A change of guards at SBPAC

"Honestly, I am glad because I can take a break."

          So said Pol Colonel Thawee Sodsong to Isra news agency after he was abruptly removed as secretary-general of the Southern Border Provinces Administration Centre by the National Council for Peace and Order on May 24 – two days after Army Commander-in-Chief General Prayuth Chan-ocha led a bloodless coup to topple the Pheu Thai-led government.

          The NCPO, in the meantime, appointed Mr Panu Uthairat, inspector-general of the Interior Ministry, to succeed Pol Col Thawee.

          Pol Col Thawee told Isra news agency said he understood the intention of the NCPO to have a trusted man for the job at the SBPAC.  However, he said that he was fully committed to the job throughout the past two years and seven months working in the Deep South.

          The police colonel said that he had gone through different jobs and had found out that peaceful approach was the most sensible and practical means to address unrest problem in the restive region.  And he wished his successor luck and success.

          Prior to his assignment to the Deep South, Pol Col Thawee had served in different jobs as follows:  superintendent of the 2nd subdivision of Crime Suppression Division, deputy commander of the CSD, deputy secretary-general of the Office of Narcotics Control Board, chief of Department of Special Investigation, deputy permanent secretary of justice and, finally, secretary-general of SBPAC.

          While serving as head of SBPAC, Pol Col Thawee gained widespread recognition among local leaders and officials for his diplomatic and peaceful approaches. 

          But his successor, Mr Panu Uthairat, is no stranger to the unrest problem.  A native of Nong Chik district of Pattani, he has spent most of his working years in the three southernmost provinces and Songkhla since he left Thammasat University with a bachelor’s degree in political science.

          He used to be assistant district chiefs of Ra-nage, Waeng and Cho Airong districts of Narathiwat before being promoted as district chief of Si Sakhon district and Muang district of Songkhla.  He also served as deputy governor of Yala, governor of Pattani and Nakhon Si Thammarat.

          At the end of 2009, he was appointed secretary-general of SBPAC replacing Mr Pranai Suwannarat.  He served in the post for two years until he was removed and replaced by Pol Col Thawee by the Yingluck government.

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Caption :

1 Pol Colonel Thawee Sodsong in farewell ceremony

2 Mr Panu Uthairat