Meeting turns to mayhem as tempers flare

       A meeting on the reassignment of senior police officers has erupted into a heated argument, forcing its closure after just 90 minutes.
       Deputy Prime Minister Suthep Thaugsuban, who chaired the Police Commission's qualifications screening board yesterday in his position as acting prime minister, refused to allow the meeting to continue because of the arguments.
       Deputy police chief Priewpan Damapong said after the meeting the screening board members had been unable to reach an agreement on the reshuffle list.
       Other members of the board included Pol Gens Wongkot Suthep: No Maneerin, Wirot agreement Phaholwech,Chumpol Manmai, Jongrak Juthanond,Watcharapol Prasarnratchakit and Pateep Tanprasert.
       The meeting yesterday considered the reshuffle list of police generals below the rank of national police chief proposed by acting police chief Thanee Somboonsap.
       Pol Gen Watcharapol, who is also the police spokesman, said several Police Commission members suggested during the meeting that the reshuffle be considered after the government had appointed the new national police chief.
       He said the board members all had different suggestions and Mr Suthep adjourned the meeting after failing to arrive at a consensus.
       The Police Commission has yet to appoint a new police chief to succeed Pol Gen Patcharawat Wongsuwon,who resigned after the the National Anti-Corruption Commission charged him with criminal and disciplinary offences over the Oct 7 protest crackdown.
       Pol Gen Thanee, who is to retire at the end of this month, has been serving as acting police chief.
       Pol Gen Watcharapol said board member Pol Gen Pichit Khuantechakup, a police affairs expert, was the first to suggest that the reshuffle of
       the police generals be done after the appointment of the national police chief.
       Pol Gen Pichit's suggestion won support from several other Pichit: Supports board mempolice reshuffle bers including AttorneyGeneral Chaikasem Nitisiri, Pol Capt Purachai Piumsombun, Pol Lt Gen Amnuay Ditthakawee and Pol Gen Bunpen Bampen.
       Consequently, Mr Suthep decided to adjourn the meeting, Pol Gen Watcharapol said.
       Mr Suthep said all of the senior police officers had agreed the reshuffle should be concluded by the end of this month.
       But it did not matter if that could not be achieved, he said.
       Police sources yesterday speculated Mr Suthep had decided to adjourn the heated meeting because he and his allies were unhappy with the reshuffle list.