Thawil set to fight his transfer in court
Thawil Pliansri announced yesterday that he would take the government to court because it was not justified in removing him from his post as National Security Council secretary general.
"I have never thought that one day I will have to invoke the law to remind my political superiors about compliance with the merit system," he said.
Thawil said he would ask the Merit System Protection Commission, as per the civil-service provisions, to overturn the government's order to have him transferred from the NSC to the Office of the Prime Minister.
On Tuesday, the Cabinet approved Thawil being made an advisor to the premier - seen as an inactive position. Many consider this move as paving the way for nation police chief General Wichean Potephosree to take over the NSC before General Priewpan Damapong is installed as his successor.
Priewpan is the brother of Khunying Pojaman na Pombejra, ex-wife of former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra.
Thawil, meanwhile, is to take up his new position once it gets royal endorsement. Under relevant laws, the appellate review of his transfer can only be activated after his move goes into effect and will take about a year to complete.
In other words, Thawil will not be able to stop the government from having him transferred, but he could get reinstated in his old post if the court rules favourably.
At a press conference yesterday, Thawil said he was not trying to cling to his position, but regretted that it was being done unfairly and in violation of the merit system. He lamented that he had become a pawn in the power play to replace the national police chief and was being transferred to an inactive post even though he had not lapsed in his duties.
Furthermore, he said, the prime minister, who is his direct superior, did nothing when a Cabinet member started heaping sarcastic remarks on him, faulting him for mistakes he did not make. Thawil was referring to Deputy PM Chalerm Yoobamrung in this case.
He said that in his more than 30 years in civil service, he served the country and had no political leanings.
Thawil said he was obliged to work ex-officio while the emergency decree was in place regardless of which party was in power, rebutting allegations that he was close to the Democrats during last year's riots.
In reaction to Thawil's remarks, Chalerm said he should not worry about his new post being inactive because the government had a new assignment waiting for him.
He added that Thawil had the right to take the case to court, though the government will strive to ensure fairness.
Chalerm added that though he had made remarks that were deemed by Thawil as sarcastic and offensive, the actual transfer would not have an adverse impact on benefits, seniority and integrity.
Opposition chief whip Jurin Laksanavisit said he saw this case as proof that the government was bent on serving the wishes of just one man - Thaksin.
