Police Spokesman Prawuth Replaced

Police Maj. Gen. Prawuth Thawornsiri displays a photo of bombing suspect Yusufu Mieraili in Bangkok on Sept. 3, the day he was taken into Thai custody.

BANGKOK — The Royal Thai Police today announced that its most public face, spokesman Prawuth Thavornsiri, has been replaced with a new officer.

Police Gen. Prawuth, who had served as police spokesman since October 2014, is replaced by Police Gen. Dechnarong Suticharnbancha, according to a statement released by police officials this morning.

No explanation was given for the sudden change.

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During his tenure in the post, several high profile investigations saw Prawuth in the news and on television almost daily.

He took the job at the height of public interest in the murders of two British tourists on Koh Tao and was the national police’s public face in the weeks after the Aug. 17 bombing of the Erawan Shrine.

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Police Gen. Prawuth Thawornsiri and other officers patrol Soi Cowboy on Aug. 19 in Bangkok to assure foreigners of their safety two days after a deadly bomb attack.

 

While many in the force prefer to speak anonymously, Prawuth was a rare exception, willingly giving interviews to reporters on the record.

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He was active on social media, publishing daily to Twitter and Facebook to publicize police announcements and news.

Correction: The original version of this article incorrectly identified Prawuth as a Police Lieutenant General. He is in fact a Police General.