BANGKOK, Sept 9 – Former National Security Council (NSC) Secretary-General Thawil Pliensri said Friday he will petition Thailand’s Merit Systems Protection Committee Monday over what he called his “unfair” transfer order made by Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra.
The former NSC chief spoke to the media after he reported to Deputy Prime Minister Pol Gen Kowit Wattana who is his supervisor and sought permission for a one-week leave.
Mr Thawil stated he planned to file a complaint against the prime minister with the Civil Service Commission for Merit Systems Protection on Sept 12.
He said the new NSC chief will be an outsider and expressed hope that the new chief will be able to work without any interference.
Meanwhile, reporters at Government House on Friday received a statement from NSC officials, dated Sept 9, expressing concern over the Mr Thawil’s transfer.
Transfers in the past concerned all political appointees, but Mr Thawil’s case was unprecedented as he has worked for the agency for a long time. The latest transfer order has affected the morale of NSC officials, the statement said, urging the premier to acknowledge their opposition to the transfer order and promise that she would not bring any outsider to head the council.
Prime Minister Yingluck however defended the transfer, adding that she would assign the former NSC chief as an advisor on national security and to follow the implementation of the government’s urgent policies.
Following comments of the NSC staff that they prefer the new chief to be anyone within the agency, the premier said she will carefully pick up the right person to head the council.
The Cabinet on Tuesday approved the transfer of Mr Thawil to become an adviser to the prime minister, part of a major reshuffle of senior government officials in key ministries with many seen as loyal to ousted prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra being promoted to key posts.
Deputy Prime Minister Chalerm Yoobamrung earlier confirmed that deputy police chief Pol Gen Priewpan Damapong, elder brother of ousted prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra’s ex-wife Pojaman na Pombejra, would become Thailand’s new police chief replacing Pol Gen Wichean Potephosree who will be appointed to head the NSC.
Mr Chalerm reasoned that Mr Thawil will be transferred as he was the secretary-general of the Centre for the Resolution of the Emergency Situation (CRES) which handled the controversial Red Shirt protests last year.
