Army chief Prayuth Chan-ocha insisted yesterday there are many other more important things to do besides stripping Democrat Party leader Abhisit Vejjajiva of his military rank.
Gen Prayuth was responding yesterday to media questions asking him to comment on Defence Minister Sukumpol Suwanatat's decision to set up a committee to strip Mr Abhisit of his sub-lieutenant rank.
ACM Sukumpol has alleged the opposition leader dodged mandatory conscription and used a falsified document to apply for an army position.
Gen Prayuth said the matter was not his business. It was an issue for the Defence Ministry. He said the ministry has the authority to examine the allegation while the judicial process will decide what is right and wrong.
Asked if the move would set a precedent, Gen Prayuth said: "There are many issues that must be tackled, not only this case.
"If we use this case as a standard, there are still 999 more issues which should be handled," he said.
Gen Prayuth said he did not want to make further comments on this issue as it could lead to arguments with his superior.
Deputy Prime Minister Chalerm Yubamrung refused to comment on the Defence Ministry's move, saying he is unfamiliar with military processes.
Asked if former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra should also be stripped of his police rank under the same standard, Mr Chalerm insisted the Royal Thai Police Office (RTPO) had confirmed Thaksin's case does not come under this rule.
Mr Chlalerm said the Ratchadapisek land case against Thaksin derived from a coup, not from the ordinary judicial system, and the former prime minister was prosecuted by the now-defunct Assets Scrutiny Committee set up by the military.
Mr Chalerm, who is in charge of the RTPO, insisted he will not strip Thaksin of his police rank.
Mr Abhisit yesterday said ACM Sukumpol's move is politically motivated.
The minister seems to be serious in expediting this issue, Mr Abhisit said, adding the allegation must be proven with evidence and under the law.
Mr Abhisit also denied claims he used falsified documents when applying for a teaching job at a military academy which allegedly enabled him to dodge the draft.