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National police chief Pol Gen Wichean Potephosree's position is said to be hanging in the balance in the wake of Chuvit Kamolvisit's exposure of illegal casinos in Bangkok and other complaints that the police have been unable to contain rampant drug abuse and gambling in the city.
National police chief Pol Gen Wichean Potephosree arrives for a meeting with Gen Prem Tinsulanonda yesterday. PATTANAPONG HIRUNARD
Pol Gen Wichean has held the position for less than a year and Mr Chuvit's video footage of illegal casinos, combined with Deputy Prime Minister Chalerm Yubamrung calling for a reshuffle in the Royal Thai Police Office to address Bangkok's drugs and gambling problems, has left him vulnerable.
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Red-shirt supporters have expressed dismay over ousted prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra's call for them to set aside their anger and frustration over social and legal injustices for the sake of national reconciliation.
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Discussion 23 : 30/08/2011 at 08:26 PM23
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Discussion#22 I agree, Thaksin controls the governement and looks like he's going to control the police force(did I say force?) sorry police business. The only thing left is the armed forces. And all this is from a person who is a convicted fugitive living in excile. Sounds like a pretty good performance model to me.
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Discussion 22 : 30/08/2011 at 05:47 PM22
John F. Kennedy, an icon hero of American politics, appointed his younger brother, Bobby, to be Attorney General, the nation's senior law enforcement officer. Clinton's wife is Secretary of State. Mayor Frank Rizzo (Philly 1970) appointed his brother Joe to be fire chief. "Cronyism?" Give me a break! Judge people on their performance! Your comments are all pre-judging!
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Discussion 21 : 30/08/2011 at 04:58 PM21
got to love it put the man in the right job' unemployed comes to mind, more replacements to come i predict
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Discussion 20 : 30/08/2011 at 04:02 PM20
Pheu Thai-led government was already thought to be considering replacing Pol Gen Wichean with Pol Gen Priewpan Damapong. Why does the new government puppet by Mr. T fire these alleged policemen for dereliction of duty ! Replacing him to a new post or position is an insult ! Perhaps the new government will enforce Prostitution it has been illegal since 1960 and the problem is producing AIDS sex workers. Dr. Nitet Tinnakul from Chulalongkorn University gives a total of 2.8 million sex workers, including 2 million women, 20,000 adult males and 800,000 minors under the age of 18. The WHO ( World Health Organization ) gives an approximate AIDS epidemic in Thailand for over 3 million people (2007). THAILAND do you think it's a problem ?
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Discussion 19 : 30/08/2011 at 03:57 PM19
It is very difficult for the government to keep peace and order if the police is aligned with the opposition. If the police really wants, they can wipe out the casino problem easily. Much easier than drugs. Afterall, the casino (not referring to small gambling den with few mahjong table) is big and open. But if the police chief is not willing to do it, he has to go.
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Discussion 18 : 30/08/2011 at 03:12 PM18
What is an "inactive Post" and where is it and what are its benefits or non benefits?
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Discussion 17 : 30/08/2011 at 02:30 PM17
Now that Thaksin is traveling to countries that have extradition treaties with Thailand, why isn't the head of the police asking that he be arrested? Is that not his job? It doesn't look like there will be any difference who is in the top spot. It will still be business as usual. The casinos open back up, more drugs enter Bangkok, and the end of the month police checks still get set up so bills can be payed. Nothing will change. Thaksin will still be allowed to do what he wants. This same right should be given to all criminals because none of them are guilty, just ask them.
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Discussion 16 : 30/08/2011 at 02:20 PM16
"It has also not been lost on observers that Pol Gen Priewpan is an elder brother of former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra's ex-wife Potjaman na Pombejra, adding to existing accusations of cronyism in the new administration." Within the next few weeks TS will have his sister as PM, one of his best mates as army chief and his brother in law as the top cop. What more do we need to know or say!
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Discussion 15 : 30/08/2011 at 01:40 PM15
Let's hope K. Chalerm can appoint an honest, capable and non-politically affiliated police chief who can make a real impact on crime levels without resorting to human rights abuse. Can we also be hopeful that K.Chalerm will work to stamp out double standards benefiting the rich and powerful in the justice system? Personally I would like to see all previous cases of double standard injustice in the last 10-15 years re-opened and brought to trial where appropriate.
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Discussion 14 : 30/08/2011 at 01:35 PM14
So, 3 days to eradicate gambling AND narcotics. That means 1.5 days for each program. Does anyone remember when the original War on Drugs was launched? Well, it was in 1971, by Richard M. Nixon. That went well didn’t it? 40 years on, its hard to even remember that there was once a trade in illegal substances in the Americas. Obviously Wichean has been set up to fail here. But to avoid [groan!] Double Standards, we will expect to see a succession of new Top Cops being hired and fired on a 3 day rota until one of them completes both tasks within the allotted timeframe. It will be like The Apprentice or one of those other brain-dead “reality” shows. Actually, more of an unreality show.
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