• 
• 

Published on March 1, 2008

The government has come under fire for transferring four high-ranking officials just two weeks after taking office.

National Police Commissioner Seripisut Temiyavej is the latest casualty of the transfer move. He was moved yesterday to an inactive post at the PM's Office.

Prinya Thaewanarumitkul, a lecturer at Thammasat University's Faculty of Law said what the government was doing was obviously an "abuse of power."

He said the principle of official transfers was that particular officials were not responding to the government's policies. "Officials must be given enough time to prove that they respond to the government policies or not,'' he said.

The transfers should be carried out with justice and only when it was necessary. "Exercising power without justice is not clever. It triggers public anger and this will cause the Samak government, which is not very stable, to collapse faster,'' he said.

The People's Alliance for Democracy (PAD) called a meeting on Wednesday to set immediate measures to oppose the government for its drastic transfer of high-ranking officials without justice.

National Legislative Assembly member, Prasong Sunsiri called on officials to come forward if they are being

interfered with or harassed.

"Officials who have integrity and dignity should not be afraid. As a Constitution drafter, I can see if what they do is unconstitutional and I will give my full support to help you,'' he said.

He warned the government against being too arrogant as it would "set the country on fire". He questioned the move to transfer Department of Special Investigation staff as an attempt to destroy evidence in many cases linking former premier Thaksin Shinawatra.

Prasong foresees the country is in for political turmoil because the government is getting more arrogant and acting without consideration to the public feeling.

"Especially for the person who shed tears, do not create big social divisions. Now you do not have any position, do not think that you are big,'' he said.

Prasong said the move to transfer a number of officials is also aimed at threatening other officials.

"Even a coup-installed- government does not act with this arrogance.

A high-ranking official who asked not to be named said the government circle looked at the recent transfers as normal and something they expected. "When the previous government assumed office, it also kicked upstairs many key officials.''

He said the transfer of Public Relation Department director-general Pramote Rathavinit was obviously politically motivated because he was part of a group that belonged to the Democrats.

Suriyasai Katasila, a PAD leader said the government has challenged the public by abusing its power for the transfer of four senior officials, especially Seripisut.

"The national police chief plays an important role in the justice system. The transfer of Seripisut may be to pave the way for brother of Khunying Pojaman Shinawatra, Pol Lt General Preowpan Damapong to assume the top police

post. General Patcharawat Wongsuwan will replace Seripisut only for a short time,'' he said.

Somroutai Sapsomboon, Piyanart Srivalo

The Nation