Suriya orders a probe into transfer of rain-making department chief

Embattled Agriculture Minister Suriya Juangroongruangkit said today that he has ordered a panel to investigate the transfer of Rachen Sillaparaya, director general of the Royal Rain-making and Agricultural Aviation Department, to an inspector general position attached to the ministry, to clear up any doubts over the transfer’s fairness.

He said he would like to know whether the transfer process followed procedure or whether it was politically motivated, so an explanation can be provided to the public.

Asked to comment about allegations of Rachen’s malpractices, Suriya said that he does not want to implicate the former in any alleged misconduct, which would be unfair, but he would like to see the case resolved quickly.

Earlier, Rachen claims that he was transferred, about five months ahead of his mandatory retirement at the end of September, because he would not respond to “political wishes.”

The transfer prompted him to tender his resignation, effective at the end of June.

He claimed that Suriya’s nephew called him several times, asking for an appointment to discuss aircraft maintenance, but he declined the requests due to his busy work schedule.