The cabinet on Tuesday reshuffled 45 high-level officials at the Interior Ministry – chiefs of provincial and local administration and land departments, as well as provincial governors.
Many of them were returned to positions they held before being moved out by the past government.
Government spokesman Siripong Angkasakulkiat said the promotions and transfers filled positions left open by retirement and corrected injustices to some officials who were unfairly treated in three previous reshuffles in only one month.
Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul, who is also the interior minister, denied the latest reshuffle reflected the fight between his Bhumjaithai Party and the Pheu Thai Party, which led the past government and until recently controlled the Interior Ministry.
He said the reshuffle was proposed by the interior permanent secretary. He only put it on the cabinet’s agenda. The permanent secretary did not seek his advice on the matter, the prime minister said.
Late last month, Mr Anutin told the parliament that Pheu Thai needed the Interior Ministry because a general election was near.
Tuesday’s changes focused on the provincial governors of Nong Bua Lam Phu, Chai Nat, Ang Thong, Chiang Mai, Ayutthaya, Si Sa Ket, Chiang Rai, Chachoengsao, Surat Thani, Uttaradit, Nonthaburi, Nakhon Phanom, Phetchaburi, Phuket, Khon Kaen, Sing Buri, Uthai Thani, Ubon Ratchathani, Nakhon Sawan, Samut Prakan and Rayong.
The cabinet resolution also affected the position of the chief of the Land Department. Pornpoth Penpas returns as director-general of the Land Department after being made a deputy interior permanent secretary last August. The Land Department is at the heart of the controversy over ownership of a large area of land near Khao Kradong in Buri Ram province, which is the political stronghold of Mr Anutin’s Bhumjaithai Party.
To make way for Mr Pornpoth’s return as land department chief, Kachornkiat Rakpanichmanee becomes the governor of Khon Kaen province.
Tuesday’s cabinet resolution also made Narucha Khosasivilai, currently interior inspector-general, the director-general of the Department of Provincial Administration. In his earlier posting he was the governor of Buri Ram province.
Surat Thani governor Theerayut Supawibulpol becomes the director-general of the Department of Local Administration.