Interior Ministry orders scrutiny of reported rift in Phuket leadership and renews crackdown on local influence networks

Thailand’s Interior Ministry has ordered further scrutiny of reports of conflict between Phuket’s governor and a deputy governor, while renewing instructions for a tougher crackdown on influential figures in the province.

At a policy meeting at the Interior Ministry at 10am on June 15, Deputy Prime Minister and Interior Minister Anutin Charnvirakul asked Phuket Governor Nirat Pongsitthaworn to report on the situation involving influential people in the province. During the video conference, Anutin also referred to social media posts alleging that a deputy governor could have the Phuket governor removed from office.

According to the report, Nirat replied that only the prime minister could transfer him. Anutin said he did not necessarily believe the social media claims, but added that where there is smoke there may be fire. He said the ministry had already issued a policy to suppress influence networks and questioned what should be done if such people were within the ministry’s own organization.

Anutin then asked whether the deputy governor referred to in the reports was present at the meeting. The ministry’s permanent secretary also asked for clarification, saying the issue was affecting the province and that if the official had done nothing wrong, an explanation could be given. No one immediately identified themselves, after which Nirat said all Phuket deputy governors were attending and asked the permanent secretary to set up a ministry-level committee to examine the facts fairly for all sides.

A deputy governor nicknamed “Goong,” or shrimp, later told the meeting that he would submit information in writing because several people were involved. The report identified the official Anutin had referred to as Phuket Deputy Governor Theerapong Chuaychu.

Anutin said a deputy governor had no authority to remove a provincial governor and called such talk absurd. He said the Interior Ministry would not allow the work of the province to be disrupted by any individual issue, and that the permanent secretary would handle matters appropriately.

After the meeting, Anutin said the atmosphere had not been tense, but he had instructed relevant agencies to act decisively and strictly against gangsters and influential figures. He said some cases had already been prosecuted, but the problem had not been eliminated and there had also been witness intimidation, with some witnesses changing their statements out of fear.

He said Phuket’s governor had been told to press ahead fully. Anutin also said reports that a deputy governor could threaten to transfer a governor were untrue, explaining that any proposal to transfer a governor must come through the ministry’s permanent secretary, receive the interior minister’s approval and then go to the cabinet for consideration.