The transfer of governors is not unusual. This week 11 have been rotated. But speculation is now rife as to the reason for this particular shuffle. Khun Narongsak has clearly been a bit of a thorn in the side of the central government.he has been moved to neighbouring Phayao. The transfer is not seen as a promotion as Chiang Rai is a bigger and more important province.
I wonder what the chances now are of Khun Narongsak being reinstated as Governor of Chiang Rai Province.Mr Narongsak has been Chiang Rai governor since April 2017 and he withheld approval for several projects, including the 32-million-baht construction of a Phaya Mung Rai statue on an island in the Kok River, during his tenure. The governor said in March that the budget funds for the statue's construction proposed by Chiang Mai Municipality, and other schemes suspected of corruption, should instead be spent on other, necessary, infrastructure improvements. The proposed statue encroached on the river and had legal problems, he said.
"I will never approve any projects which pose legal questions. I would be better transferred to another place where there are fewer headaches," he said at the time . . .
"I admire him and his work. It was a routine transfer at the Interior Ministry and the decision had been made earlier," the prime minister said. "He has no problems in doing his duty."
Srisuwan Janya, secretary-general of the Thai Constitution Protection Association, on Wednesday urged the prime minister to reconsider the transfer of Mr Narongsak due to his performance in the operation. His strong opposition to some projects in the province with suspicious spending was the reason behind the transfer, according to the political activist.
https://www.bangkokpost.com/news/politi ... -to-phayao