A purge of several state enterprise boards is expected to be the next step the coup-makers take following massive transfers of senior state officials and police officers on Saturday night.
The state enterprise boards are being closely watched because they are crucial tools driving the work of state enterprise agencies and several of these boards are occupied by individuals considered to have close affiliations with the Pheu Thai administration. Among the boards likely to face the axe are oil and gas giant PTT, Airports of Thailand, Port Authority of Thailand, Expressway and Rapid Transit Authority, State Railways of Thailand, Bank for Agriculture and Agricultural Cooperatives, Government Saving Bank and the Electricity Generating Authority of Thailand.
The PTT board chairman is Parnpree Bahiddhanukara, a former deputy leader of the Pheu Thai Party. AoT is chaired by Sita Dhivari, also a Pheu Thai figure while the port authority is headed by former city police chief Khamronwit Thoopkrachang.
PTT was the first to be hit with the purge rumour. Word began to spread on Saturday night in the social media after the National Council for Peace and Order issued a series of orders transferring top government officials and senior police officers.
Several treated the rumour with scepticism because PTT Plc is a listed company and has its own rules and procedures. However, some argue that the coup-makers have consolidated the power and can order the purge.
Thai Airways International board is likely to be saved because ACM Prachin Jantong, the NCPO deputy chief, has already taken the helm.
A source said while changes at these boards are imminent, they are not likely to be drastic because it will draw unnecessary fierce opposition.
The source said the boards are represented by senior state officials and changes are for "suitability".
However, some members of the state enterprise boards have been heard telling their close aides they are willing to step down in the wake of the "change of powers".
Following the mass transfers of the senior officials, NCPO chief Prayuth Chanocha has asked the public for understanding.
NCPO spokesman Col Winthai Suvaree said Gen Prayuth wants the public to understand that their transfers do not undermine the honour of the officials.
"All will be done to establish trust among members of the society," Col Winthai said. "And [Gen Prayuth] would like the people to have sympathy for the transferred and refrain from showing contempt and hatred towards them because they have done nothing wrong."
The transfers have seen four key figures moved to inactive posts in the Prime Minister’s Office. They are former national police chief Pol Gen Adul Saengsingkaew, former defence permanent secretary Gen Nipat Thonglek, former Department of Special Investigation director-general Tarit Pengdith, and former director of Southern Border Provinces Administration Centre Thawee Sodsong.
Following the transfer of Pol Gen Adul, acting police chief Pol Gen Watcharapol Prasarnratchakij promptly issued orders to transfer eight commissioner-level police officers including Lt Gen Khamronwit to inactive posts at the Royal Thai Police Office and to appoint their replacements.
Third Army chief Preecha Chan-ocha yesterday ordered the transfer of Krit Kitilue, Chiang Mai police chief, to an inactive post, for providing "convenience" to Phanthongtae Shinawatra, son of ousted prime mininister Thaksin Shinawatra.