Two senior Commerce Ministry officials removed

BANGKOK, July 7 (TNA) - Two directors-general under the Thai Ministry of Commerce have been transferred. It was publicly reported on Monday morning that Permanent Secretary for Commerce Chutima Bunyapraphasara signed her orders last Friday to transfer Department of Foreign Trade Director General Surasak Riangkrua and Department of Internal Trade Director General Somchart Soithong to the ministry's inspector-general positions. Under the orders, Duangporn Rodphaya, a commercial adviser, was appointed to be now Acting Director-General of the Department of Foreign Trade and Jintana Chaiyawonnagal, Deputy Director-General of the Department of Trade Negotiations, was appointed to be now Acting Director-General of the Department of Internal Trade. Both Surasak and Somchart bowed to their transfer orders but denying they involved in corruption, including that in the loss-ridden rice-pledging scheme of the previous government. Staffs helped move their belongings from their offices last weekend, when the official transfer orders had not yet arrived. (TNA)