Change at Intelligence Agency too
The National Intelligence Agency (NIA) was hoping the coup would rid the agency of politics, but the coup-makers have sent another spy chief, the commander of the Armed Forces Security Centre, Lt-General Vaipot Srinuan, to head the agency.
According to an NIA official, the ousted chief, Pol General Jumphol Manmai, was never thought to be neutral because he was too close to ousted Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra. "Whatever Thaksin wanted, Jumphol delivered," said the officer, who spoke on condition of anonymity, adding that the axing of the NIA chief was inevitable. "But we were hoping the CDRM [Council of Democratic Reform under Constitutional Monarchy] would send us a civilian. But instead, the new chief in an Army lieutenant-general," he said. The officer complained that the NIA's officers felt like the coup had not really changed anything since their agency has long been exploited by politicians looking to reap personal and political gains. The NIA's officers have longed for unity and independence, but a long succession of political leaders has failed to understand the need to have a neutral spy agency, he added. People ranging from former prime minister Anand Panyarachun to the anti-Thaksin businessman Ekayuth Anchanbutr have complained about how the NIA has been exploited by political leaders.
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