Gen Somyot, the national police chief, said the Royal Thai Police decided to relocate the Region 8 office to Phuket because it is Thailand’s most famous destination and it generates the highest revenue from tourism.
The police chief was responding to protests by former People’s Democratic Reform Committee leader Suthep Thaugsuban over the relocation.
Mr Suthep went to the Region 8 office in Surat Thani to submit his protest on Tuesday after leaving the monkhood, saying that low-ranking police officers would be affected. He said Surat Thani was the best centre for police operations in the region. (See story here.)
Police spokesman Pol Lt Gen Prawut Thawornsiri said the Royal Thai Police approved the relocation plan in 2008 and was allocated a budget for the new office in 2012. Construction was completed in early 2015.
The relocation of the Region 8 head office is scheduled for Saturday (August 1). All office equipment and property will be moved from the old office in Surat Thani and shipped to Phuket during the long holiday over the weekend, he said.
Gen Prawut also said Phuket is the most important province in the region.
“Since it is a venue for international meetings attended by a large number of world leaders, Region 8 police officers have to travel to Phuket whenever there is an important meeting to provide protection for very important persons,” he said.
“Moreover, the new office is located near Krabi and Phang Nga, which are also major tourist attractions. In 2015-2016, the government plans to promote tourism along the Andaman coastline, and a large number of tourists are expected to visit the area. Therefore, we have to attach importance to these provinces,” Gen Prawut added.
The other provinces under the jurisdiction of Region 8 police are Chumphon, Nakorn Sri Thammarat, Ranong and Surat Thani.
He said the current Region 8 office is old and often hit by flooding.
Thorough consideration had been made before the relocation was approved, he said.
Concerning Mr Suthep’s worries about housing for police, Gen Prawut said police officers with this problem are provided a monthly rental allowance. Moreover, the Royal Thai Police will in the future provide all police officers with housing.
National police chief Gen Somyot said that he had ordered Pol Lt Gen Decha Butnamphet, the Provincial Police Region 8 commissioner, to meet Mr Suthep and explain to him that the Royal Thai Police has had it policy to relocate the office.
See original story here.