PM proposes military-style promotion for civil service

PM proposes military-style promotion for civil service

Then-army commander Gen Prayut Chan-o-cha (centre) joins a Defence Council meeting at Government House on March 4, 2014 chaired by then-caretaker defence minister Yingluck Shinawatra. (Government House photo)
Then-army commander Gen Prayut Chan-o-cha (centre) joins a Defence Council meeting at Government House on March 4, 2014 chaired by then-caretaker defence minister Yingluck Shinawatra. (Government House photo)

The screening system used by the Defence Ministry is being mooted for other government agencies as well as the police to copy in promoting senior officials, Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha said on Friday.

Gen Prayut said he favoured using the idea throughout the civil service as a way end the cronyism and political interference that have plagued most ministries for decades.

"If this method is applied, a transparent chain of command is established in place of factions," he said during his weekly Returning Happiness to All Thais broadcast.

"This would prevent a relapse to the dominance of whichever administration comes into power."

The Defence Council is the body that selects senior military officers for promotion. It is chaired by the defence minister with the deputy minister and leaders of all the armed forces among the members.

The panel screens prospective successors for all key positions in the Royal Thai Army, Royal Thai Navy, Royal Thai Air Force, Supreme Command and Defence Ministry. Promotion is approved if a candidate receives at least two-thirds of members' votes.

"The superiors need to know the qualities of their subordinates to prevent lobbying. Military officials cannot lobby in such a way or pay for appointments," said Gen Prayut.

"I would like this method to apply to the police force and other civil servants.

"The Board of the Royal Thai Police already exists. Does it operate similarly to the military method?"

Gen Prayut said any ministry could set up a similar panel consisting of the permanent secretary, directors-general and their deputies to vet officials nominated for higher positions.

His idea is part of a broader push for bureaucratic reform that would include the police force.

The military government has spoken frequently about the need for sweeping police reform since it took power in May last year. However, little concrete action has been seen so far.

Gen Prayut said the plan remained on the agenda but acknowledged that reform of the Royal Thai Police would be a long process.

He said the process of appointing senior police officers had already been improved, though he did not elaborate. But many difficult questions remain to be answered about the structure of the police force, he added.

"An example is the police force and investigative affairs. The positioning needs to be determined," he said. "Which agency will be responsible for cases? How will local police forces and those in the central sector be positioned?"

Gen Prayut also used his speect to reiterate that he remained committed to reforms but that not everything could be achieved within the limited term of his administration. Ultimately, he said, it would be up to the public to push reforms ahead.

"I am not aiming to carry out all the reforms myself by staying in office for years. It is something that must be passed on to the next elected government," he said.

"The public will exercise its power to elect. There have always been demands for reform, both by the public and the past governments. We are already at this point. Are we to stop and revert to what was before? The power is yours."

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