INTELLIGENCE AGENCY

NIA boss faces sack for poor performance

WASSANA NANUAM

National Intelligence Agency (NIA) chief Vaipoj Srinuan is likely to be removed from his post for his poor performance. An army source said Prime Minister Surayud Chulanont was preparing an order transferring Gen Vaipoj back to the army or the Defence Ministry. He was unhappy with the agency's inefficiency in gathering information.

The NIA has been criticised for its poor work following the New Year bombings in Bangkok and the escalating violence in four southern border provinces.

There have also been reports of possible bombings and violence in Bangkok this week, but the NIA failed to provide any intelligence reports to enable authorities to cope with this eventuality.
Gen Vaipoj is also a member of the National Legislative Assembly (NLA) and recently submitted a motion querying Gen Surayud about his government's measures to deal with unrest in the deep South.

This was another factor in his pending removal, the source said.

Defence Minister Gen Boonrawd Somtas was reportedly upset by the NIA chief's questions about the government's policy in the deep South.

''Why did he [Gen Vaipoj] have to raise such questions? He is fully aware of those details, as he is the one who supplies the information [about southern problems] to the cabinet,'' the army source said.

''It would be unreasonable if he claimed that he submitted the motion in his capacity as an NLA member.''

The minister would find a new position, either at the army or the ministry, for Gen Vaipoj after he was removed as NIA chief. The general was likely be replaced by NIA deputy director Sirichai Chotirat.

Bangkok Post
Thursday March 15, 2007