A rural police officer who dares to seek justice
By Chaiyong Maneerungsakul
In wake of a recent corruption scandal in which a police general was transferred to an inactive police and investigated after he was accused of taking “tea money” from police officers who wanted to be moved to “goldmine” positions, a handful of police officers who strongly felt they were unfairly treated took the unusual step by taking their cases to the government and the Royal Thai Police Office to seek justice.
Among the daring complainants was Pol Col Sompien Eksomya, superintendent of Bannangstar district police in Yala province. The police officer has been serving in various posts in the three southernmost provinces for about three decades and he is due to retire in the next 20 months.
After having risked his life to perform duties in the country’s most dangerous region where most police officers prefer to avoid, Pol Col Sompien felt he deserved a less stressful and less risky post so he could serve out the rest of his term. He asked to be transferred to Kantang district of Trang as superintendent which is under the jurisdiction of the Ninth Provincial Police Bureau.
It was learned that Pol Col Sompien’s request for transfer was supported by Pol Gen Adul Saengsingkaew, an advisor of the Royal Thai Police Office. Technically, the transfer is possible provided that it has the backing of his original command and the Ninth Provincial Police Bureau whose jurisdiction covers Trang, Songkhla, Satun and Phatthalung provinces.
Unfortunately though, more than ten police officers had also eyed for the post in Kantang district which has been graded as a “goldmine” position. Only those who have good political connections or who can afford the “asking price” of the powers-that-be usually get the post and can expect to recoup the investment within a short period of time.
But Pol Col Sompien neither has the right connections nor the cash to “buy” the position. So, he ends up getting stuck in the same post in Bannangstar district where he is likely to serve out the rest of his term until his mandatory retirement in the next 20 months unless there is a miracle.
As a matter of fact, the police colonel was partly to blame for being too realistic and too ambitious. Some critics cynically noted that had he chosen for a less favourite post such as the one in Sathing Phra district in Songkhla which is largely covered with rice fields and palm trees, his wish would have been fulfilled.
It has become an open secret that the basic criteria for promotion which includes seniority, performance record and resourcefulness is no longer applicable in the police force and in most governmental agencies in their consideration of reshuffle. The only criteria are political connections and/or money which are the only factors which count.
Pol Col Sompien has already exercised his right to make the complaint. But it is doubtful that his wish will ever be fulfilled. Despite the setback, it is only hoped that he will not lose his morale and will continue to serve out his term the best he can.
In the meantime, it is also hoped that the probe into the “positions selling” scandal should not end up as another whitewash in which all the “big fish” will escape scot free.