Should Thaksin lose his police rank?

Thaksin has retained his rank of lieutenant-colonel since leaving the police force to run his business and later to enter politics.

Noppadon Pattama, former foreign minister, questioned the wisdom of revoking Thaksin's rank when there were more urgent matters for the Royal Thai Police to deal with.

"It's clear some people want to drive Thaksin into a corner. I'm not sure about the police regulations, but I think this move is improper. Police Lt-Colonel Thaksin is a former prime minister, and he has done much to benefit the country," said Noppadon.

Noppadon, who is Thaksin's lawyer, said a number of other police officers had been imprisoned without being stripped of their ranks.

The commander of the police Disciplinary Division, Police Maj-General Panya Engchuan, said yesterday his office had proposed to higher authority that Thaksin be stripped of his police rank now that he had received a final court sentence of imprisonment. Panya cited a police regulation on the matter.

Police General Patcharawat Wongsuwan, police commissioner-general, said he had yet to obtain the papers from the Disciplinary Division chief.

Pheu Thai MP Chaowarin Latthasaksiri suggested the police move against Thaksin was politically motivated. Chaowarin said he would raise urgent queries about the matter with Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva during the next House meeting in two weeks.

The politician produced copies of a document he claimed to be a "confidential letter" from Police General Seripisut Temiyavej, former caretaker national police chief, to then Prime Minister Somchai Wongsawat, accusing police chief General Patcharawat Wongsuwan of malfeasance.

Chaowarin called on the police to "clarify" this matter too.

Deputy Prime Minister Suthep Thaugsuban said he was "surprised" to learn about the Thaksin rank issue on Thursday night when a TV reporter telephoned him for comment.

He said he had met Patcharawat earlier in the day but the police chief had not mentioned the matter. He would ask the police for more details.

Suthep insisted the government had not given instructions to police about Thaksin's rank. He admitted the new development could further complicate his efforts to hold talks with Thaksin on social reconciliation.

However, when asked if he would instruct the police to suspend plans for stripping Thaksin of his rank, Suthep said he would have to determine if the action was necessary under police regulations.

"I can't order suspension immediately; if they are doing the right thing, I can't order it to be shelved," he said.