Thaksin's royal decorations and police rank to be recalled

The Cabinet Secretariat can recall ex-PM Thaksin Shinawatra's royal decoration following advises from the Council of State, said Surachai Puprasert, secretariat's secretary general said Wednesday.

The secretariat will also ask police department to proceed the strip of Thaksin's police rank, Surachai told Matichon online.

Earlier the Council of State has advised the Cabinet to strip Thaksin's police rank of lieutenant colonel and to recall his royal decorations, following his conviction and jail sentence last year.

The council, which is the government's legal advisory agency, sent its recommendation to the Cabinet Secretariat on Monday.

It said the fact that Thaksin, who carries the rank of police lieutenant colonel, was sentenced to imprisonment and that disqualified him from holding a rank under the Royal Thai Police regulations.

He was also obliged to return his royal decorations under the Prime Minister's Office regulations.

Thaksin was sentenced in absentia by the Supreme Court's Criminal Division for Political Office Holders in October last year to two years in jail for conflict of interest. He did not appeal the ruling but instead argued that it was politically motivated.

List of Thaksin's royal decorations

1974 - Member (Fifth Class) of the Most Noble Order of the Crown of Thailand

1976 - Companion (Fourth Class) of the Most Noble Order of the Crown of Thailand

1980 - Companion (Fourth Class) of the Most Exalted Order of the White Elephant

1985 - Commander (Third Class) of the Most Noble Order of the Crown of Thailand

1994 - Knight Grand Cordon (Special Class) of the Most Exalted Order of the White Elephant

1995 - Knight Grand Cordon (Special Class) of the Most Noble Order of the Crown of Thailand

1996 - Knight Grand Cordon (Special Class) of the Most Exalted Order of the White Elephant

2001 - Knight Grand Cross (First Class) of the Most Admirable Order of the Direkgunabhorn.

2002 - Knight Commander (Second Class,lower grade) of the Most Illustrious Order of Chula Chom Klao.