The Metropolitan Police Bureau, the key agency overseeing police work in Bangkok, has never seen such a massive transfer of senior officers as in the recent reshuffle which saw a shake-up of metropolitan police units at virtually all levels.
One key feature is the connection which incoming officers have with soldiers in the so-called Burapha Phayak (Tiger of the East) or Wongsuwon groups.
Burapha Phayak refers to military officers who were once affiliated to the 2nd Infantry Division in the eastern province of Prachin Buri while Wongsuwon is the surname of former national police chief Pol Gen Phatcharawat and his elder brother Gen Prawit Wongsuwon, the current defence minister.
Police appointed to key MPB positions appear to be those with strong ties to one of the two lineages. Some officers also worked with former prime minister Abhisit Vejjajiva and his former deputy Suthep Thaugsuban, currently in the monkhood, during the crackdown on pro-Thaksin red-shirt protesters in 2010.
Observers said they have to wait and see how the transfers will affect the work of the bureau. However, one immediate result is the government of Gen Prayut Chan-o-cha, also a Burapha Phayak member, can now deal with police they can trust rather than having to second guess the outgoing lot that was appointed by the old power clique.
Among the new officers in charge is Pol Maj Gen Suwat Chaengyotsuk, an alumnus of the 36th Class of the Royal Police Cadet Academy (RPCA). A former deputy chief of the Office of Police Strategy, he has replaced Pol Maj Gen Thitirat Nonghanpitak as a MPB deputy commissioner.
Pol Maj Gen Thitirat worked with former MPB chief Kamronwit Thoopkrachang who has close ties to former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra. The latest transfer sees Thitirat moved back to the Central Investigation Bureau as a deputy chief.
Pol Maj Gen Suwat once worked with former national police adviser Pol Gen Asawin Kwanmuang during the Abhisit government. He is also a close friend of deputy national police chief Pol Gen Chakthip Chaichinda.
Pol Maj Gen Thawichat Phalasak has been moved from deputy chief of Provincial Police Region 1 to be an MPB deputy chief.
He was a close aide to Pol Gen Phatcharawat and is in the same 35th Class as MPB chief Pol Lt Gen Sriwara Rangsiphrammanakul at the RCPA.
Pol Maj Gen Chaloemphan Achalabun, a deputy chief of the Office of Inspector-General, has also become an MPB deputy chief.
He was among officers responsible for security issues during the 2010 red-shirt demonstrations.
Pol Maj Gen Chaloemphan is also said to have close connections to Phra Suthep and the Wongsuwon network.
Pol Maj Gen Phakkhaphong Phongphetra has been moved from general staff commander under Provincial Police Region 1 to be another MPB deputy chief. He was earlier promoted, reportedly with the support of Phra Suthep, from police chief of Surat Thani, Phra Suthep's home province, to the rank of a police general in 2009.
As for the new chiefs of Metropolitan Police Division 1-9, most of them have close ties to the two lineages or are closely linked to Pol Lt Gen Sriwara, Pol Gen Chakthip or national police chief Pol Gen Somyot Pumpanmuang.
A police source working in the investigative field said he understands there is a need to "clear out" officers in the old power clique, but it is still important to consider putting the right officer in the right job.
"Some police investigators worked for the opposite camp, but they are capable and devoted to their work, regardless of who is in power," the source said.
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