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Published on July 19, 2007

Former top police officers expressed disapproval yesterday for a plan to include outsiders in powerful committees within the police force.

The plan is a part of the Police Reform Bill.

To former national police chief General Sawas Amorn-wiwat, such a plan will allow outsiders to interfere with police work. He suggested that the interference could hamper the judicial process.

"We are old, but we are experienced. In fact, the bill is not going to affect us. Yet, we want to speak, as we want to ensure that the police can deliver good service to the public," Sawas said.

However, Sawas said he did not mention political interference when he met Prime Minister Surayud Chulanont in the afternoon. He only recommended that the government overhaul the entire judicial system, not just the police. 

General Wisut Kittiwat, who heads the Royal Thai Police Association, said Surayud agreed police work should not be subjected to political interference.

Wisut also believed Surayud did not plan to require that the police reform be completed during his administration.

"My suggestion is that political-office holders or the country's executives can oversee the police force's strategies and policies, but not personnel-related work," Wisut said.

Meanwhile, Justice Ministry permanent secretary Charan Phakdithanakul told a seminar the upcoming police reform, with better pay for police, would stop them from bowing to mafia bosses for money.

Former national police chief General Pracha Promnok said a bigger budget for operations would easily stop this problem without the need for any reform.

"The truth is, the monthly budget from the government for petrol is enough to cover 10 days of operations only," Pracha said.

Pol General Salang Bunnag, a former deputy police commissioner, told the seminar he would be ready to become a suicide bomber if the military-supported government planned to break up the police force. "If they bully police officers too much, I want all of you to wear black," he said.

Salang showed up at the seminar as an observer. He also fiercely defended police in two infamous cases about scapegoats and extra-judicial killings.

Earlier, Surayud said the country was moving ahead, but changes and modernisation were necessary to better respond to new threats and technologies.

"Don't say that the government can't do this or that thing because it comes from the military," the premier said.

With the Police Reform Bill having attracted heated debate, acting national police chief General Seripisut Temiyavej hosted a meeting of armed forces' commissioners. "I raised concerns about the bill at the meeting," Seripisut said. "If you build a house, you should make sure it suits the people who are going to live in that house".

nSee the Police Reform Bill debate on The Nation's website.

Piyanart Srivalo,

Piyanuch     Thamnukasetchai

The Nation