"Anutin" declines to answer on police general reshuffle list; National Police Chief insists there is no list — everything proceeds according to legal procedures, with consideration based on performance, and confirms there are no class restrictions.
At 08:30 on 17 August, at Military Airport 2, Wing 6 (BN.6), Don Mueang, Anutin Charnvirakul, Prime Minister and Minister of Interior, refused to answer questions about the police general appointment reshuffle — specifically whether the situation had settled — with the Prime Minister smiling before pointing in the direction of Police General Kittirat Phantuphet, the National Police Chief (NPC), who had travelled with him.
Police General Kittirat then gave an interview on the matter, saying: "Please don't use the word 'list.' Everything is carried out in accordance with legal procedures — both the National Police Act and the Police Commission (K.T.R.). There is no list, there is nothing of the sort. Everything proceeds as each unit considers what is appropriate and submits the matter up to the Royal Thai Police headquarters. Once the names are forwarded, they are placed in the pool of eligible candidates and will then be brought before the committee meeting under Section 81(1)(a) of the Royal Thai Police. We will proceed from there, considering on merit — who has a track record, who has what kind of history — and we go by that. There is no list, there is nothing. As for the meeting date, it is still under consideration, and it has not been confirmed whether it will be on 21 August."
When asked about reports suggesting that names from Police Cadet Class 47 appear to have settled while names from Class 48 have moved up to the rank of Police Lieutenant General, Police General Kittirat said: "There is no restriction on which police cadet class. Whether senior or junior class, it comes down to the record and performance that will need to be presented at the meeting. Please, everyone, there is no need to worry that any class will be restricted or anything of that nature — I can confirm there is none." When a reporter pressed further, asking whether everything was proceeding according to procedure and whether everyone would be treated fairly, the National Police Chief replied: "That is correct."
