PM denies influencing ruling

       Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva is distancing his government from a Council of State recommendation that ousted prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra be stripped of his police rank and royal decorations.
       Thaksin Shinawatra first wore the police uniform in 1973.
       Mr Abhisit Wednesday said the government had not influenced the council's ruling on this matter, which was strictly between the Royal Thai Police and the government's legal advisory body.
       "The Royal Thai Police asked the Council of State about the matter, and now the ruling has come out it will have to comply," he said.
       The Council of State recommended on Tuesday that the fugitive prime minister be stripped of his police rank and royal decorations because he had been convicted and sentenced to two years in jail. Thaksin was a police lieutenant colonel before he built his business empire and entered politics.
       The Supreme Court's Criminal Division for Holders of Political Positions found him guilty in October of last year of a conflict of interest in relation to the sale of a prime piece of real estate on Ratchadaphisek Road to his then wife.
       Mr Abhisit said the revoking of Thaksin's police rank would be handled by the Royal Thai Police while the recall of his royal decorations would be undertaken by the relevant agencies.
       Procedures call for the Secretariat of the Cabinet to propose the recall of the decorations to the prime minister for endorsement and then forward the matter to the Office of His Majesty's Principal Private Secretary. The recall, once it has royal endorsement, would be announced in the royal gazette.
       The former prime minister has received nine royal decorations, the highest being the Knight Grand Commander (Second Class, higher grade) of the Most Illustrious Order of Chulachomklao, bestowed in 2002.
       Thaksin wrote on his Twitter page yesterday that "it is a normal practice for this government... if they could find a law to kill me, they would have done.
       "Law should be enforced for peace of society, justice, and equality, but this government chooses to enforce for political outcomes. Now I have to sing the song Khob Khun Thi Some Term (Thanks for repeatedly hitting me)."
       Thaksin supporters have also come out to criticise moves to revoke his police rank and royal decorations.
       Core Puea Thai Party member Chalerm Yubamrung said the move appeared to be politically motivated. It came just days after Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen offered Thaksin a refuge and a job as his economic adviser.
       "The government may or may not take advice from the Council of State," he said. "It depends whether or not the advice is useful to the government."
       Mr Chalerm said the offence of which Thaksin was found guilty does not justify stripping him of his rank under the police's code.