No legal obstacle to stripping Thaksin of police rank : Justice Minister
Play
FORMER prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra could be stripped of his rank as a police lieutenant colonel - in accordance with the law - despite the fact he was not in the force when he committed crimes, Justice Minister General Paiboon Koomchaya said yesterd
The minister called a meeting of related agencies yesterday after the Royal Thai Police failed to make any progress on stripping Thaksin of his former rank.
After, Paiboon said Thaksin’s police rank could be removed in accordance with the 2004 Police Rank Revocation Regulation.
“So far, the rule has been applied to 636 people who possessed police ranks,” he told a press conference after the meeting, adding that it had been applied to police officers in service and those no longer in service.
Representatives from the Council of State, Ministry of Justice and Royal Thai Police attended the meeting yesterday.
The move to strip Thaksin of his rank as a police lieutenant colonel began long ago. But the matter got further impetus early this year when Thaksin criticised the coup during a media interview in South Korea. His speech was also considered to have violated the lese majeste law.
As the calls for action from Thaksin’s enemies became louder, national police chief General Somyot Poompanmuang set up a panel to work on the case in May. But it has failed to achieve any progress.
The police chief has the authority to propose that any officers who commit crimes should have their rank removed. Thaksin was convicted in 2008 of abuse of power over a land deal. But Somyot had been reluctant to act, believing the law applied only to police in service.
“Now, it depends on the chief of the national police and the internal process of the Royal Thai Police,” said Paiboon, adding that he would submit a report on today’s meeting to inform the prime minister on Thursday.
Asked about the timeframe on this matter, the minister said it would depend on international processes by the national police office.
Meanwhile, Pol General Chaiya Siriampankul – chairman of the Commission that looked at revoking Thaksin’s rank – said all sides agreed applying this regulation to Thaksin’s case was in line with the law.
Earlier, Thaksin’s son Panthongtae challenged the government in a post on Facebook to end the saga, saying: “[if] stripping Thaksin’s rank ... would help to improve the [situation in the country], please do so”.
By doing this, the government would be able to spend more time helping farmers still struggling and waiting for government help, Panthongtae said.
“I believe that revocation of my father’s rank will not affect my father’s feelings that much.
“At this moment, if my father had a choice, he would rather opt to live his life as Mr Thaksin, who can live with his family and grandchildren like ordinary people,” Panthongtae said.
