Prime minister advised to give Thawil his NSC position back
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Democrat Party leader Abhisit Vejjajiva yesterday advised Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra to reinstate Thawil Pliensri as chief of the National Security Council, saying Thawil was the best person qualified for the job and the Central Administrative Cou
Abhisit explained that Thawil was the best candidate because he had developed his career at the agency and could continue with his job of trying to end the South insurgency. He said Yingluck should find another position for current NSC chief General Paradorn Pattanathabutr.
The Central Administrative Court ruled last week that transferring Thawil to an advisory position at the PM’s Office was unlawful and ordered the PM to reinstate him at the NSC as soon as possible.
A Government House source said Yingluck was planning to appeal the verdict and expects the case to take long enough for the verdict to coincide with Thawil’s retirement next year.
Abhisit said while Yingluck had the right to appeal against the ruling, it should not have been announced in a move to pressure Thawil out. If Yingluck went ahead with appealing the verdict, then Thawil also had the right to file a complaint against the PM with the National Anti-Corruption Commission.
Meanwhile, Deputy Premier Chalerm Yoobamrung yesterday warned Thawil against putting too much pressure on the government. He explained that it was normal practice for a new government to replace the NSC chief because it would find it difficult to trust a person appointed by the previous administration.
He also called on the media to not focus too much on Thawil’s case, adding that when Abhisit took over as PM, he had transferred then-NSC chief General Surapol Puenaiyaka, then-permanent secretary for Interior Ministry Pirapol Traithasawit and then-Bangkok city clerk Pongsak Semsan to advisory positions.
Chalerm said the PM’s Office and the Office of the Attorney-General were considering whether to appeal against Thawil’s ruling, though the final decision was with Yingluck. He said if it was up to him, he would certainly appeal against the ruling.
Chalerm added that since Paradorn was still the NSC chief, Thawil’s case would not affect the ongoing talks with insurgent groups in the South.
