NAKHON RATCHASIMA: The commissioner of Provincial Police Region 3 has shaved his head and transferred a district police chief to an inactive post after protesters were allowed to hang a banner with a message calling for reform of the monarchy in front of the Phu Khieo police station in Chaiyaphum province.
Pol Lt Gen Panurat Lakboon announced on Tuesday he had shaved his head to show his strong commitment to police discipline.
He had also issued an order moving Pol Col Permsuk Siripala, chief of Phu Khieo police, to an inactive post at the Region 3 operations centre in Nakhon Ratchasima, effective from Feb 1 until further notice.
In the same order, Pol Col Pramote Simluang, deputy chief of Chaiyaphum police, was assigned acting chief of Phu Khieo.
The incident occurred on Monday. Members of the People's Group marched from their encampment outside Phu Khieo School in Chaiyaphum's Phu Khieo district to the police station. They put up two cloth banners in front of it.
One of the banners declared, "Reform the Royal Institution", and the other was hashtagged #SAVE MYANMAR.
Members of the People's Group had set up camp outside Phu Khieo School after students were prohibited from participating in the group's activities. They alleged the students were also intimidated by school administrators.
Pol Lt Col Panurat said he ordered the transfer of Pol Col Permsuk because, by allowing the banners to be hung up, he had shown a lack of responsibility and discipline. Police must cherish the royal institution, with the highest respect, he said.
He said the Phu Khieo police chief did not even report what had happened, showing his lack of discipline. As the most senior officer in Region 3, he had his head shaved to demonstrate his adherence to discipline, Pol Lt Panurat said.
He said he would travel to Phu Khieo district on Tuesday to make sure legal action is taken against members of the People's Group, who have held gatherings in violation of the emergency decree and the Communicable Disease Act during the Covid-19 crisis.