Top cop in trouble over Thaksin links
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Metropolitan Police commissioner Lt-General Khamronwit Thoopkrajang has found himself in trouble after boasting about his links to fugitive former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra.
Green Politics coordinator Suriyasai Katasila yesterday said he would this week launch legal and ethical proceedings against Khamronwit.
Suriyasai plans to petition the National Anti-Corruption Commission to look into Khamronwit’s lapse of duty in not arresting Thaksin, despite six outstanding warrants. He will also ask the Office of the Ombudsman to rule whether Khamronwit has violated the ethical standards for law enforcement officers.
“I find it unacceptable if the commissioner neglects to perform his duty because of his personal ties with Thaksin,” he said.
He said Khamronwit, as well as National Police General Priewpan Damapong, both set bad examples by being humble towards a fugitive instead of upholding the law. He was referring to Priewpan’s trip to Hong Kong in July, reportedly to meet Thaksin.
Suriyasai voiced concern about the integrity of the justice system if policemen flocked to seek favours from fugitive Thaksin. The controversial ties came to light after Khamronwit invited reporters to his office to give an interview. On prominent display in his office is a photograph taken in Hong Kong shinging Thaksin pinning three stars on the epaulets of Khamronwit who is in full-dress uniform.
Underneath the photograph, Khamronwit had inscribed a phrase “[What] I have today [is] due to [my] brother’s generosity”, expressing his gratitude to Thaksin for securing him the position as Metropolitan commissioner.
After major newspapers published the photograph, web-boards were inundated with critical comments on Khamronwit’s kowtowing to Thaksin. Reacting to his critics, Khamronwit said he found nothing wrong in displaying the picture of a man he respected.
“I put up pictures of who ever I hold in high esteem as a reminder to myself, and don’t see why this should be troubling to anyone,” he said.
He confirmed he had met Thaksin and that as an act of anointment, he had asked him to pin the stars on his epaulets. “I will never be ungrateful to Thaksin,” he said, vowing to maintain his loyalty even if he had to risk losing his job following a change of government.
