Thaksin’s struggle include instigation of rural people dressing in red-shirts to protest and overturn the current democratically elected PM Abhisit Vejjajiva. During April 2009, thousands of red-shirts violently blocked Asean Summit meeting in Pattaya, and later riotted on Bangkok streets, set fires to buses and randomly shot at innocent civilians.

Thaksin also funds on-sale politicians, Pua Thai party for parallel political attacks in the parliament. International media such as Dan Rivers of CNN, Jonathan Head of BBC are suspects for unfair reports in favour of Thaksin.

April 2010, red-shirts held camp-out rally on Raj Damnoen road. On April 10, red-shirts mixed with heavily armed masked men-in-black assasinated five officers of anti-insurgency troops with M-79 grenades and stealthily shot dead twenty rallying red-shirts to fake a smear on the troops, near Kok Wua junction.

From mid April to May 2010, they moved to seize an area about a square mile over central high streets of Bangkok namely Raj Damri road, Raj Prasong road, Rama I road, Chidlom, Saladaeng, Siam Square which is equivalent to: Oxford street, Oxford Circus, Marble arch, Leicester Square of London; Times Square of New York; or the whole Shin Ju ku of Tokyo. They set up well-fortified entrenchment and roadblocks with stacks of tyres and armed themselves with sticks, staves, knives, swords, makeshift explosives and propane tanks to surround a center stage.

The worst Thaksin’s terrorism was to conspire with ex-servicing Generals, military cadet classmates of Thaksin himself to arm hundreds of masked mercenaries-in-black with rifles AK-47, machine guns, hand grenades, M-79 grenades launchers, c4-explosive mines and rocket propelled grenade (RPG) to sabotage the whole Bangkok. Over a dozen sporadic M-79 attacks occured all over Bangkok during March-May 2010, while during the week of crackdown the rallies, particularly on May 17-19, 2010 over a hundred of M-79 shots were fired at the soldiers.

With Thaksin’s huge amount of continuous bribery to the top polices, the police system became paralyzed and passively resisting to the government order. PM Abhisit has to bring military troops in to control the situation.

While the troops slowly and carefully closed in the rally stage on May 19, the terrorists set fires to the tyre stacks and targetted buildings, department stores and shopping arcades, only sparing hotels, stores belonging to Thaksin’s allies. About 80 people died and 1,800 injured following Thaksin’s mercenary campaign VS military crackdown ordered by the government. 30 major sites, including banks, hotels and a part of a television station and a part of the stock exchange were mostly burnt down to the ground amidst terrorist snipers’ shot on firefighters and civilians. Hundreds of shopowners get bankrupt. Thousands of employees get laid-off. Some were homeless. About 50 thousand million bahts lost is estimated to be the basic economic lost to the country.

Thaksin terrorism is not yet finished since Thaksin and his followers have announced threats of incendiary to townhalls, government offices, hospitals, Muslim mosques and any public targets. Thaksin knew the possibility of the arrest warrant for terrorism, thence he left France for Montenegrin one day before the court issue, just to get lost into his hiding cave just like Ossama Bin Laden, waiting for another malicious attacks. Montenegrin passport and newly acquired nationality of Thaksin may turn useless for him to enter Europe. Thaksin now can hardly expose himself in 190 countries which have signed the international treaty for anti-terrorism.

NowPublic.com

by www.antithaksin.com | May 25, 2010 at 08:59 am

Related Stories

Letters to Interpol

The Supreme Court’s verdict to seize about Bt46 billion of former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra’s money is a civil case, which can treacherously be followed by a series of criminal cases.

The verdict offers leads for other legal action to be pursued against Thaksin. 

The rulings are clear:Thaksin and his former wife Pojaman na Pombejra concealed their assets, and Thaksin abused his power to enrich himself via Shin Corp. The court ruled to take away the “enrichment” that Thaksin did not deserve and returned Bt30 billion of his money earned before he entered politics in February 2001.

The verdict has taken the steam out Thai politics, which had threatened to boil over on Friday evening with much-feared post-verdict violence. Politically, it looks like a compromise.

Thaksin looked confused after the verdict. He appeared in a black suit and tie as a protest. He said he could not understand why the state took away money that his family had earned honestly. “Weren’t the stock prices Siam Cement or PTT rising in the same manner?” he said. Thaksin vowed to take on the ammart – the mandarins – who he believed were pulling the strings behind his downfall.

But the Supreme Court’s rulings only temporarily delay the brewing conflict. Thaksin’s hopes getting his Bt30 billion back will not be easy, as the Finance Ministry is asking for an extension the freeze on another Bt14 billion in unpaid taxes from the Shin Corp transactions. This involves his children Panthongtae and Pinthongta, who inadvertently have been embroiled in the legal mess that they had very little knowledge about.Thaksin could lose even more money.

The National Anti-Corruption Commission is not going to sit still either. It is expected to file criminal charges against Thaksin and Pojaman for lying about their assets. While serving as prime minister from 2001-2006, Thaksin had declared that he had only around Bt500 million in assets, while Pojaman had declared Bt8 billion to Bt9 billion. The 1997 constitution barred a public of fice holder from holding state concessions and having more than a 5-per-cent stake in any companies. Any share ownership beyond 5 per cent would have to be transferred to a blind trust. This was aimed at preventing a conflict of interest. 

The Supreme Court’s ruling in the Bt76-billion assets-seizure case clearly shows Thaksin and Pojaman violated this constitutional requirement, as the couple still owned the chunk of the 48-per-cent stake in Shin Corp while Thaksin served as premier between 2001 and 2006. They concealed the assets through nominees.

In his first asset-concealment case in 2001,Thaksin narrowly escaped impeachment when the Constitution Court cleared him in a controversial ruling. Thaksin concealed his assets via his household maids. He admitted to making an “honest mistake”.

But he walked away from this “honest mistake” to commit exactly the same mistake, this time through his children, relatives, Ample Rich Investment and Win Mark – both of fshore companies registered in the British Virgin Islands. The money trail came into the open after the sale of Shin Corp to Temasek Holdings of Singapore in 2006, because all of Thaksin’s shares held overseas were transferred back to Bangkok for the Bt69-billion transaction without paying any tax. The chicken finally came home to roost.

The anti-corruption agency, to which the politicians declare their assets, automatically will file a suit against Thaksin and Pojaman for lying about their assets.

With the exception of the prosecutor’s charge that Thaksin abused his power by amending the Advanced Info Service (AIS) concession on the roaming service to benefit AIS, Thaksin was found guilty in all the other four cases of policy corruption. The authorities at TOT cannot sit still either. The revenue-sharing percentage of a prepaid mobile concession agreement between AIS and state-owned TOT was reduced by the Thaksin government from 25 per cent to 20 per cent. This resulted in TOT losing Bt70.2 billion in revenue, comprising an estimated loss of Bt14.2 billion from 2001-06 and another estimated loss of Bt56 billion from 2006-15.

TOT will be forced to protect its interest by filing a separate lawsuit seeking compensation for the damage caused by the concession amendment.

A failure to enforce a satellite concession contract between Shin Satellite (ShinSat) and the Transport Ministry resulted in a loss to the state of Bt20 billion. ShinSat, a unit of Shin Corp and since renamed Thaicom, was supposed to invest in Thaicom 4, a back-up satellite costing Bt4 billion, under its contract with the government. However, the contract was changed to allow ShinSat to switch to launch the commercially oriented iPSTAR satellite instead of Thaicom 4.

In addition, the concession contract was amended to reduce Shin Corp’s investment burden in ShinSat from 51 per cent to 40 per cent.

Now the Finance Ministry and the Information and Communications Technology Ministry will have to determine whether or how the AIS concession amendments impacted the state c offers. Stock investors have already priced a discount into the possibility that AIS could be sued over revisions of the telecom concessions. 

The Supreme Court cited Surapong Suebwonglee, the then ICT minister, as having been involved in the amendments of the telecom concession. There is a high possibility that those technically involved in the amendments might be taken to court.

The state-owned Export-Import Bank of Thailand was persuaded to extend a Bt4-billion loan to the Burmese government to buy satellite services and equipment from ShinSat. This later required the Finance Ministry to set aside Bt670 million as interest subsidy covering the 12-year loan contract. This could lead to a separate lawsuit by the authorities.

In total, losses suffered by the state are higher than Bt100 billion, for which Thaksin could face suits to recover the amount. Finance Minister Korn Chatikavanij has hinted that if the bank accounts of Thaksin in Thailand do not cover the claims from the state, the government will pursue Thaksin’s assets overseas.

By THANONG KHANTHONG
THE NATION ON SUNDAY

Thaksin could face suits from agencies

Ousted prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra was found guilty of hiding his assets and abusing his power while in office. The Supreme Court’s verdict could lead to at least 10 separate criminal cases in connection with the landmark Bt76-billion assets-seizure case.

First, the revenue-sharing percentage of a prepaid-mobile concession agreement between Advanced Info Service (AIS) and state-owned TOT was reduced from 25 per cent to 20 per cent.

This resulted in TOT losing Bt70.2 billion in revenue, including an estimated loss of Bt14.2 billion from 2001-06 and another estimated loss of Bt56 billion from 2006-15.

This could prompt TOT to file a separate lawsuit seeking compensation for the damage caused by the concession amendment.

Second, there was a failure to enforce a satellite concession contract between Shin Satellite (ShinSat) and the Transport Ministry, resulting in public damage of Bt20 billion.

ShinSat, a unit of Shin Corp and since renamed Thaicom, was supposed to invest in Thaicom 4, a back-up satellite costing Bt4 billion, under its contract with the government.

However, the contract was changed to allow ShinSat to switch to launch the commercially oriented iPSTAR satellite instead of Thaicom 4.

In addition, the concession contract was amended to reduce Shin Corp’s investment burden in ShinSat from 51 per cent to 40 per cent.

Third, the state-owned Export-Import Bank of Thailand (Exim Bank) was persuaded to extend a Bt4-billion loan to the Burmese government to buy satellite services and equipment from ShinSat. This later caused the Finance Ministry to set aside Bt670 million as an interest subsidy covering the 12-year loan contract.

This could lead to a separate lawsuit by Exim Bank or the Finance Ministry seeking compensation.

Meanwhile, there could be four potential perjury cases related to official asset declarations of public office holders and their spouses.

Records of the National Anti-Corruption Commission (NACC) show the asset declarations of Thaksin and his then-wife Pojaman na Pombejra back in 2001 were Bt569 million and Bt9.96 billion, respectively.

However, Pojaman, in her recent closing statement in the Bt76-billion assets-seizure case, told the Supreme Court that Bt34 billion of the Bt76 billion belonged to her even though she reported her assets amounted to only Bt9.96 billion in February 2001, when Thaksin first assumed the premiership.

Besides the 2001 declaration, Pojaman reported to the NACC in 2005 that her assets had dropped to Bt8.91 billion and those of Thaksin to Bt506 million.

In the 2005 NACC filing, Panthongtae and Pinthongta, Thaksin’s son and daughter, who had not yet come of age, reported combined assets of Bt3.26 billion.

In 2006, Thaksin declared his assets to be Bt557 million, while Pojaman’s wealth was reported as Bt8.84 billion. Panthongtae and Pinthongta, who had come of age, were no longer required by law to declare their assets.

In this context, Pojaman had argued the Bt34 billion was owned by her before Thaksin assumed the premiership in 2001 and later transferred to Panthongtae and her step-brother, Bhanapot Damapong.

As a result, the entire amount could not be included in the Bt76-billion assets-seizure case.

In addition to these potential perjury cases, another two cases are pending in court. First, Thaksin was charged with abusing his power while in office by converting the AIS mobile-phone concession fee into an excise tax, thus weakening state-owned TOT, which was supposed to receive the concession fee.

Second, the fugitive ex-premier was charged with abusing his office by influencing state-owned Exim Bank to lend the Bt4 billion to the Burmese government to buy ShinSat satellite services and equipment.

In addition, Pojaman has been charged with evading taxes involving the transfer of Shin Corp shares. That case is now pending in the Appeal Court.

By Budsarakham Sinlapalavan
Nophakhun Limsamarnphun
The Nation
Published on February 27, 2010

English translation for download

Primary Resource: International Relations and Security Network / Department of Infomation

On 26 February 2010, from 13.00-21.00 hrs ., The panel of nine judges of the Supreme Court’s Criminal Division for Persons Holding Political Offices sat on the bench and read the ruling  on the case filed by the Office of Attorney-General Against Pol. Lt. Col. Thaksin Shinawatra requesting that assets worth 76,621,603,061.05 baht, together with the interests accrued there from , become property of the state, on the ground that these assets were acquired inappropriately through act constituting unusual wealth . Gist is at follow:

Full document:

Gist of the Ruling of the Supreme Court’s Criminal Division for Persons Holding Political Offices on The Assets Seizure Case Against Former PM Thaksin Shinawatra

Fact Sheet on the Supreme Court’s Criminal Division for Political Office Holders

**Origin of the Court, Scope and Functions

We are the people of the Kingdom of Thailand and are citizens who are loyal to our nation, our religion, and our monarchy. We gather here today at Sanam Luang in the capital city of Bangkok and are joined in spirit and in faith by Thai citizens from across the Kingdom.

We come today to declare our purpose to everyone around the world, the following:
       
       1. The Kingdom of Thailand is one kingdom that cannot and will not be divided. The people of Thailand have always been and continue to be loyal to our nation, our religion, and our monarchy. The Kingdom of Thailand is governed under a constitutional monarchy and will never be ruled by any other system because we, the people of Thailand, are prepared to protect our nation, our religion, our King, our independence, our sovereignty, and our national interests…we protect these institutions with our lives.
       
       2. Fugitive Thaksin Shinawatra has been found guilty by the Supreme Court of Thailand for abuse of power and continues to flee and remain on the run. While he is hiding from the law, he is still wanted in many other corruption cases, but continues to create trouble and harm Thailand and its people, increasingly so that he has become the most wanted fugitive in the Kingdom’s recent history. Fugitive Thaksin Shinawatra will repay and return all assets that he has acquired through unjust means.
       
       We, the people of Thailand, will continue to monitor and demand those assets until they are rightfully returned to Thailand.
       
       3. We declare that Fugitive Thaksin Shinawatra has now become an enemy to the Kingdom of Thailand. He has become a traitor to his motherland by threatening Thailand’s national security and becoming an antagonist to Thailand’s constitutional monarchy. He has conspired with the enemy in undermining Thailand’s dignity.
       
       It has been apparent throughout his years as a fugitive that Thaksin Shinawatra has tried his best to incite political and ideological separation among Thais nationwide and also between the Kingdom of Thailand and its neighbor, Cambodia…a conflict that will not only affect Thai citizens, but also holds repercussions for the people of Cambodia and the citizens of Southeast Asia as a whole.
       
       4. We declare that the Kingdom of Thailand’s justice system is fair and just….a system that utilizes judicial, humanitarian, and compassionate philosophies in deliberating cases. While trying to disgrace and discredit Thailand’s judicial system around the world, Fugitive Thaksin Shinawatra uses that same judicial system to file lawsuits against others as well. He has now become the Kingdom’s most frequent plaintiff.
       
       We condemn Fugitive Thaksin Shinawatra and Mr. Hun Sen for dishonoring the Kingdom of Thailand’s judicial system. In doing so, both have also insulted the people of Thailand in the most shameful way and, for this, should never be forgiven.
       
       5. We declare that the Kingdom of Thailand and the Kingdom of Cambodia and its peoples remain friendly neighbors. We, therefore, call upon Mr. Hun Sen to cease his activities in conspiring with Fugitive Thaksin Shinawatra in turning Thailand into an enemy of Cambodia. Mr. Hun Sen should also immediately strengthen ties with Thailand and urgently act upon what is called for in Former King His Majesty Norodom Sihanu’s royal missive.
       
       6. Following in our ancestors footsteps, we, the people of Thailand, continue to be at peace with our neighbors and the world. We are dedicated to cooperating with the peoples and governments of nations around the world in protecting world peace, human rights, and the wellbeing of mankind.
       
       Our gathering today reflects a great deal about the current state of the Kingdom of Thailand. Our presence represents Thai citizens who remain devoted to protecting the honor and dignity of our nation, our King, and our constitutional monarchy as stipulated in the Kingdom of Thailand’s constitution.
       
       Declared to those present here and around the world…November 15, 2009 at Sanam Luang, Bangkok, Kingdom of Thailand
       
       With Heartfelt Respect and Peace
       
       The People of Thailand
       Who remain loyal to our nation, our religion, and our monarchy

Source: Manager Online

Thaksin Shinawatra claimed it was “an honour” to be appointed Cambodia’s economic adviser. As his motherland is staring at a major diplomatic row with a close neighbour and businessmen in both countries are bracing themselves for an unpredictable impact, there is a thin line between “honour” and “shame”.

In his fight to clear his name, Thaksin has stopped at virtually nothing. And even after the Thai ambassador to Phnom Penh was recalled and Bangkok decided to cut assistance to Cambodia, he showed no signs of guilt, concern or remorse. Bangkok was being childish and overreacting, he tweeted. Thaksin’s blurring sense of patriotism is understandable. Having been ousted by a military coup, convicted for a crime he refuses to accept and seen his own political movement neutralised one after another, he can be forgiven for trying to embarrass his opponents who are holding the reins of power. But everything has its boundary – and Thaksin has crossed it.

Only he and Cambodian Premier Hun Sen know whether the controversial asylum offer and the economic-adviser appointment were out of the latter’s own goodwill or the former Thai leader had a hand in it. But even if Thaksin had nothing to do with the Cambodian moves, the least he could have done is show he cared about his country.

A neighbourly row of this nature can easily encompass the fighting colours in Thai politics. It threatens the whole country, be it yellows or reds or neutral Thais. Disruption of trade, border blockades, troop redeployment and the subsequent mounting tension on the already-strained relations will not discriminate against anyone.

Thaksin could have said “No, but thank you” to the Cambodian offer, but he has chosen to inflame the situation by saying the Thai government was overreacting, like a child. This came from someone who should have known better, who witnessed first-hand as a Thai leader what misunderstandings between the countries could lead to and who was on the verge of sending commandos into Cambodia himself to rescue Thai diplomats and businessmen running for their lives from angry torch-wielding protesters.

The difference between now and then is the attack on the Thai Embassy may have been caused by an accident, but this time there are people who seemingly want it to happen. Thaksin stands out among them. Hun Sen cannot drag himself into the Thai fray without Thaksin showing the way. If Thaksin’s opponents’ hardline stand on the Preah Vihear conflict was what first strained bilateral relations, things took a major turn for the worse when Thaksin’s representative, Chavalit Yongchaiyudh, visited Phnom Penh and kick-started the asylum-offer episode.

What is Thaksin prepared to do now? On one side is a country he once called home, where he is both loved and loathed, but on the other side is a place that is offering him comfort. A truly grateful man would do anything but pit both countries against each other.

By The Nation
Published on November 6, 2009

Just as many had feared, the stormy relationship between Thailand and Cambodia was pushed to the edge yesterday when Bangkok responded to fugitive ex-PM Thaksin Shinawatra’s appointment as the neighbouring country’s economic adviser by recalling its ambassador from Phnom Penh.

Cambodia’s retaliation – the planned recall of its ambassador here, You Aye, who Deputy Cambodian Prime Minister Sok An said would not return until Bangkok sends its own envoy back – ensured bilateral ties were at their worst level in years.

The Foreign Ministry recalled Prasas Prasasvinitchai, the ambassador to Phnom Penh, to Bangkok yesterday after Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen announced on Wednesday that Thaksin had been royally appointed as economic adviser and would not be extradited to Thailand.

These new developments add more problems to the ongoing process of boundary demarcation, and border conflicts at the area near the Preah Vihear Temple will become more difficult to resolve.

The only way to maintain bilateral interests would be to mend relations as soon as possible. However, with Thaksin and Hun Sen now the best of friends, observers say things can go either way – better or worse.

By Supalak Ganjanakhundee
The Nation
Published on November 6, 2009

Appointing Thaksin ‘an insult’ to Thai justice system

The Foreign Ministry has responded to Cambodia’s appointment of fugitive former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra as its economic adviser by recalling the Thai ambassador to Cambodia.

The Thai government will also review cooperation and bilateral agreements between Thailand and Cambodia.

As for Thaksin’s extradition from Cambodia, he said nothing can be proceeded at the moment since it is not yet confirmed if the fugitive ex-premier is staying there.

TAN Network

Appointing Thaksin ‘an insult’ to Thai justice system

Thailand recalled its ambassador to Phnom Penh yesterday to protest against the appointment of convicted ex-PM Thaksin Shinawatra as economic adviser to Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen and his government.

At the same time, the government said it wanted to review all bilateral agreements and commitments signed between Thailand and Cambodia by both current and previous administrations.

Ambassador to Cambodia Prasas Prasavinitchai arrived in Bangkok at 9pm.

Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva said Thaksin’s appointment could be considered as Cambodia intervening in the Thai justice system and disregarding the feelings of Thai people. He added that the Foreign Ministry’s actions were aimed at making Cambodia realise the damage it had done.

“We have to implement diplomatic procedures to air our feelings. I have already given Foreign Minister Kasit Piromya the job of making the procedure public,” Abhisit said.

The premier insisted that the moves would not affect relations between the Thai and Cambodian public, who will continue to be good neighbours.

“We are conducting the protest at a governmental level,” he said.

In an order signed by Cambodian King Norodom Sihamoni, Thaksin was appointed as economic adviser to Hun Sen and his government on Wednesday.

“Thaksin has already been appointed by royal decree … as personal adviser to Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen and the adviser to the Cambodian government in charge of economy,” said a statement from the Cambodian government that was read on television yesterday. “Allowing  to stay in Cambodia is virtuous behaviour … good friends need to help each other in difficult circumstances.”

The statement went on to call charges against Thaksin as being “politically motivated” and vowed not to extradite him if he “decides to stay in Cambodia or travels in and out in order to fulfil his duties”.

Upon his arrival in Thailand last month to attend the Asean summit, Hun Sen announced that he had offered Thaksin, whom he regards as a close friend, a residence and a job.

The Foreign Ministry’s decision to recall the Thai ambassador is the strongest protest in years and the government has said all ongoing cooperation between the two nations would be put on hold for the time being.

The foreign minister’s secretary, Chavanont Intarakomalsut, agreed with Abhisit and reiterated that giving Thaksin a job could be seen as Cambodia intervening in the Thai justice system.

“Thaksin’s appointment is an insult to the Thai justice system,” he said at a press conference.

Giving Thaksin the job clearly shows that the Cambodian premier cannot distinguish between personal interests and the mutual interests of the two countries, Chavanont said.

Before the decision to recall the envoy was made, Abhisit called a meeting with Defence Minister Prawit Wongsuwan and senior army officers, including Army chief General Anupong Paochinda, early yesterday before meeting with Deputy Prime Minister Suthep Thaugsuban and Foreign Minister Kasit Piromya.

Government spokesman Panitan Wattanayagorn said the ministers had unanimously agreed to go ahead with the measures.

“Cambodia has sent us a clear signal and this is not the first time. It is obvious that they cannot separate international ties from personal friendships, so we have no other choice,” he said.

He added that Kasit would discuss the issue with high-ranking officials at Foreign Ministry and see what level the Thailand-Cambodia diplomatic ties should be downgraded to.

When asked if Abhisit would discuss the issue with Hun Sen, because both are due to attend a mini-summit in Tokyo of leaders from countries in the Mekong Basin on Friday and Saturday, Panitan said: “We are willing, if he [Hun Sen] wants to talk.”

In related news, reports say that the Cambodian army is on alert at the border area near the disputed Preah Vihear temple, where the two countries last fought in April.

“The situation is calm, but we’re on alert. The prime minister has already ordered us to protect our territory,” deputy commander-in-chief of the Cambodian armed forces Chea Dar said yesterday.

“Cambodia will not invade Thai territory, but if Thai troops enter even one-centimetre into our territory, they will be destroyed,” he added.

Meanwhile, Thaksin sent out a Twitter message yesterday accusing the Thai government of behaving like a child and overreacting by recalling the Thai envoy from Phnom Penh.

 By The Nation
Published on November 6, 2009
RELATED STORIES

The Thai Foreign Ministry has written to “The Economist” after the British news magazine has published several articles about Thai politics. This is what was published in the latest issue:

SIR –The Economist painted too dark and pessimistic a picture of Thailand’s political situation (“Exile and the kingdom”, October 17th). Since 1932, and despite many ups and downs along the democratic path, Thais have persevered towards a true parliamentary democracy with a constitutional monarchy.

Irrespective of their political colours, Thais share an unwavering respect for the monarchy. The current political impasse reflects different perspectives about what Thai democracy entails, and efforts are being made to bridge such differences peacefully through parliamentary means.

Vimon Kidchob
Director-general
Department of Information
Ministry of Foreign Affairs
Bangkok

suthichaiyoon.blogspot

The recalling of rank insignia and royal decorations from self-exiled former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra made headlines over the past week. The Office of the Council of State is taking the matter seriously this time by advising the Secretariat of the Cabinet to revoke his rank of ‘Police Lieutenant-Colonel’ as well as 10 royal decorations received during his lifetime.

Looking back into the history of the Royal Thai Police, the removal of Mr Thaksin’s police rank was not the first case in Thailand.

The first commissioned police officer to be stripped of his rank was Police Major Luang Pisanusan (Sud Prateepjit) who was earlier sentenced by the Supreme Court to 11 years and four months in jail for embezzling money from the Metropolitan Police Bureau. Luang Pisanusan was stripped of his rank on 9 May 1929.

Later, more than 100 police officers with the ranks of sub-lieutenant and higher were stripped of their ranks, namely Brigadier Generals, Thom Jitwimon and Phad Tungkasamit, who assassinated four Cabinet members, political opponents of then-prime minister Field Marshal Plaek Pibulsongram. Both were given a death sentence by the Supreme Court which resulted in a royal order for their ranks to be recalled on 12 September 1962.

Back in 2004, the Royal Thai Police regulation on the stripping of police ranks was officially endorsed by Police Chief General Sant Sarutanond. Since legal enforcement, 62 commissioned police officers have been stripped of their ranks by an average of just over 12 officers annually.

Among those stripped of their ranks – 16 held lieutenant colonels, 12 were majors, 24 captains, nine lieutenants, and one sub-lieutenant. The Royal Thai Police’s regulation stipulates that the ranks of any individuals must be removed if found guilty of committing criminal offences, such as possession of narcotics with the intent to sell, malfeasance, dereliction of duty and murder. A charge like severe disciplinary action could cause officers to be dismissed from service. It includes absence without notice for more than 15 consecutive days, and embezzlement of state assets.

Based on the above-mentioned rules, the ousted former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra must be unavoidably stripped of his ranks and all of his 10 royal decorations must be returned as well under the Prime Minister’s Office’s regulations.

Thaksin, who carries the rank of ‘Police Lieutenant Colonel’, faces a two-year-jail term for violating conflict of interest in the controversial Bangkok’s Ratchadapisek land purchase deal last year as ruled by the Supreme Court.

NNT

Reporter : Weeranuwat Saengsawang
     News Date : 01 November 2009

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REVOCATION OF THAKSIN’S HONOURS- The Nation