Interior Ministry orders immediate transfer of Phuket deputy governor amid governor-removal allegation row

Thailand’s Interior Ministry has ordered the immediate transfer of Phuket Deputy Governor Theerapong Chuaychu from Phuket to Nakhon Si Thammarat, effective June 16, after a controversy over reports that he invoked authority to have the Phuket governor moved.

The order, No. 1473/2569, was signed by Interior Ministry permanent secretary Arsit Sampantharat on June 15 and reshuffled five deputy governors. Under the same order, Pol Capt Khettharat Chansin was moved from Samut Sakhon to Phuket, Romdon Haji-awae from Songkhla to Phuket, Adul Chuthong from Phuket to Songkhla, and Jiraporn Amatayakul from Nakhon Si Thammarat to Samut Sakhon.

The transfer followed a heated issue raised at an Interior Ministry meeting on June 15, chaired by Deputy Prime Minister and Interior Minister Anutin Charnvirakul, according to the report. During the meeting, Anutin referred to a June 14 report from Phuket Governor Nirat Pongsitthavorn on the situation involving influential figures in Phuket.

Anutin then asked the governor by video link, “So, who is going to remove you?” The Phuket governor replied, “Only the prime minister can move me.”

The report said the controversy stemmed from a clip in which a deputy governor was alleged to have claimed authority to prepare a transfer of the Phuket governor. It also said Anutin criticized the issue during the ministry meeting and called for further scrutiny over allegations involving associates encroaching on public land near a Phuket beach.

At the same meeting, Arsit said a provincial governor was effectively the prime minister in that province and must respond quickly when public posts affect the government’s image. He said if an official had not done anything wrong, an explanation should be given.

According to the report, Anutin read out social media posts making allegations about encroachment behind Cherng Talay police station and about an associate of a Phuket deputy governor. He said he did not automatically believe the posts, but added that “where there is smoke, there must be fire,” and said the ministry had already set a policy to suppress influential figures.

Officials at the meeting repeatedly asked for the deputy governor referred to in the reports as “รองฯ ซีฟู้ด” to respond. Anutin interjected to ask whether the person was nicknamed “Kung,” and Theerapong then said, “My name is Kung,” adding that he would submit his explanation in writing because the matter involved several people.

Anutin told him to send a letter to the permanent secretary and said a deputy governor had no basis to remove a provincial governor. He said authority to propose a governor’s transfer rests with the Interior Ministry permanent secretary and requires the approval of the interior minister before being submitted to the cabinet.

After the meeting, Anutin told reporters the atmosphere had not been tense but said he had instructed relevant agencies to intensify crackdowns on gangsters and influential figures. He said some witnesses had reportedly been threatened and had changed their testimony out of fear, and he urged the Phuket governor to continue acting fully on the issue.

Anutin also said there was no conflict between the Phuket governor and the Phuket deputy governor, and that the permanent secretary would handle matters as appropriate so official work would not be disrupted by any individual’s problems.