BANGKOK — The government has harshly criticised a top court official for lobbying the chief of the Royal Thai Police to grant a promotion to a policeman he knows personally.

The letter was written by the secretary general of the Administrative Court, Direkrit Jenkrongtham, and addressed to the Thai police chief, Pol.Gen. Adul Saengsingkaew. 

In the letter, Mr. Direkrit asked the police chief to consider promoting another police officer, Pol.Lt.Col. Chutharet Yingyongdamrongsakul, from deputy commander to the position of station commander.

According to Isra News, which published the letter online, Pol.Lt.Col. Chutharet is a friend of the nephew of Mr. Direkrit's boss, the chairman of the Supreme Administrative Court, Hassawut Withiwiriyakul. It is also understood that Pol.Lt.Col. Chutharet and Mr. Direkrit know each other personally.

The image of the letter has been widely shared on social media, attracting many comments that brand Mr. Direkrit's action as a typical case of the favouritism that plagues Thai bureaucracy. 

Mr. Direkrit defended the letter in an interview with Isra News, insisting that he has not violated any laws or bureaucratic regulations because his request was not made through an official channel.

In fact, Mr. Direkrit told Isra News that it is the media who is at risk of violating the law by publishing internal memos with the potential intention to defame or accuse an official like himself.

Mr. Direkrit added that it is important to have policemen who are close to court officials in high-ranking positions, for the sake of reliable security service. 

"The request for policemen we trust, such as those who are our relatives or used to work with us … to be in a position to provide security is perfectly reasonable," Mr. Direkrit said. 

"We need people we can trust in charge. We can't use just anyone. They may stab us in the back later on," Mr. Direk told Isra News. "This is not an interference or abuse of power."

He added, "As far as I know, many police officers do this on a regular basis. It's nothing illegal."

However, the Centre for Administration of Peace and Order (CAPO) has a different view. 

"It warrants the strongest terms of criticism and condemnation," said CAPO spokesperson Pol.Lt.Col Anchulee Theerawongpaisan. “It’s an act that violates the ethics decreed under the Constitution at the hands of one of the highest leaders in the judicial branch."

The CAPO spokesperson also raised concern that the incident may lead the public to question the impartiality of the courts, especially when the Constitutional Court will soon rule on the status of Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra following complaints that she unfairly removed a former head of the National Security Council.

"CAPO does not have the power to take any action in this case," Pol.Lt.Col Anchulee said. "But it is the task of  CAPO to solve conflicts in society. Therefore, we demand the two officials in the Administrative Court reconsider their action,” Pol.Lt.Col Anchulee said in reference to Mr. Direkti and his superior, chairman of the Supreme Administrative Court Mr. Hassawut.

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BANGKOK — The commander-in-chief of the Royal Thai Army has denied reports that a recently murdered pro-government activist had been "blacklisted" by the military.

Kamol Duangphasuk, 45, was shot dead by a pair of masked assassins outside a restaurant in Bangkok on 23 April. Mr. Kamol, aka Mai Nueng Gor Gunthee, was a well-known campaigner against the establishment and Thailand’s strict lese majeste (insult of monarchy) laws. He was also a stout supporter of Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra.

Although police have not established a motive behind the fatal shooting, there are speculations that Mr. Kamol may have been targeted in revenge for his alleged involvement in an underground network that engineered attacks on anti-government protesters in recent months.

Speaking to journalists today, Gen. Prayuth Chan-Ocha, commander-in-chief of the Thai army, appeared to affirm this speculation, telling reporters to ask the police what Mr. Kamol had been doing prior to his assassination.

"Every core activist of every side is involved in violence. All of them," Gen. Prayuth said. "But don't accuse the military of harming these people. I have always said that the army takes care of people on every side. It doesn't matter whether we like it or not. We simply have to perform our duty."

Gen. Prayuth also expressed anger at a news report, originally published in anti-government newspaper Manager ASTV, which alleged that Mr. Kamol was on a "blacklist" compiled by the military. 

"[The reporters] should come up with evidence of such a blacklist," Gen. Prayuth said.

Gen. Prayuth went on, furiously, "I have to pursue legal actions against a certain newspaper that wrote the report. If they continue to write such things, all of their [reporters] should prepare to lose their jobs. You all know what newspaper I am talking about. It never writes anything that gives dignity to humankind. Do they think everyone else is like them? I don't understand them."

When asked to comment on the reports that Gen. Chaiyasith Shinawatra, chief adviser to Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra and former Chief of the Defence Forces, is organising combat training for pro-government activists in Nakhon Ratchasima province, Gen. Prayuth admitted he has received reports of such groups by military intelligence units and has asked the government to monitor them closely.

"It's not my business … but I feel troubled to see local leaders coming out to speak in a way that encourages violence," Gen. Prayuth said. "I believe that violence will not solve all of this. It will only increase the conflict."

He added, "In the past five months, I have tried to find solutions. But if you don't adopt these solutions, I won’t know what to do."

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