The Royal Thai Police Restructuring

[blaze]

Thai PM sacks national police chief

The deposed-premier, a police lieutenant-colonel, is perceived by some critics as having used his five years in office to replace meritocracy with officers personally loyal to his rule.

--TNA 2007-02-05

say WHAT?

[Tony Clifton]

meritocracy

1. an elite group of people whose progress is based on ability and talent rather than on class privilege or wealth.

2. leadership by able and talented persons.

Now, let's see more heads rolling and a reform of the entire police force.

Edited February 5, 2007 by Tony Clifton

[blaze]

1. an elite group of people whose progress is based on ability and talent rather than on class privilege or wealth.

2. leadership by able and talented persons.

Now, let's see more heads rolling and a reform of the entire police force.

And prior to Taksin the police force was a meritocracy? Hmmm.

[Tony Clifton]

Did I say so?

No.

[STEELINOX]

So now they are transferring "the same incomptance" to an even more high profile leg of government- how does this help the LOS?

Thanks,

Randy

[blaze]

Did I say so?

No.

No Tony, but the original quote did.

"The deposed-premier, a police lieutenant-colonel, is perceived by some critics as having used his five years in office to replace meritocracy with officers personally loyal to his rule."

You can't replace something that wasn't there in the first place. Which takes us right back to --- say WHAT!!!!!

Edited February 5, 2007 by blaze

[Siripon]

Did I say so?

No.

No Tony, but the original quote did.

"The deposed-premier, a police lieutenant-colonel, is perceived by some critics as having used his five years in office to replace meritocracy with officers personally loyal to his rule."

You can't replace something that wasn't there in the first place. Which takes us right back to --- say WHAT!!!!!

Thaksin simply took cronyism and patronage to new heights, placing relatives and classmates in positions well beyond their ability and deserved status.

Thaksin's rule wasn't called a 'police state' for nothing.

Previous political leaders might have interfered in police reshuffles, but as with the bureaucracy, none had the clout or nerve to the extent of Thaksin where performance was based solely on loyalty.

[george]

Update:

Police spokesman resign

BANGKOK: -- Pol Gen Ajiravid Subranbasaj, deputy national police chief and police spokesman, resigned Monday following the removal of his boss, Pol Gen Kowit Wattana, as national police chief.

Ajiravid said he had submitted his resignation.

He was speaking to reporters after meeting Kowit for about an hour.

He said earlier that he would leave police service if Kowit was removed from the top police post.

-- The Nation 2007-02-05

[Pattayaman]

Must be more police in inactive positions than there is chasing criminals.Just sack em and thats it.

[Maxwell Book]

Is it just me or has the writing and editing at Thailand's major English dailies deteriorated?

[sriracha john]

Thai police chief Gen. Kowit Watana has been dismissed from his job.

Associated Press

Thailand's Police Chief Fired

Thai prime minister Surayud Chulanont has fired the Thai police chief after he failed to make progress in the investigation of bomb attacks in the capital Bangkok.

The dismissal of Thai Police Chief General Kowit Wattana follows heavy criticism of investigations into the bombings in Bangkok on New Year's Eve that left three people dead and dozens wounded.

Last month, police arrested 19 people, but they were all later released without charge. A grenade attack then hit a newspaper office and a hotel, raising further doubts of the police's ability to secure the capital.

Kowit was police chief to former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra, who was ousted in a September coup.

Chulalongkorn University Economics Professor Somphob Manarangsan believes the dismissal raises hopes of reform.

"The police department has been highly criticized by the public even before the coup d'etat. There is going to be some change in the better direction, it will be an opportunity for the restructuring and reform," he said.

A Thai government spokesman said Police General Seriphisut Temiyawej is the acting police chief. He has a clean reputation. As crime suppression chief in the 1990's, he faced several death threats due to his investigations of corruption. Somphob believes Seriphisut is a good choice.

"Police General Seriphisut is quite a liberal and progressive person when we learn from his past experience," he said. "I think he will act to take some action to make some changes to this very important department."

- VOA News

================================================================

Thai Premier Dismisses Police Chief

BANGKOK, Thailand -- Thailand's military-installed prime minister on Monday dismissed the national police chief, who has been criticized for failing to solve a series of bomb explosions in the capital on New Year's Eve.

Prime Minister Surayud Chulanont ordered that police chief Gen. Kowit Watana be transferred to an inactive post in the prime minister's office, government spokesman Yongyuth Maiyalarb said.

A veteran police officer with a reputation for incorruptibility was appointed in his place.

Yongyuth said that the decision to replace Kowot was made jointly by Surayud and the chief of the military's Council for National Security that is the power behind the interim government.

Kowit had been seen by some of his colleagues as a loyalist to Thaksin, who appointed him. He has also been criticized by the government and military for failing to make progress in solving the Dec. 31 bombings in Bangkok that killed three people and wounded about 40.

There have long been suspicions that Kowit, known to be close to Mr Thaksin, was not doing his utmost to solve the case.

Police Gen. Seriphisut Temiyawej, the department's inspector-general, was appointed acting police chief, Yongyuth said. Seriphisut was critical of the police force under Kowit, noting the practice of cronyism, lack of direction and its failure to solve cases such as the New Year's bombings. He publicly criticized Kowit last year over an investigation into illegal gambling dens.

- CBS News

[kmart]

With all the money he amassed as head of the cops, he can always start his own political party.

Best earning job in LOS apparently.

[sriracha john]

Another is jumping ship:

Deputy National Police Chief and Police Spokesman resign

Pol Gen Ajiravid Subranbasaj, deputy national police chief and police spokesman, resigned Monday following the removal of his boss, Pol Gen Kowit Wattana, as national police chief.

Ajiravid said he had submitted his resignation.

He was speaking to reporters after meeting Kowit for about an hour.

He said earlier that he would leave police service if Kowit was removed from the top police post.

The Nation

------------------

guess there's nothing wrong with a little self-promotion.... nice website, General

Edited February 6, 2007 by sriracha john

[Jai Dee]

Royal Thai Police Spokesman Pol.Gen.Achirawit Supanphesat quit his job!

At 18:16 hours yesterday (Feb 5), the Royal Thai Police Spokesman and Deputy Commissioner-General, Pol. Gen. Achirawit Suphanphesat gave an interview after he had a meeting with Pol. Gen. Kowit Wattana, the national police chief, that he has resigned from his position as he is tired and has done quite enough for the country.

Lt-Gen Achirawit Supanphesat said he has performed his duty at his utmost during his term, particularly with the Royal Thai Welfare Fund, which has raised more than 400 million baht.

He said he may as well study the precepts, write a book, or become a teacher. He is denying to comment on the removal of the Commissioner-General Pol.Gen. Kowit Wattana as he has not actually seen the assignment order himself.

Source: Thai National News Bureau Public Relations Department - 06 February 2007

[Casanundra]

All we need now is for the rest of the corrupt and rather lax police force to be sacked, to then recruit and train some real coppers by paying them a better salary (less coppers but better quality), to automating the traffic lights and to getting the coppers from out of the boxes and away from flicking switches and bribing drivers and to doing some real police work and and and....

Ok time to take the reality medicine again...

[Jai Dee]

Kowit's exit was widely expected

Police chief's days were numbered due to Thaksin ties; handling of probe into Bangkok blasts was last straw

General Kowit Watana has finally been removed as the police chief after months of speculation that the junta was unhappy with his loyalty and performance.

Kowit's departure was no surprise. He was seen as a crony of ousted prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra. All but the timing of his removal had been virtually certain.

Rumours about Kowit's removal began in early November. Certain members of the Council for National Security (CNS) were said to be irritated with a transfer order endorsed by Kowit that would have seen officers with close ties to Thaksin holding significant positions.

Kowit even allowed a few former senior police officers, who had resigned to take up key posts in the Thaksin government, to return to high-ranking posts in the police service.

Although Kowit was a deputy chairman of the now-defunct Council for Democratic Reform (CDR), which staged the coup, he was downgraded to a mere membership role in the CNS, which replaced the CDR.

Some of his CNS colleagues were said to have had doubts about his loyalty as he had been reluctant to join the coup on the night of September 19.

He reported himself to the new rulers a day later.

Kowit was the only CNS member who was absent from the ceremony appointing Surayud Chulanont as Thailand's 24th prime minister on October 1 - one day after the CNS issued an announcement limiting his power and reshuffling the agency's personnel.

Certain CNS generals are unhappy with Kowit over the slow progress in proceeding with lese majeste complaints filed against Thaksin - one of four main reasons the military used to justify its coup.

Four cases have been dropped by criminal courts, allegedly due to weak investigative reports from the police.

As Kowit was a classmate of CNS chairman General Sonthi Boonyaratglin at pre-Cadet school, the CNS was said to be considering offering Kowit a face-saving move - an elevation to the post of third deputy prime minister, possibly overseeing national security - after his dismissal as chief of police.

Kowit has also been blamed for the slow progress by the police in identifying those responsible for the more than 40 arson attacks at schools across the country since the coup.

As rumours of Kowit being shown the door gained ground, Surayud kept denying them. According to Sonthi, Surayud was the only person who could issue the order to sack Kowit.

Surayud had said there was no attempt to remove Kowit.

A new round of rumours that Kowit would be removed started after his handling of the investigations into the bombings on New Year's Eve raised eyebrows among the military leaders.

They saw the police stake out 18 sites - mostly military compounds in greater Bangkok, Nakhon Pathom and Lop Buri - before calling military officers for questioning.

The arrests did not impress Sonthi. He warned Kowit that if the suspects turned out to be "scapegoats", the police chief would suffer the consequences.

Observers wondered whether Kowit was attempting to discredit the military while the generals were planning to reform the police.

Kowit's failure to find the bombers was seen as the last straw, forcing the CNS to hand Surayud an ultimatum that the police chief had to go.

However, Kowit's removal will rid the police department of many of the problems brought by his connections to the deposed regime, and the accusations that they were dragging their feet in many of the ongoing investigations.

However, if more bombings occur, he'll be remembered as a scapegoat.

Source: The Nation - 6 February 2007

[Tony Clifton]

All we need now is for the rest of the corrupt and rather lax police force to be sacked, to then recruit and train some real coppers by paying them a better salary (less coppers but better quality), to automating the traffic lights and to getting the coppers from out of the boxes and away from flicking switches and bribing drivers and to doing some real police work and and and....

Ok time to take the reality medicine again...

Give new uniforms in a different colour to the ones who really deserve to be a member of the Royal Thai police force so that the public can see who the outcasts really are while still wearing brown.

[slimdog]

As Kowit was a classmate of CNS chairman General Sonthi Boonyaratglin at pre-Cadet school, the CNS was said to be considering offering Kowit a face-saving move - an elevation to the post of third deputy prime minister, possibly overseeing national security - after his dismissal as chief of police.

meritocracy......

[Plus]

All we need now is for the rest of the corrupt and rather lax police force to be sacked, to then recruit and train some real coppers by paying them a better salary (less coppers but better quality), to automating the traffic lights and to getting the coppers from out of the boxes and away from flicking switches and bribing drivers and to doing some real police work and and and....

Ok time to take the reality medicine again...

Indeed. Thailand doesn't have enough honest people to staff the police force, they are urgently required everywhere else, too.

[stumonster]

------------------

guess there's nothing wrong with a little self-promotion.... nice website, General

I wonder if he recognises the country from where his "information superhighway" originates ?

and does he possess a phd from an international university also ?

[Jai Dee]

Pol Gen Kowit attends CNS meeting as normal despite recent transfer

Pol Gen Kowit Watana is reported to still be attending Council for National Security (CNS) meetings as normal, in his capacity as one of the council's members.

Press correspondents report that the Council for National Security meeting at the Royal Thai Army headquarters today was attended by Pol Gen Kowit Watana, despite his transfer from the post of Royal Thai Police Commissioner General to the Office of the Prime Minister yesterday (February 5). The meeting proceeded normally with the Commander in Chief of the Army and Council for National Security Chairman, Gen Sonthi Boonyaratkrin, and the 7 CNS members in attendance.

The Council for National Security meeting today involved situation reports from the CNS Secretary-General's Office and the CNS Special Operations Center. The meeting also involved discussions about the Constitution Drafting Assembly's work in drafting the new constitution. No members of the press were allowed into the internal meeting, however.

Source: Thai National News Bureau Public Relations Department - 06 February 2007

[Jai Dee]

PM to hold a press conference clarifying his reasons in transfering Pol Gen Kowit

Prime Minister Surayud Chulanont will hold a press conference clarifying his reasons in transfering Commissioner-General of the Royal Thai Police Pol Gen Kowit Watana (โกวิท วัฒนะ).

The premier declined to state his reason yet. He said that a press conference of the matter will be held today after the Cabinet meeting has been over.

Following the royal announcement to designate two new Ministers, including Asst Prof Warakorn Samkoset (วรากรณ์ สามโกเศศ), as the new Deputy Minister of Education, and Mrs Oranut Osathanont (อรนุช โอสถานนท์), as the new Deputy Minister of Commerce, they also attended their first Cabinet meeting today.

Asst Prof Warakorn said that after the Cabinet meeting, he will discuss with Education Minister on his new responsibility in the ministry.

Source: Thai National News Bureau Public Relations Department - 06 February 2007

[Jai Dee]

Democrat Leader: Transfer of Gen.Kowit cannot solve political problems

Democrat Party Leader indicated that the transfer of Commissioner-General of the Royal Thai Police to an inactive post at the Prime Minister's office is not an effective solution to ongoing political problems.

Abhisit Vejjajiva (อภิสิทธิ์ เวชชาชีวะ), the Democrat leader, suggested that the government should focus on how to make people feel more confident in the public security and finding the real culprits of the bomb blasts on New Year’s Eve.

As for the new Police Commissioner-General Pol.Gen.Seripisut Temiyawet (เสรีพิศุทธิ์ เตมียาเวช), Mr Abhisit said that he has difficult tasks lying ahead of him. However, the Democrat leader expressed his belief that Pol.Gen.Seripisut is able to deal with problems stemming from political turbulence.

Source: Thai National News Bureau Public Relations Department - 06 February 2007

[Jai Dee]

CNS chairman requests Pol. Gen. Kowit to work at CNS Secretary-General Office

Royal Thai Army commander-in-chief and Council for National Security (CNS) member Sonthi Boonyaratglin has signed the document, requiring former national police chief Kowit Wattana to work at the Office of the Prime Minister from today onwards.

Gen. Sonthi said the CNS currently has the responsibility to oversee national peace and security, and Pol. Gen. Kowit is already a CNS member. He stated that in order for the operation to be carried out successfully for the good of the country, he would like Pol. Gen. Kowit to perform his duties as a CNS member at the Prime Minsiter's Office between February 6th and September 30th, 2007.

Source: Thai National News Bureau Public Relations Department - 06 February 2007

[Jai Dee]

Pol. Gen. Achirawit says he does not take side following resignation

Deputy police chief and police spokesman Achirawit Suphanphesat insisted that he did not take side following his decision to resign from the Royal Thai Police. He reasoned that he would like the interim police commissioner-general to be able to select the person who could implement his policy well.

Pol. Gen. Achirawit’s decision to resign was made after Prime Minister Surayud Chulanont ordered for former national police chief Kowit Wattana to be transferred to an inactive post yesterday (Feb 5). Speculations claimed that Pol. Gen. Achirawit was taking side with Pol. Gen. Kowit. However, Pol. Gen. Achirawit turned down such rumours and said he is also a close friend of acting national police chief Seripisuth Temiyavej. He also praised the new chief that he is capable and experienced enough to carry out the orders of the Council for National Security (CNS).

However, Pol. Gen. Achirawit said his resignation would be effective and the acting national police chief has submitted the proposal to His Majesty the King for His endorsement. He said he is currently working on police welfare, and after his resignation has been approved, he will pay homage at the religious site in India.

Source: Thai National News Bureau Public Relations Department - 06 February 2007

[Jai Dee]

CNS uplifts Pol. Gen. Kowit after his transfer

The Council for National Security (CNS) members are heartening Pol. Gen. Kowit Wattana after he has been transferred to work at the Office of the Prime Minister.

CNS spokesman Sansern Kaewkamnerd the CNS had a meeting this morning (Feb 6), and the atmosphere of the meeting was filled with words of encouragement to former national police chief Kowit. CNS deputy secretary-general Anupong Paochinda, in particular, shook hands with Pol. Gen. Kowit and tried to cheer him up.

Meanwhile, Pol. Gen. Kowit affirmed that he will work as a CNS member after CNS chairman Sonthi Boonyaratglin already delivered a document to Prime Minister Surayud Chulanont, requesting him to work at the Prime Minister’s Office today.

Source: Thai National News Bureau Public Relations Department - 06 February 2007

[Jai Dee]

Pol Gen Kowit is sacked because he does not pass evaluation : PM

Pol Gen Kowit Watana is dismissed as police chief because he did not pass the evaluation, Prime Minister Surayud Chulanont said Tuesday.

The decision to sack Kowit on Monday came after he consulted with Council of National Security's chief Gen Sonthi Bunyaratglin, Surayud said.

"The decision came from our evaluation on his performance for the past period. We agreed that there should be some changes in the Royal Thai Police so that their works could be more effective and more progress."

Asked the reason behind appointment of Pol Gen Seripisut Temeyavej as acting police commissioner general instead of choosing deputy police commissioner general, Surayud said Seripisut is chosen because he is the most senior.

Before talking to the press, Surayud met Seripisut at the Government House.

Source: The Nation - 6 February 2007

[Jai Dee]

CNS prepared office for Pol. Gen. Kowit at PMs Office

The Council for National Security (CNS) prepared the office of Pol. Gen. Kowit Wattana, following CNS Chairman Sonthi Boonyaratglin’s request for him to work at the Office of the Prime Minister since he is also a CNS member.

Previously, Prime Minister Surayud Chulanont and CNS Chairman Sonthi issued an order for Pol. Gen. Kowit to be transferred from the Royal Thai Police Commissioner-General to an inactive post after his performance on the nine bomb blasts in Bangkok and Nonthaburi failed to materialize as hoped.

Pol. Gen. Sereepisuth Taemeeyaves has replaced Pol. Gen. Kowit as the interim national police chief.

Source: Thai National News Bureau Public Relations Department - 07 Febuary 2007

[Jai Dee]

Banharn voices support for new Police Commissioner-General

Chart Thai Party's Leader voices agreement with the government in appointing Pol.Gen.Sereepisut Taemiyawes (เสรีพิศุทธ์ เตมียาเวส) as the new Commissioner-General of the Royal Thai Police.

Chart Thai Leader Banharn Silapa-Archa (บรรหาร ศิลปอาชา) said although the former Police Commissioner-General Pol.Gen.Kowit Watana (โกวิท วัฒนะ) is a man of integrity, he still lacks resoluteness in his working and shows no progress in the police’s investigation into important cases.

Mr Banharn added that the government had made the right decision in selecting Pol.Gen.Sereepisut to be in charge of the police as he has determination despite his aggressive personality.

The Chart Thai leader expressed confidence that Pol.Gen.Sereepisut will be able to close important cases within a few months.

Source: Thai National News Bureau Public Relations Department - 07 Febuary 2007

[Jai Dee]

DSI director-general insisted no change on agreement of the Royal Thai Police and the DSI

Department of Special Investigation (DSI) director-general Sunai Manomaiudom reiterated on the unchanged agreement of the Royal Thai Police and the DSI in the Bangkok bombings case, following the appointment of Pol. Gen. Seripisuth Temiyavej as the acting national police chief.

Mr. Sunai said he has not been contacted by Pol. Gen. Seripisuth about the alteration of the Royal Thai Police and the DSI on the investigation of this case yet. Therefore, the two agencies still hold the same agreement.

However, if the acting national police chief demands a change, the DSI will comply with his requirement.

Source: Thai National News Bureau Public Relations Department - 08 Febuary 2007