Police chief post unfilled

       The Royal Thai Police board has decided not to name a new police chief for the time being, saying more time was needed to ensure unity, order and effectiveness.
       Prime Minister and board chairman Abhisit Vejjajiva called a meeting of the board yesterday at Government House, apparently confident he had enough support for his choice of inspector-general Pateep Tanprasert to be appointed the new police chief. The other major candidate is deputy police commander Chumpol Manmai.
       But the meeting ended after only 20 minutes.
       Mr Abhisit later said the board had agreed unanimously to postpone the selection. "More time is needed for careful deliberation," he said.
       "The meeting agreed it should take time with the selection to ensure unity, order and effectiveness."
       The prime minister abruptly ended an earlier board meeting on Aug 20 after his choice of Pol Gen Pateep was opposed by members who favoured Pol Gen Chumpol. His leadership was questioned after even Interior Minister and Bhumjaithai Party leader Chavarat Charnvirakul voted against him.
       Mr Abhisit expressed confidence the delay in the nomination yesterday would not undermine his leadership because he was following the process of law and the public interest.
       A source close to the board said Mr Abhisit raised concerns about criticisms of the selection process and asked the board members one by one if the matter should be postponed.
       He said the delay was partly forced by wide and rampant criticism which indicated a heavy conflict over the issue.
       "I am not sorry that a police chief cannot be appointed today. I am sorry about inappropriate press criticism."
       It was possible a new police chief would not be named by Sept 30, when national police chief Patcharawat Wongsuwon is to retire.
       Pol Gen Patcharawat has been sidelined to the PM's Office after the National Anti-Corruption Commission decided to seek criminal and disciplinary action against him over the police crackdown on protesters on Oct 7 last year. Pol Gen Thanee Somboonsap is acting police chief.
       Mr Abhisit said he had no idea when the board would hold its next meeting. "If a new police chief cannot be named by Sept 30, an acting police chief will be appointed."
       The source said the delay does not underscore a rift between the Democrats and Bhumjaithai which backs Pol Gen Chumpol.
       Pol Gen Thanee declined to discuss the board meeting, but said the atmosphere was friendly.
       Pol Gen Pateep and Pol Gen Chumpol did not show up at police headquarters yesterday.
       Meanwhile, deputy police chief Watcharapol Prasarnratchakij said the prime minister had the ultimate authority to appoint an acting police chief if a new police chief could not be named by Sept 30.
       Pol Gen Watcharapol said the police would not be void of leadership even if the prime minister did not intervene.
       He said there was a regulation which said a senior officer who met the qualifications specified in the rules could automatically assume responsibility of the national police in the absence of a police chief.
       Pol Gen Watcharapol said the postponement would not weaken the police's handling of a fresh anti-government protest by the United Front for Democracy against Dictatorship on Saturday.
       He said Pol Gen Thanee had full authority to issue orders.
       Police have been making preparations for the UDD rally which has been called to mark the third anniversary of Sept 19, 2006 coup.
       EARLER REPORT by BangkokPost.com
       The board of the Royal Thai Police has postponed the much awaited selection of the new police chief, Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva said after chairing the board meeting on Wednesday afternoon.
       The prime minister's announcement surprised many people because he had earlier appeared confident of breaking the deadlock today.
       The last police board meeting on Aug 20 rejected his nomination of Pol Gen Pateep Tanprasert, a police inspector-general, for the top police post by five votes to four.
       At the time, deputy police chief Chumpol Manmai was said to be favoured for the job by the majority of the board. This led to the belief that the police board was split by politics and uncertainty over the prime minister's leadership.
       Emerging from the meeting about 4pm today, Mr Abhisit said the board had unanimously agreed to postpone indefinitely the selection of the new police chief.
       He said the board members were of the opinion more time was needed to deliberate the matter, and did not want the issue to spark conflict.
       "If the selection cannot be made by the end of this month, we may have to appoint a new acting police chief," said the prime minister.
       Deputy police chief Thanee Somboonsap is acting police chief, but retires at the end of the month.
       He was appointed after Pol Gen Patcharawat Wongsuwon was found by the National Anti-Corruption Commission to have committed criminal offences in the lethal crackdown on People's Alliance for Democracy demonstrators on Oct 7 last year and transferred to temporary duty at the PM's Office.
       Before today's meeting, Interior Minister Chavarat Charnvirakul, a board member, said the selection of the new police chief might face a problem over the legitimacy of deputy permanent secretary for justice Charnchao Chaiyanukij in representing permanent secretary Kittipong Kittiyarak, who was on an official trip abroad.
       Mr Chavarat, however, said whoever was eventually made the new police chief would not affect the stability of the government or relations between the coalition parties.
       Apart from Mr Kittipong, who was absent, all other serving board members were present at today's meeting. What really caused the postponement was not immediately known.