“I didn’t even look at their surnames when issuing the order. What would matter with such surnames?” Prayut asked rhetorically. “The only reason for the order is to carry out jobs smoothly.”
The order aims to boost workforce fluidity in the Office of Small and Medium Enterprises Promotion (OSMEP), where Panita Shinawatra and the other two senior officials had worked, Prayut said.
Panita Shinawatra, a niece of former premiers Thaksin and Yingluck Shinawatra, will be transferred from her position at OSMEP to the Prime Minister’s Office following the order by the National Council for Peace and Order.
Two other OSMEP senior officials will also be moved. They will work as “government officers to the PM’s office”, new positions |created by the same order for |officials accused of corruption or are under investigation.
The order was issued on Wednesday by the PM in his capacity as the NCPO head.
Panita, who is currently on vacation abroad, told The Nation that she learned of the order from the news and has yet to be |contacted by related authorities.
Despite the order’s abruptness, Panita said she would follow the order without seeking further explanation, as she is a governmental official who has to abide by executive order.
She gave the same explanation when asked whether she considered the order to be involved with a political agenda, given her |relations with the two anti-junta premiers.