Dec. 22 — Thailand’s government reinstated Phatcharavat Wongsuwan as chief of police less than a month after he was fired for not following an order to clear protesters from Bangkok’s airports.
Chavarat Charnvikul, who joined the new government as interior minister, signed the order in his capacity as acting prime minister before Abhisit Vejjajiva officially takes power, according to a copy of the order sent by fax to reporters.
“This shows the close ties between Phatcharavat and the Democrat Party,” Nattawut Saikuar, a former government spokesman, said by phone.
Two days ago, Abhisit appointed Pravit Wongsuwan, Phatcharavat’s brother, as defense minister. Pravit is a former army chief who served as a member of the military-appointed legislature after the 2006 coup against former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra.
The appointment comes two days after Abhisit unveiled a cabinet lineup that reflects his party’s links with demonstrators who seized Bangkok’s airports for eight days in a bid to oust the former ruling party.
Phatcharavat was fired a day after former Prime Minister Somchai Wongsawat, Thaksin’s brother-in-law, ordered him to clear protesters from the airports.
