Armed forces alumni board revokes Thaksin's awards

Armed forces alumni board revokes Thaksin's awards

Thaksin Shinawatra, left, as a member of Class 10 at the Armed Forces Academies Preparatory School, and as Songkran festival well-wisher last year.
Thaksin Shinawatra, left, as a member of Class 10 at the Armed Forces Academies Preparatory School, and as Songkran festival well-wisher last year.

The board of Armed Forces Academies Preparatory School alumni on Wednesday resolved to withdraw Thaksin Shinawatra's alumnus achievement awards, citing his past jail sentence.

A source at the army said the resolution was based on the Supreme Court's Criminal Division for Holders of Political Positions' ruling in 2008.

The court found Thaksin guilty of abuse of authority while prime minister and sentenced him to two years in prison, in absentia, on Oct 21, 2008.

The judgement was linked to his then-wife Khunying Potjaman na Pombejr winning the bidding for purchase of state-owned land in inner Bangkok in 2003. Thaksin, who was on bail after being convicted, fled Thailand shortly before the sentence was passed by the Supreme Court.

The Royal Thai Police Office proposed Thaksin be deprived of his rank of police lieutenant colonel, and he was stripped of the rank on Sept 5, 2015.

The source said an outstanding alumnus who deserved the “Chak Dao” achievement award must display good behaviour, morality and honesty in their personal and working life, be loyal to the royal institution and the nation, and not have a flawed background or have caused damage to society.

The alumni board's decision was unanimous, the source said.

Thaksin was a member of Class 10 at the preparatory school and graduated from there in 1968. He received a Chak Dao achievement award in 1991 for his contribution to economic development. He received a similar award in 2011 for management achievement.

The military top brass would announce the decision at the 11th Infantry Regiment in Bangkok on Thursday, when they would also take the opportunity to explain their post-election stance, the source said.

Do you like the content of this article?
COMMENT (76)