Prayuth washes hands off Abhisit Army rank issue

Prayuth said he would leave the matter up to the investigation process and the justice system, adding that he did not wish to clash with his superiors or Defence Minister Sukampol Suwannathat.

Sukampol has alleged that Abhisit dodged military conscription and, hence, was not qualified to hold the rank of second lieutenant, which he earned while teaching at the Chulachomklao Royal Military Academy. Prayuth had earlier defended Abhisit, saying he had not dodged conscription but sought to delay it and was eventually exempted when he got hired as a teacher at the academy. 

Also yesterday, Pheu Thai MP Korkaew Pikulthong renewed his call for Sukampol to take legal action against Abhisit, alleging the Democrat leader had used false documents to apply for a job with the academy. 

Deputy Prime Minister Chalerm Yoobamrung, meanwhile, said he could not comment on the case because he had not seen documents from the Defence Ministry yet.  Chalerm added that the case of former PM Thaksin Shinawatra – whose police rank of lieutenant colonel the opposition wants revoked because he is a fugitive – was different from that of Abhisit. The deputy PM said he would never strip Thaksin of his rank, but would instead promote him to become a general.