Prayut invokes Article 44 on Thaksin to protect monarchy
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Deputy Prime Minister Wissanu Krea-ngam said yesterday that the National Council for Peace and Order (NCPO) had decided to rely on Article 44 to revoke fugitive former premier Thaksin Shinawatra's police rank in order to protect the royal institution fro
Instead of seeking His Majesty’s endorsement, Wissanu said Article 44 was used to put the matter of revoking Thaksin’s lieutenant colonel rank to rest swiftly and effectively.
“This legal step would not disturb or involve His Majesty, because the NCPO believes some groups want to politicise the issue. We all know which groups. This way, the matter can end neatly and swiftly. No one will gain or lose,” he said.
The Royal Thai Police had been under pressure to remove Thaksin’s rank after he was charged of several criminal offences.
Meanwhile, national police chief General Somyot Poompanmuang defended his decision to approve the revocation after a lawyer filed a complaint, claiming the revocation had not been carried out properly.
However, Somyot insisted that he followed all directives and regulations.
Thanadej Puangpool, a lawyer with a private firm, yesterday filed a petition calling on Somyot to review the matter.
He cited Article 28 of the 2004 National Police Act, which says that His Majesty should endorse all rank revocations. Taking recourse to Article 44 does not exempt this obligation, he said.
Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha, who is also NCPO chief, issued an order dated September 5 to strip Thaksin of his rank, stating that Article 44 was being used as the NCPO considers the matter as having an impact on national security, which requires urgent action.
