A deputy government spokesman insisted Monday the diplomatic passport belonging to ousted prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra was withdrawn in 2008.
Maj Gen Weerachon Sukontapatipak was speaking after the media alleged the Foreign Ministry had not revoked the diplomatic, or red, passport of the former premier.
The Foreign Ministry has confirmed Thaksin's diplomatic passport was cancelled on Dec 15, 2008, he said.
Along with the May 26 repeal of Thaksin's two regular Thai passports, now all of his passports authorised by the Foreign Ministry have been rescinded, though the former premier still holds passports from Montenegro and Nicaragua.
Former foreign minister Prasong Soonsiri had earlier sparked a media outcry by raising the issue of Thaksin's diplomatic passport, which was given to Thaksin when he was foreign minister.
Sqn Ldr Prasong said diplomatic passports are commonly granted to all foreign ministers, and only revoked if the holders are found guilty of crimes in court and sentenced to prison.
The Foreign Ministry must deal with this directly, he said, adding the foreign minister should have immediately ordered the Thai embassy in South Korea to notify Interpol to arrest Thaksin, as he clearly defamed the monarchy.
Sqn Ldr Prasong was referring to Thaksin’s interview in Seoul last Wednesday with Chosun Ilbo, when he claimed privy councillors supported the May 22 coup last year that ousted his sister Yingluck’s government.
After the 2006 coup, Thaksin’s passports were revoked, but the Yingluck-Shinawatra government reinstated his regular passports in 2011. The move prompted the Democrat Party to file a petition with the National Anti-Corruption Commission (NACC), asking for the impeachment of Ms Yingluck and her then-foreign minister Surapong Tovichakchaikul.
NACC chairman Panthep Klanarongran said the agency's investigation panel, led by Narong Rat-amarit, will decide if there is sufficient evidence to press charges against the two within this month.
Mr Surapong said Monday he is not anxious about the case, since he was not the one responsible for reinstating Thaksin's passports. Whether passports are issued or revoked rests with the ministry's permanent secretary, he said.
"When I was the minister, I never ordered nor interfered the work of officials to return passports," Mr Surapong said. "[However] during the Yingluck-Shinawatra administration, we did not consider Thaksin as a threat to national security," he added.
Deputy government spokesman Sansern Kaewkamnerd said the government has yet to discuss whether Thaksin should also be deprived of his royal decorations, a proposal made by National Reform Council member Prasarn Marukpitak on Saturday.
Meanwhile, national police chief Somyot Pumpunmuang said Monday he would not give in to pressure when deciding whether to strip Thaksin of his lieutenant colonel rank.
"I will decide by adhering to the principles of righteousness and laws," Pol Gen Somyot said, adding he has not been ordered to do anything illegal.
Deputy Prime Minister Wissanu Krea-ngam said the case must be made first with the Secretariat of the Cabinet, who will then submit it to His Majesty the King for endorsement.