 2015 - to run national police for a year before Aek takes over for another year before he retires in 2016.

However, Somyot has an advantage over Aek in terms of ties with the military - he is close to the now-retired former police chief Pol General Patcharawat Wongsuwan, brother of former Army chief and defence minister General Pravit Wongsuwan.

Also, Aek began his police career with a bachelor's degree in law, while Somyot graduated from the Royal Police Cadet Academy and before that he came from the Armed Forces Academies Preparatory School's Class 15, with NCPO member and assistant Army commander General Paiboon Khumchaya as his classmate.

Both Aek and Somyot oversee crime suppression and internal security, and they have both made a name for themselves cracking high-profile criminal and political cases as well as the suppression of narcotics and auto theft.

Source: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/politics/Aek-Somyot-in-tight-race-for-national-police-chief-30241325.html


-- The Nation 2014-08-20

Is this like a silent bidding war?

Whoever pays the most wins?

Easy answer to this.

Forget competence and suitability, who is the best connected ?

Seniority also did not apply when Pol General Adul Saengsingkaew was named national police chief in October 2012 even though the other contender - now retired deputy police chief Pol General Pansiri Praphasawat - was his senior.

How about making temporary appointments, then disqualify any candidate that asks Thaksin to pin on his insignia of rank.

"And the winner is ... by a margin of 3 million Baht ...Congratulations! ... Remember to send 10% of your monthly takings."

Oxymoron - an honest police force.

Is this like a silent bidding war?

Whoever pays the most wins?

Could well turn out to be better than Thaksins Brother in law ???

Seniority also did not apply when Pol General Adul Saengsingkaew was named national police chief in October 2012 even though the other contender - now retired deputy police chief Pol General Pansiri Praphasawat - was his senior.

How about making temporary appointments, then disqualify any candidate that asks Thaksin to pin on his insignia of rank.

You're right of course. It's refreshing to see that the Junta have eradicated the curse of nepotism. It makes one wonder why the OP bothered to even mention the following facts;

Under new selection criteria set up by the ruling National Council for Peace and Order (NCPO), acting police chief Pol General Watcharapol Prasarnrajkit will be the one nominating his successor - unlike before the coup, when the national police chief was chosen by a Police Commission.

This time though, outgoing Watcharapol will nominate one candidate from the three and hand the name over to the junta-installed Police Policy Board, which is comprised of NCPO chief General Prayuth Chan-ocha and five other members, including a Defence Ministry permanent secretary.

However, Somyot has an advantage over Aek in terms of ties with the military - he is close to the now-retired former police chief Pol General Patcharawat Wongsuwan, brother of former Army chief and defence minister General Pravit Wongsuwan.

Somyot graduated from the Royal Police Cadet Academy and before that he came from the Armed Forces Academies Preparatory School's Class 15, with NCPO member and assistant Army commander General Paiboon Khumchaya as his classmate.

UPDATE:

Deputy police chief Pol Gen Somyot approved as new police chief

BANGKOK: -- Junta-installed National Police Policy Comission on Wednesday selected Deputy Police Chief Gen Somyot Poompanmoung as the new police chief.

Junta chief Gen Prayuth Chan-ocha presided over the commission that met to choose for the position as acting Police Chief Watcharapol Prasarnrajkit is retiring this September.

Source: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/breakingnews/Deputy-police-chief-Pol-Gen-Somyot-approved-as-new-30241335.html


-- The Nation 2014-08-20

Now it up to him to be responsible for all police actions throughout the nation. A hell of a task if he wishes all the corruption/overlooking of mafia as is at the minute, to end.

Same the army run government-the proof of the pudding is in the eating not the pudding from years ago as some apologists bring to our attention.

Junta picks Somyos new police chief



BANGKOK: -- The National Police Policy Commission on Wednesday voted to select deputy commissioner of the Royal Thai Police Pol Gen Somyos Phumphanmuang as the new police commissioner.

The meeting of the military installed commission was chaired by Gen Prayuth Chan-ocha.

Two candidates were proposed to the final selection. They are Pol Gen Somyos and Pol Gen Aek Angsananont.

Pol Gen Somyos will succeed acting police commissioner Pol Gen Watcharapol Prasarnrajkit who will retire end of September.

Pol Gen Somyos recently came out to reveal that a mastermind living abroad financing violence against the several months long anti-government protests organized by the People’s Democratic Reform Committee since November last year.

Source: http://englishnews.thaipbs.or.th/junta-picks-somyos-new-police-chief/


-- Thai PBS 2014-08-20

I wonder if Khun Somyos gave up his directorship on Tongkah Harbour in preparation for this. Not a good look for the police chief to be a director of a mining company who seemingly go about things in a rather circumspect ways!

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2014_Loei_Gold_Mine_Mob_Attack

Wrong choice.

They should have taken an outsider...like an army general as police chief. Somehow who really want to change things. Every of the high level policemen is corrupt as you have to pay for the promotions.

Wrong choice.

They should have taken an outsider...like an army general as police chief. Somehow who really want to change things. Every of the high level policemen is corrupt as you have to pay for the promotions.

I would say you have to pay in the army as well, that or be a classmate of the incumbent. To clarify passing the job to a classmate cannot under any circumstances ever be construed as cronyism.

In the US state of Florida, dog racing is very popular but, every entrant is still, and foremost, a DOG !

Wrong choice.

They should have taken an outsider...like an army general as police chief. Somehow who really want to change things. Every of the high level policemen is corrupt as you have to pay for the promotions.

The doom and gloom brigade are out again. funny how they pick on a few topics isn't it ?? but your post has some good thinking, Near all the top police were corrupt now some have floated away for some reason. Where did Thaksins brother in law go ???

Edited August 20, 201411 yr by ginjag

Somyot appointed Thailand's national police chief
By Digital Content



BANGKOK, Aug 20 - The Royal Thai Police Board today appointed Deputy Police Chief Pol Gen Somyot Poompanmoung as the country's new national police chief.

Gen Prayuth Chan-ocha, army chief and National Council for Peace and Order (NCPO) head chaired the Police Board considering the appointment of the 10th National Police Commissioner at Royal Thai Army Headquarters in Bangkok this morning.

Two deputy police chiefs were under consideration for the post: Gen Somyot and Pol Gen Aek Angsananont. Both candidates were considered suitably qualified for the post.

The new police chief will replace Acting Police Chief Pol Gen Watcharapol Prasarnrajkit, who retires at the end of September.

The NCPO appointed Gen Watcharapol as acting police chief, replacing Pol Gen Adul Sangsingkeo, who was moved to the Prime Minister's Office, following the military takeover on May 22. (MCOT online news)


-- TNA 2014-08-20

I wonder if Khun Somyos gave up his directorship on Tongkah Harbour in preparation for this. Not a good look for the police chief to be a director of a mining company who seemingly go about things in a rather circumspect ways!

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2014_Loei_Gold_Mine_Mob_Attack

Yes, apparently he did, according to Business Week:

http://investing.businessweek.com/research/stocks/people/person.asp?personId=23182773&ticker=EASTW:TB

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Is this like a silent bidding war?

Whoever pays the most wins?

Cynical view!!!

I hope for the best candidate and will ignore the naysayers, speculators and self-appointed fortune-tellers.

For some circles, any news is an opportunity to express their negative and meaningless views. Those who have the least stake in this appointment, seem to make the loudest noise.

"The view and knowledge of some critics is limited to the length of their noses".

Edited August 20, 201411 yr by Benmart

In the US state of Florida, dog racing is very popular but, every entrant is still, and foremost, a DOG !

But some "dogs" may be a different pedigree than others.

I know nothing about him but what a terrible selection process. Dark ages stuff.

just purging the opposition?

I know nothing about him but what a terrible selection process. Dark ages stuff.

We could have gone--Skype to Dubai ??

Could the new police chief, in this apparently new wave of anti-corruption, kindly direct us to an avenue whereby we could report instances and details of extortion by police against farangs ? Any sane victim would be terrified to point a finger at the perpetrator without complete anonymity being guaranteed.

Good luck to him, I hope he is really the best man for the job and he will perform with honesty, dignity and righteousness.....

like an army general as police chief. Somehow who really want to change things.

The day that the army starts cleaning up their own operations is the day that i truly believe they really want to change things.

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Is this like a silent bidding war?

Whoever pays the most wins?

Cynical view!!!

Realist View

Well blow me down with a feather, I didn't expect that. Could this have been the clincher?

Pol Gen Somyos recently came out to reveal that a mastermind living abroad financing violence against the several months long anti-government protests organized by the People’s Democratic Reform Committee since November last year.

Wrong choice.

They should have taken an outsider...like an army general as police chief. Somehow who really want to change things. Every of the high level policemen is corrupt as you have to pay for the promotions.

I would say you have to pay in the army as well, that or be a classmate of the incumbent. To clarify passing the job to a classmate cannot under any circumstances ever be construed as cronyism.

In the United States it's called "networking."

Wrong choice.

They should have taken an outsider...like an army general as police chief. Somehow who really want to change things. Every of the high level policemen is corrupt as you have to pay for the promotions.

Perhaps. And then again perhaps not. If he's from poor background and had to work his way up the ladder by paying and accepting bribes, he may still want to change things now that he actually IS there. On the obverse, even somebody from a wealthy family may be rotten to the core. There is really no way of knowing. Somebody from the outside will not know enough about the inner workings to change things much.