Fugitive former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra has labelled as "unlawful" a decision by the charter court to remove his sister Yingluck from office along with nine of her cabinet members.
Thaksin was quoted on Thursday by his legal adviser and close aide, Noppadon Pattama, after reporters asked him if he had talked to the ex-premier after the court found the transfer of National Security Council chief Thawil Pliensri to an inactive post approved by Ms Yingluck and her cabinet ministers in 2011 was illegitimate.
Bangkok Post file photo
According to Mr Noppadon, Thaksin said the court ruling was unlawful, especially when it ordered the ministers to also step down, a decision he viewed as “not fair” to them because the court did not give them a chance to clarify or defend themselves.
Thaksin said Mr Thawil’s transfer was carried out correctly and in the same manner as Democrat leader Abhisit Vejjajiva did in 2009 when he was prime minister and ordered the transfer of Surapol Puanaiyakarn to an inactive post, and replace him with Mr Thawil as new NSC chief.
Thaksin also denied the transfer was meant to benefit Ms Yingluck or his relative.
Wednesday’s court ruling found the transfer was carried out to open the way for Pol Gen Priewpan Damapong, elder brother of Khunying Potjaman Na Pombejra, Thaksin’s ex-wife, to become national police chief. This involved personal interest in violation of Section 268 of the constitution, the court ruled.