Wichien appointed NSC chief
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Former police chief Pol Gen Wichean Potephosree was appointed the new secretary-general of the National Security Council on Tuesday.
PM’s Office Minister Surawit Khonsomboon said the Cabinet approved Wichean’s appointment.
The appointment will take effect following royal endorsement.
Wichean will replace Thawil Pliensri who has been moved to work as an adviser to the PM’s Office.
The appointment of Wichean will pave the way for the appointment of Deputy Police Commissioner-General Pol Gen Priewpan Damapong as the new police chief.
Deputy Prime Minister Chalerm Yoobamrung, who supervises the Royal Thai Police, said the Police Commission will convene a meeting Wednesday to deliberate Priewpan’s promotion to the top police position.
The Cabinet approved Thawil's transfer to the Prime Minister's Office on September 6, after Wichean agreed to leave his post as police chief if he could become NSC secretary-general. Wichean later took leave, paving the way for Priewpan to take the top police position in an acting capacity.
Thawil has filed a petition against Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra with the Merit Systems Protection Board, to protest against his transfer.
Among other major appointments approved by the Cabinet Tuesday were Wongsak Sawadiphanich, who retired as the director-general of the Provincial Administration Department at the end of September and has been appointed as an assistant to the interior minister.
The Cabinet also appointed Sukij Charoenrattanakul, Interior Ministry inspector-general, as the new director-general of the powerful Provincial Administration Department.
Julapong Nonesrichai, a former ambassador who retired at the end of September, was appointed as an assistant to the foreign minister.
