Government security adviser Surapong Tovichakchaikul has said he will struggle to work with Thawil Pliensri when he is reinstated secretary-general of the National Security Council (NSC), as ordered by the Supreme Administrative Court on Friday.
The court said the government's Sept 30, 2011 order to transfer Mr Thawil citing grounds of incompetence was groundless and unfair and instructed he be restored to the position, now held by Lt Gen Paradorn Pattanatabut, within 45 days.
Mr Thawil, who had been fighting his case in court for two years, appeared on the People's Democratic Reform Committee (PDRC) rally stage several times to discuss his predicament and push for national reform.
Mr Surapong said this would make it hard to trust the incoming NSC chief. "I would find it hard to work with Mr Thawil because he had been on stage with the PDRC.
"There are trust issues because he may not be able to keep government secrets," caretaker Foreign Minister Surapong and chief adviser to the Centre for Maintaining Peace and Order (CMPO), told reporters on Monday.
Although Mr Thawil will be reinstated, the top decision-makers on issues of national security are still CMPO director Chalerm Yubamrung and national police chief Adul Saengsingkaew, Mr Surapong added.
CMPO member Surapong, right, says PDRC-supporting Thawil may be unable to keep state secrets when he is reinstated NSC chief. (Bangkok Post photos)
Lt-Gen Paradorn Pattanatabut, the incumbent secretary-general of the NSC, said he had no problem with Mr Thawil retaking his post.
"I don't know where I'll be transferred but I'm ready to work and I believe that Mr Thawil will be able to continue where I'll leave off since he was in this position before," Lt-Gen Paradorn said.
Caretaker Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra said she had instructed PM's secretary-general Suranand Vejjajiva to study the legal process of reinstating Mr Thawil.
Ms Yingluck said she was not trying to delay the process, adding that Mr Thawil would be in charge of the NSC before the 45-day deadline.
After the Supreme Administrative Court ordered Mr Thawil be restored to the NSC secretary-general's post on Friday, he argued that the judgment showed fairness against "cronyism".
Mr Thawil was transferred from the NSC secretary-general post soon after the Pheu Thai Party won the election in 2011. He was seen as having close links with the opposition Democrat Party, but strongly denied any such allegiances.
He was appointed an adviser to the Prime Minister's Office after his transfer, but he said that nobody used his services, leaving him with nothing to do.