Ex-Thai PM Thaksin rank may be striped

BANGKOK, May 29 (TNA) - The Royal Thai Police is considering to strip exiled ex-prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra's police rank of lieutenant colonel. In response to journalists' questions, Thai Deputy Prime Minister General Prawit Wongsuwan, who oversees national security, acknowledged before his departure to Singpore on Friday morning, that National Police Chief Police General Somyos Pumpanmuang has said clearly the plan is being considered. General Prawit, who is also Thai Defence Minister, noted that the move followed complaints made by people over Thaksin's remarks in South Korea on May 20, which are considered tarnishing reputation of Thailand's Privy Council. The Thai deputy premier and defence minister stressed that an official decision on taking legal action against Thaksin is not politically motivated, but rather than his comments which have caused damages to others. According to the Thai deputy prime minister and defence minister, the legal action against Thaksin has already been filed with the public prosecutors because he has violated the law. During his participation in the Choson Media in Seoul, South Korea's capital, on May 20, Thaksin, who has lived in self-imposed exile overseas since September 2006, reportedly gave an interview that the Thai Privy Council was behind the latest military intervention in Thailand on May 22, 2014, which toppled the previous government of Yingluck Shinawatra, his younger sister. The Thai deputy prime minister and defence minister later left for the island state to attend the 14th Asia Security Summit, dubbed the IISS Shangri-la Dialogue, set from May 29-31. (TNA)