Attention focused on police reform committee’s meeting with PM

The chairman of the meeting is National Legislative Assembly (NLA) member General Boonsrang Niumpradit, who is a former Supreme Commander of the Royal Thai Armed Forces. 
Meechai Ruchuphan, chairman of the Constitution Drafting Commission, expected the committee to allow police to advance their career based on their performance, not lobbying. 
“That’s the intention of the new charter,” Meechai said.
Democrat Party leader Abhisit Vejjajiva, said he had no objection to Boonsrang, a military man, being chairman of the committee on police reform. 
“There is no rule to require that the chair must be a former policeman,” the veteran politician said. 
Abhisit said that he was actually concerned about the fact that there were so many policemen on the police-reform committee. 
“With the strong presence of policemen on the committee, many figures are now worried that the committee may try to maintain the current structure or even try to boost police power. If this happens, it is not going to be the reform people want,” Abhisit said. 
He also commented that relevant authorities should make clear what the police reform should be about. 
“Let’s announce the clear directions,” he said. 
Boonsrang yesterday refused to comment on what he planned to do. But he promised to give an interview on his mission next week. 
“Please give me one more week,” he said after emerging from a meeting with Deputy Prime Minister Wissanu Kreangam. 
Deputy Prime Minister and Defence Minister General Prawit Wongsuwan said the committee should be able to deliver tangible work within nine months. 
“There may be no drastic changes. But the reform will definitely improve things,” he said. 
Prawit himself expected the police reform to improve investigation, interrogation, forensic science, legal enforcement and work related to judicial process.