Thaksin says ouster ruling unlawful
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Thaksin says ouster ruling unlawful

Ousted prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra has accused the Constitutional Court judges of making an unlawful decision to strip his younger sister, Yingluck Shinawatra, of her premiership, according to Thaksin’s legal adviser Noppadon Pattama.

Mr Noppadon said Thaksin was disappointed with the ruling on Wednesday.

The legal adviser said Thaksin's reaction came after the nine Constitutional Court judges ruled unanimously to oust Ms Yingluck as prime minister and nine of her cabinet members over the transfer of Mr Thawil as National Security Council secretary-general in 2011.

Mr Noppadon said the former premier also pointed to what he believes was a flaw in the judges’ decision to dismiss the ministers.

Thaksin thought the court handed down its dismissal order without giving the ministers a chance to testify, said Mr Noppadon, also a member of a Pheu Thai committee on party affairs.

The judges based their ruling on the Supreme Administrative Court’s judgement that found the transfer of Mr Thawil to become a prime ministerial adviser contravened the charter.

Ms Yingluck chaired the cabinet meeting on Sept 2, 2011 which approved the transfer order. As a result, the court said, the other cabinet members also had to take responsibility and vacate their posts.

The nine ministers at the meeting included key government figures such as caretaker Labour Minister Chalerm Yubamrung, who supervises the Centre for the Administration of Peace and Order (Capo), and caretaker Foreign Minister Surapong Tovichakchaikul, also chief adviser to Capo.

The ouster of the ministers was also heavily criticised by the Pheu Thai Party.

The party is considering filing a lawsuit against the judges if its legal experts determine there were irregularities in the ruling, Pheu Thai strategist Prompong Nopparit said yesterday.

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