One more close Thaksin aide reports to military council

BANGKOK: -- Former Permanent Secretary to the Prime Minister's Office Pol. Maj-Gen Peeraphan Prempooti, known to be a close aide of ousted Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra, reported to the Council for Democratic Reform under Constitutional Monarchy (CDRM) on Friday, one day after he was transferred to an inactive post by the Council.

Gen. Peeraphan was among four senior police officers who were transferred to inactive posts from positions in the Prime Minister's Office. The transfers were viewed as an apparent move by the CDRM to purge the close aides of the former prime minister.

Three others are National Intelligence Agency chief Pol. Gen. Chumphol Munmai, deputy police chief Pol. Gen. Priewphan Damaphong, elder bother of Mr. Thaksin's wife Mrs. Pojaman, and assistant national police chief Pol. Lt-Gen Chalor Chuwong.

Gen. Peeraphan said he was not astonished, upset, or discouraged by the transfer, saying that a civil servant must be disciplined and obey his superior's orders. Saying he will not play politics, the senior police officer affirmed he will not resign, but will continue serving the civil service until he retires.

Reporting to the CDRM at the Royal Thai Army Headquarters, the senior police officer said that as a civil servant he was ready to do whatever he was ordered to. He said he has been in the civil service for over 30 years, he has not felt pressured by political influence, and never been a political tool of any

individuals as he has always done everything in line with the law.

Gen. Peeraphan said he had not contacted Mr. Thaksin since the Tuesday coup and had not been approached by anybody for any other jobs.

Three days after the coup, former cabinet members of the Thaksin administration sent their aides to collect their belongings from their former offices. The two six-wheel trucks were seen entering Government House early Friday morning to load belongings of Former Minister attached to the Prime Minister Office Suranand Vejjajiva out of the office.

Meanwhile former deputy prime minister Wissanu Krea-Ngam, who resigned earlier before the coup, was seen entering the Royal Army Headquarters, expected to meet CDRM leaders to discuss drafting the temporary charter for the upcoming interim government to use in governing the kingdom as Mr. Wissanu is a law expert who was in charge of legal affairs for several past governments.

--TNA 2006-09-24

Police Major General Peeraphan Prempooti

Ironically, he was Secretary-General of the Anti-Money Laundering Office (AMLO). Thaksin could really benefit from his knowledge now. Unfortunately for Thaksin, that doesn't seem to be happening.