Former MP fears police have 'hidden agenda' on Thaksin
FORMER Democrat MP Watchara Petthong complained yesterday about slow progress on the move to strip ousted and fugitive former PM Thaksin Shinawatra of his rank as a lieutenant-colonel in the police. He said he feared national police chief General Somyot P
“It is clear who has the hidden agenda, being evasive [when asked about this issue] ... What kind of intention [do you have]? In fact, there are people who ask [the police chief] to follow the law as he always does,” Watchara said.
The former MP said a majority of members of the Council of State – the top legal advisory body – had already affirmed twice that the National police had the power to directly strip Thaksin of his police rank.
Watchara said: “It shows that Thaksin has the power over national police and the Thai judicial system. He commits wrongs with impunity and does not have to face a jail term. He is still free and continues to defame important national institutions from abroad. He breaches the law and his police rank is not revoked. Where is justice?”
He said it was clear that country’s problems lay in Thaksin’s regime, which wanted to be above the Thai judicial process.
“The prime minister and head of the National Council for Peace and Order (NCPO) General Prayut Chan-o-cha should call the head of national police for a session of attitude adjustment,” said Watchara, referring to the summons issued by the junta after the coup last year. If the latter failed to show, it would affect the reputation of the NCPO, as people could perceive [the outcome] as a compromise with Thaksin, he warned.
Watchara said he would petition the National Anti-Corruption Commission (NACC), if there was no progress.
The law had to be respected and those who commit wrong should be brought to justice, he said.
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