Actions against Thaksin show junta firmly in control

Thaksin claimed that privy councillors had worked behind the scenes in supporting the anti-government protests that led to the ousting of his sister Yingluck’s government by the military coup.

The Foreign Ministry on May 26 revoked Thaksin’s passports, which had been returned to him in 2011 by then foreign minister Surapong Tovichakchaikul.

Not long after that, the Royal Thai Police confirmed it had forwarded to the national police chief a recommendation that Thaksin be stripped of his police lieutenant colonel rank.

The removal of his police rank raised many eyebrows because the Surayud Chulanont and Abhisit Vejjajiva governments had failed to get this task done. And the Prayut government had shown no inclination to strip Thaksin of his rank. In fact, reports stated that the government had tried to strike a compromise with the Thaksin camp to restore a peaceful atmosphere.

Critics blame Thaksin for starting this latest battle. He chose to tread on what was clearly a no-go zone for the National Council for Peace and Order.

The government’s retaliation has been well coordinated with both the Foreign Ministry and the police swiftly taking action. The National Anti-Corruption Commission is also planning to take legal action against Yingluck and Surapong for returning Thaksin’s passports.

The Prayut government could have stripped Thaksin of his rank and revoked his passports earlier if it wanted to because Thaksin has several arrest warrants against him – over Krungthai Bank’s loan to the Krisada Mahanakorn group; the Export Import Bank case; the case over the conversion of telecom concession fees into excise; the Ratchadaphisek land deal; the two-three-digit lottery case; and a case of terrorism.

Although revoking Thaksin’s passports and stripping his rank will not negatively affect him in any way except psychologically, it will have a strong political impact, as it shows the government has chosen to take on Thaksin. There will no longer be a compromise.

In the eyes of political observers, Prayut’s remark last Saturday following Thaksin’s interview confirmed the belief that the government has decided to take a stand against the Thaksin camp.

“I do not stop any one from liking or loving anyone. But anyone cannot criticise the way I have come into power as I will hit back,’’ Prayut warned.

The Prayut government has also ensured that the latest coup will not be wasted by making sure that it continues to have its say by pushing for amendments to the charter draft on the make-up of two important reconciliation committees: the Independent Reform Promoting Committee and the National Reform Strategy Committee. The government has proposed combining the two committees into a single committee with 20 members, which will include the Supreme Commander and the chiefs of the Army, the Navy, the Air Force and the police force.

This new committee would have the responsibilities of mapping out reform and reconciliation strategies and proposing concerned legislation. It would be powerful and the NCPO is making sure it would have a say in this committee.

The NCPO’s proactive strategy to cross swords with Thaksin and to ensure that its influence in the reform process continues may upset some influential political figures. But critics believe the junta has chosen this path because it believes it is fully in control.