The selection of deputy police chief Chakthip Chaijinda as the new national police chief is likely a move by the military regime to tighten its grip on power, a source says.
The 55-year-old officer was unanimously chosen for the top police job in a meeting of the six-member National Police Policy Commission at the 1st Infantry Regiment on Vibhavadi Rangsit Road yesterday.
Chakthip: Able to deal with political strife
He will succeed police chief Somyot Poompunmuang, who will retire on Sept 30.
A political source said Pol Gen Chakthip was selected because he was a man who can help maintain security and establish links with political powers to ensure smooth sailing for the military regime.
According to the source, political turbulence may be approaching as the military is being seen as trying to cling on power; hence the choice of Pol Gen Chakthip.
The new police chief must be able to play both aggressive and defensive roles in handling situations, the source said.
"Between Pol Gen Aek Angsananont [another candidate], who is gentle, and Pol Gen Chakthip, the latter is likely to handle any political turbulence better," the source said.
Pol Gen Chakthip is also good at fostering connections with broad networks, including private firms with political ties, and military figures such as Deputy Prime Minister and Defence Minister Prawit Wongsuwon, the source said.
After last year's coup, Pol Gen Chakthip was assigned to lead a team tracking down those who defied the National Council for Peace and Order's summonses.
Pol Gen Chakthip was in the 20th class at the Armed Forces Academies Preparatory School, alongside Maj Gen Apirat Kongsompong, the deputy 1st Army chief, and in the 36th class at the Police Cadet Academy.
High-profile cases he has dealt with in his police career include the murder of Saengchai Sunthornwat, then-director of the Mass Communications Organisation of Thailand, in 1996, and the apprehension of eight Myanmar nationals who broke out of prison in Samut Sakhon in 2000.
A police general said although Pol Gen Chakthip was the least senior among the candidates for the top job, most of the superiors accepted he was suitable for the role.
He was promoted to Metropolitan Police Bureau (MPB) chief during Abhisit Vejjajiva's premiership in 2010. That position granted him access to top army officers, including then-army chief Anupong Paojinda and his then-deputy Gen Prayut Chan-o-cha, now the coup-installed prime minister.
Pol Gen Chakthip is the first former MPB chief to assume the police commissioner role in 26 years.
Meanwhile, Jatuporn Prompan, chairman of the red-shirt United Front for Democracy against Dictatorship, said the selection of Pol Gen Chakthip causes no concern for his anti-government group.
"Pol Gen Chakthip's moves in the past have appeared to be more to make compromises than to be destructive," Mr Jatuporn said.