Two senior military officers were among 12 bureaucrats, police and business officials appointed by the regime to replace the elected Pattaya City Council, whose term expired in June.
Adm. Srivisut Rodarun, commander of the Sattahip Naval Base, and army Col. Pope-anan Luanganuwat, deputy commander of Military Circle 14 in Chonburi, took their seats at the appointed council’s first meeting July 6.
The board, named by an Interior Ministry committee chaired by Chonburi Gov. Khomsan Ekachai June 30, replaces the 24-member Pattaya City Council, which was disbanded when their elected legislator terms expired June 16.
Under the junta, no new local or national elections are allowed and the National Council for Peace and Order has steadily replaced elected governments throughout the country with appointed officials.
Also replaced was Pattaya Mayor Itthiphol Kunplome, who was succeeded by city Permanent Secretary Chanapong Sriviset.
Khomsan said the 12 were chosen for their experience in governance, leadership, education, public works and law.
Joining the two military officers on the governing board is Pol. Maj. Gen. Anan Charoenchasri, deputy commander for Provincial Police Region 2, and several career civil servants, including Banglamung District Chief Chakorn Kanjawattana.
Other bureaucrats include Chalerm Prasarthong, head of the Chonburi Local Development Department; former Nongprue Sub-district Chief Saksit Yaemsri, who now heads Baan Suan Sub-District in Chonburi; Wasan Naowniew, director of Chonburi Primary Education Department; Wiwat Mahapolsirikul, head of public works at the province’s Town Planning Department; and Anan Angkanawisan, senior attorney at the Chonburi Attorney-General’s Office.
The board also comprises three private-sector executives: Sinchai Wattanasartsathorn, president of the Pattaya Business and Tourism Association, PBTA board member Thanet Supornsahasrungsri, chairman of the Chonburi Tourism Industry Council; and Choluek Chotekamjorn, chairman of the Lawyers Council of Pattaya.
