Wichean fights for his job

ANALYSIS: Illegal gambling and drug abuse could be the catalyst for a police power transfer.

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.
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.
The Pheu Thai-led government was already thought to be considering replacing Pol Gen Wichean with Pol Gen Priewpan Damapong, and this expectation gained weight when Mr Chuvit, leader of the Rak Thailand Party and an opposition MP, presented his video clips during last week's policy debate.
Pol Capt Chalerm is also expected to formally propose the police reshuffle in the wake of the casino revelations within the next three days.
But Pol Gen Wichean appeared outwardly unconcerned yesterday as he led a group of senior police officers to Privy Council president Gen Prem Tinsulanonda's Si Sao Thewes residence in Bangkok.
He told reporters he was there to offer birthday wishes to Gen Prem, who turned 91 on Friday.
Still, some observers saw the visit as a move by Pol Gen Wichean to set up pre-emptive defences against his rumoured ouster. He and Gen Prem had a 15-minute closed-door meeting.
Pol Gen Wichean later told reporters than Gen Prem had offered him moral support during the meeting.
"[Gen Prem] said he is glad I'm the police chief and he acknowledged that I have tried my best and have sacrificed a lot, and he asked me to continue to do good," Pol Gen Wichean said.
The government is reportedly pressuring Pol Gen Wichean to voluntarily leave the police seat and succeed the permanent secretary of the Tourism and Sports Ministry, who will retire at the end of next month. This would pave the way for deputy police chief Pol Gen Priewpan to take over.
According to sources, Pol Gen Wichean had earlier agreed to the transfer on the condition he be allowed to reshuffle 10 senior police officers.
But his visit to Gen Prem is seen by some as a sign that he may have changed his mind and intends to fight the move.
It has been rumoured that Pheu Thai is keen to replace him as soon as possible, as Pol Gen Priewpan is set to retire in September next year.
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.
Pol Capt Chalerm, who supervises the Royal Thai Police Office, met both Pol Gen Wichean and Pol Gen Priewpan yesterday.
In the meeting with Pol Gen Wichean at the Metropolitan Police Bureau, Pol Capt Chalerm told the police chief that he must take responsibility for failing to crack down on the Bangkok casinos.
A source inside the meeting, which was also attended by Pol Gen Priewpan, quoted Pol Capt Chalerm as saying to Pol Gen Wichean: "I apologise, but I have to do this."
This was apparently referring to Pol Capt Chalerm backing Pol Gen Wichean's possible transfer.
However, after the meeting, Pol Capt Chalerm denied any knowledge of Pol Gen Wichean's fate and told reporters that the police chief position is under Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra's sole authority.
Asked whether the government could justify replacing Pol Gen Wichean with Pol Gen Priewpan, he said he did not know if this would be the case.
"I will not use the terms 'remove' or 'transfer', I prefer to say 'put the man in the right job'," said Pol Capt Chalerm.
The deputy prime minister had earlier met with Pol Gen Priewpan at Government House, citing a discussion on the anti-narcotics issue. Pol Gen Wichean was not present.
Prime Minister Yingluck did not confirm whether the revelation of illegal casinos and the city's drug problems would prompt any police reshuffle. She simply said she would study the issue.
As the prime minister, Ms Yingluck chairs the Police Commission and she will attend her first meeting with the commission at the Royal Thai Police Office today.
Ms Yingluck also denied that Khunying Potjaman was pushing for Pol Gen Priewpan's promotion.
Former Democrat Party secretary-general Suthep Thaugsuban yesterday opposed any replacement of Pol Gen Wichean. He said Pol Gen Wichean was capable and good, and illegal casinos and drug abuse alone were not enough to justify his replacement.
Mr Suthep said if these were grounds for changing the police chief, no successor could stay in office either.
If Pol Gen Wichean is transferred, it would not be the first major police move under the Pheu Thai-led government.
On Aug 15, Pol Gen Aswin Kwanmuang was replaced as acting chief of the Provincial Police Region 1 by deputy chief Pol Maj Gen Khamronwit Thupkrachang.
Pol Gen Aswin is close to Chuan Leekpai, chief adviser to the opposition Democrat Party. He received important tasks from Mr Suthep during the tenure of the past Democrat-led coalition government.
The casino topic is likely to also affect the seat of Bangkok police chief Pol Lt Gen Jakthip Chaijinda, who is close to Mr Suthep and Bhumjaithai Party de facto leader Newin Chidchob.
A possible successor is Pol Maj Gen Winai Thongsong, deputy commissioner of the Central Investigation Bureau and a nephew-in-law of Thaksin.