Many of them were ordered transferred to the PM's Ministry Office by the Council for Democratic Reform under Constitutional Monarchy (CDRM), yesterday evening. Among them are General Jumphol Manmai, chief of the National Intelligence Agency (NIA), Maj-General Peeraphan Premputi, permanent secretary of the PM's Office, General Phreophan Damapongse, a deputy national police chief and a brother-in-law of Thaksin, and Lt-General Chalor Choowong, an assistant national police chief.

Lt-General Wiphoj Srinual, chief of the Armed Forces Security Centre, is the new NIA commander, said the CDRM's 12th order.

Observers said yesterday that National Police Deputy Commissioner General Priewphan Damapong, an elder brother of Thaksin's wife Khunying Pojaman, could lose his crime-suppression powers due to speculation that his rapid rise might have had something to do with his in-law's position.

Earlier this year, Police General Seripisut Temiyavej lodged a complaint with the National Counter Corruption Commission (NCCC) that some officers had clearly been promoted without regard to their seniority.

Observers said National Police Assistant Commissioner Lt-General Wongkot Maneerin would also have a rough time because he was seen as being very close to Thaksin. Wongkot's wife, Dr Sirikorn Maneerin, was also once given a Cabinet seat when Thaksin was in power.

Wongkot's most visible moment came when police used force to disperse crowds at the Tak Bai police station two years ago. The incident cost the lives of at least 78 people who died of suffocation after being piled on top of one another inside trucks.

Another former classmate of Thaksin, Provincial Police Region 4 Commissioner Lt-General Sathaporn Duangkaew, could find his post threatened, too. Not long ago, police under Sathaporn's supervision tried to take action against anti-Thaksin protesters.

National Police Assistant Commissioner Lt-General Chalor Chuwong, another friend of Thaksin, was also seen as being groomed for national police chief.

The observers suggested Crime-Suppression Division commander Maj-General Winai Thongsong, a nephew-in-law of Thaksin who is now in charge of investigating an alleged car-bomb plot against Thaksin, could also lose his post.

At Winai's side could be Special-Branch Police Commissioner Lt-General Thavorn Chanyim, who supervises intelligence-gathering and security for Cabinet members, and Police Immigration Bureau chief Lt-General Suwat Thamrongsrisakul, who was also Thaksin's classmate.

General Jumpol Manmai could lose his important post at the National Intelligence Agency.

Also at risk are Government Lottery Office director-general Maj-General Surasit Sangkhapong and PM's Office permanent secretary Peeraphan Prempooti.