Metropolitan Police Bureau chief Khamronwit Thoopkrachang has brushed aside calls for his immediate resignation because of his recent meeting with fugitive former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra in Hong Kong, saying he will step down voluntarily when there is a change of government.
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Po Lt-Gen Khamronwit signalled his rejection while addressing more than 1,000 police officers who turned up at the Metropolitan Police Bureau on Friday to support and praise him for his impartial and decisive response in the hit-and-run case involving the son of a top executive of the Red Bull energy drink business empire.
The city police chief thanked his subordinates for their support and admitted that he had met Thaksin in Hong Kong on June 29 -- the same day that the royal command was issued endorsing his promotion.
He said he went there to ask the former premier, who he openly loves and respects, to decorate the new rank insignia for him.
After meeting Thaksin, the city police chief said he placed a framed photo of himself with Thaksin on his office wall with the his own inscription, "I have `today' because you gave it to me''.
Critics have pointed to the inscription and questioned whether Thaksin was responsible for the decision to promote Pol Lt-Gen Khamronwit to the position of head of the Metropolitan Police Bureau.
Po Lt-Gen Kamronwit said the message has been widely misinterpreted because, in fact, it was an allegory to the name of the only song he liked to sing, which was "Pee Mee Tae Hai (I only give)".
The city police chief was due to leave the country later today to visit France, Belgium and the Netherlands to observe ports and logistics management. He was due to return to Bangkok on Tuesday
The Green Politics group wants the Office of the National Anti-Corruption Commission (NACC) to investigate whether Pol Lt-Gen Khamronwit failed in his duty to arrest Thaksin when the two men met in Hong Kong.
“I start off as a country boy and have come this far to serve the people. If the government changes, I will resign, no need to transfer me. I can write my resignation letter in advance, no problem,” the city police chief said.
“I am the Metropolitan Police Bureau commissioner of Thailand, not the Metropolitan Police Bureau chief for other countries, so how could I have arrested someone outside the kingdom?"
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