By Kavi Chongkittavorn
The Nation
ONLY LESS THAN TWO MONTHS into his second year, Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva is demonstrating an independent and firm mind, handling both domestic and foreign policy issues very much to the chagrin of his counterparts. For those who have known him since he was a political novice nearly two decades ago, it is vintage Abhisit.
Exhibit one: reforming the police. He ordered further investigation into police corruption and bribery related to the Second Police Region's recent reshuffle based on various complaints - a common practice throughout every district and level in the past. As chair of the Police Selection Commission, he has turned the police department upside down, opening Pandora's boxes since last year. In private, he said he wanted to bring into the open the once secretive selection process of the police top dogs. Everybody sighed, knowing it would be an impossible task, but he is doing it anyway at great risk.
After the row over the new police chief seemed to drag on, political pundits and columnists predicted his demise. Jaws dropped when the details were linked to a powerful figure supporting a certain name. But that did not deter Abhisit from what he had in mind, cleaning up the police and instituting much needed reform. His lifeline is hanging on a thread. After all, no Thai politicians wanted to mess with the police - who have a long history of cooperation and confrontation with the power wielders. Police leaders invent/ cum/destroy evidence or perform any dirty jobs necessary to sway or twist public opinion through their manipulations. But from now on, the khaki top brass are in for a roller-coaster ride as they try to figure out what is up Abhisit's sleeve.
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