Changes likely for Wichean and Tharit

New governments often lead to changes in sensitive positions. In this case, the national police chief and the head of the DSI won't be surprised if they are replaced.

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Red shirt pursuers at the mercy of new govt

Manop Thip-Osod
Wassana Nanuam

Tharit: Handled prosecution

The futures of Tharit Pengdit, director-general of the Department of Special Investigation, and national police chief Wichean Potephosree hang in the balance as the administration of the country shifts to the Pheu Thai Party.

Mr Tharit has handled the prosecution of red shirt protesters who support former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra, the de facto leader of the Pheu Thai Party, while Pol Gen Wichean, instead of Thaksin's brother-in-law, was promoted to become national police chief by the outgoing Abhisit Vejjajiva government.

Wichean Khaokham, a Pheu Thai Party candidate who was elected in Udon Thani province, said yesterday he would attend a meeting of his party today and propose the transfer of Mr Tharit from the DSI.

Mr Wichean was among the red shirt protest leaders whom the DSI prosecuted on lese majeste charges.

He also wants the new government under the leadership of Pheu Thai to review legal action taken against red shirt demonstrators and rehabilitate them. He said that reconciliation could only happen when arrested red shirt protesters were released.

Many red shirt demonstrators have been detained since their protests last year. Some have been charged with lese majeste, terrorism and illegal assembly.

Wichean: Will follow government orders

Apart from Mr Tharit, Pol Gen Wichean looks likely to be replaced. He served the Abhisit government and recently deployed police to drugs suppression unit 315 which Pheu Thai supporters viewed as an attempt to obstruct the party's vote campaigning.

His promotion to police chief last year shattered the dream of Pol Gen Priewpan Damapong, elder brother of Thaksin's ex-wife Khunying Potjaman na Pombejra. Pol Gen Priewpan complained that Pol Gen Wichean's promotion overlooked him unfairly. Pol Gen Priewpan will reach retirement age in October next year but Pol Gen Wichean will do so in the following year.

Pol Gen Wichean said it would be understandable if the next government were to replace him as police chief. But he said he is a professional and that he followed the policies of his supervisors.

But, under the National Police Act, the next prime minister could only assign Pol Gen Wichean to assist another government agency and make Pol Gen Priewpan acting police chief. The official position of the national police chief would remain with Pol Gen Wichean.

Pol Gen Priewpan could only officially take over the role if Pol Gen Wichean agreed to leave the Royal Thai Police Office to work for another agency.

pursue – to chase someone or something in order to catch them ( a pursurer is someone who does this) ไล่ตาม
at the mercy of – not able to stop somebody/something harming you because they have power or control over you  ภายใต้การควบคุมของ, ภายใต้การคุ้มครองของ
future – the possibility of being successful or surviving at a later time อนาคต
(DSI) Department of Special Investigation – a police department investigating serious crimes involving influential people, organised crime, or crimes using highly sophisticated technology กรมสอบสวนคดีพิเศษ
hang in the balance – of a situation that has reached a stage where it will soon be decided one way or another (สถานการณ์) ไม่แน่นอนว่าจะจบด้วยดีหรือร้าย
administration – the process or act of organising the way that something is done  การบริหาร
shift – to change เปลี่ยน
handle – to take action in order to deal with a difficult situation ดูแล, จัดการ
prosecution –the process of accusing someone of a crime and asking a court of law to judge them การดำเนินคดีตามกฎหมาย
protester – someone who shows that they disagree with something by standing somewhere, shouting, carrying signs, etc  ผู้ต่อต้าน, ผู้ประท้วง
de facto – in reality;  in fact อย่างแท้จริง, อันที่จริง, ตามความจริง
brother-in-law – the brother of your husband or wife, or the man who is married to your sister, or the man who is married to the sister of your wife or husband พี่เขยหรือน้องเขย
promote – to move someone to a job at a higher level เลื่อนตำแหน่ง
candidate – a person who is trying to be elected ผู้สมัครรับเลือกตั้ง
propose – to suggest an idea for a group to consider เสนอ
transfer – to change someone’s job or responsibilities โยกย้ายตำแหน่ง
lese majeste – the crime of offending, threatening or showing disrespect for a member of the royal family หมิ่นพระบรมเดชานุภาพ
charge – an official statement accusing someone of committing a crime ข้อหา
legal – relating to the law or lawyers เกี่ยวกับกฎหมาย
demonstrators – people who march with other people in public to show that they support or oppose something ผู้ชุมนุมประท้วง
rehabilitate – to return someone or something to a good or healthy condition, state or way of living ฟื้นฟูสุขภาพ
reconciliation – a new and friendly relationship with someone who you argued with or fought with การทำให้ปรองดองกันอีก,  การสมานฉันท์
release – to allow someone to go free ปล่อยตัว
detained – kept in a place and not allowed to leave กักตัว ควบคุมตัวหรือฝากขัง
terrorism – the use of violence to achieve political aims การใช้ความรุนแรงเพื่อข้อเรียกร้องทางการเมือง
illegal – against the law  ผิดกฎหมาย
assembly – bringing together and forming a group การนำมาร่วมกัน
likely – probable or expected น่าจะเป็นไปได้
replace – to get rid of someone or something and to put a new person or thing in their place หาคนมาแทน
deploy – (of police or soldiers) to put in place ready for action ส่ง (ทหารตำรวจ) ประจำการ
suppression – stopping an activity from happening, in this case, criminal activity  การปราบปราม
unit – a group of people who work or live together, especially for a particular purpose หน่วย,กอง,กลุ่ม
obstruct – to make it difficult for something to happen or for someone or something to go somewhere ขวางทาง
campaign – a planned series of activities designed to persuade voters to vote for a particular candidate or political party การรณรงค์หาสียง
shatter – to break into many pieces แตกกระจาย
elder – older ที่อายุมากกว่า
overlook – to fail to notice or consider something มองพลาด, มองไม่เห็น, เพิกเฉย
retirement – the time when you stop working, especially because of old age เกษียณอายุ
policy – a set of plans or action agreed on by a government, political party, business, or other group นโยบาย
supervisor – someone who is in charge of an activity, a place, or a group of people such as workers or students ผู้ควบคุมดูแล, หัวหน้างาน
Act – a law passed by a country’s government พ.ร.บ. พระราชบัญญัติ
assign – to give someone a job to do มอบหมาย, สั่งงาน
acting – doing the work of the usual person in a particular job while they are not there, or until a new person starts ที่รักษาการแทน
remain – to continue to be something; to be still in the same state or condition คงอยู่
role – the purpose or influence of someone or something in a particular situation; function or job บทบาท