The first probe, headed by Damrong ‘Demolisher’ Pidech of the Department of the Department of National Parks, Wildlife and Conservation (DNP), stopped when Mr Damrong retired. It had targeted encroachment into Sirinat Marine National Park.
The second, by the Public Sector Anti-Corruption Commission (PACC), headed by Pol Col Dutsadee Arayawut, came to a halt when he was transferred to other duties. It had targeted corrupt provincial officials.
The headline on our story read, “In hibernation – Silence in Phuket ‘Bad Land’ Probes”
It seems we spoke too soon. On Sunday (February 17) the much-feared Department of Special Investigations (DSI) announced that it would pursue both campaigns.
This has to be good news, doesn’t it? With the apparent “hibernation” had come suspicion that politics had raised its ugly head. Had the probes accidentally found members of a certain political party involved in land shenanigans?
This suspicion was reinforced by remarks Col Dutsadee made soon after his transfer. “Everyone [who is] affected by politics gets scared and finally stops,” a Bangkok paper quoted him as saying.
(Political interference was denied by Pheu Thai Party spokesman Prompong Nopparit.)
Now, however, we have the DSI stepping in to chase down the bad land boys in the private and government sectors, in addition to their duties hunting down “bad Russian” businesses. Hooray.
But there is still one big question mark hanging over all this.
The Democrats were this week due to launch a lawsuit against the DSI’s big boss Tarit Pengdit for filing “false murder charges” against their leaders Abhisit Vejjajiva and Suthep Thaugsuban.
So is the DSI probe straight and honest, or another political play with Phuket as a pawn?
Time will tell.