The government is carefully considering whether to strip former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra of his police rank, but should reach a decision by month’s end, officials said Monday.
Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha told reporters today that he has discussed revoking Thaksin's lieutenant colonel rank with Deputy Prime Minister and Defence Minister Prawit Wongsuwon and police chief Somyot Pumpunmuang, and all three were reviewing the proposal in the context of applicable laws.
They agreed to let the Justice Ministry scrutinise the issue carefully instead of rushing to judgment. The prime minister insisted that feelings about Thaksin should not be the basis for any decision.
Gen Prayut said he believed actions on the rank issue had been rushed due to pressure applied after some inappropriate remarks. He apparently was referring to Thaksin's public assertion in May that privy councillors had masterminded last year's coup.
"I am not taking sides with him," Gen Prayut said, questioning whether rules allowing for the revocation of police ranks applied to Thaksin. "We think that the police law applies only to officers who are still in the active police service."
Justice Minister Paiboon Koomchaya said Monday that he would discuss the issue with the Council of State, police and legal experts on Tuesday. There should be a clear answer by the end of August, he added.
Any decision would be based on the law and reconciliation would have nothing to do with it, Gen Paiboon added.
He acknowledged that the Justice Ministry had to take charge of the rank case because the Royal Thai Police Office had not made a decision.
The Royal Thai Police Office launched a review of Thaksin's rank following his coup comments to South Korean media. After demanding three revisions of the review committee's report, Pol Gen Somyot still has not carried out its recommendation the rank be stripped.