PM: Government won’t ask Constitution Court to interpret proposed reinstatements of police officers

RAYONG, Jan 16 (TNA) -- His government will not forward a Police Commission request to reinstate two of three police officers who were sacked for their roles in the crackdown on protesters of the People’s Alliance for Democracy (PAD) in October 2008 to the Constitution Court to interpret, said Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva on Saturday.

Mr Abhisit said he still had not obtained details on the Police Commission decision to reinstate former Bangkok police chief Pol. Lt-Gen Suchart Muankaew and ex-Udon Thani police chief Pol. Maj-Gen. Permsak Paradornsak.

The two senior police officers, along with former national police chief Pol. Gen. Pacharawat Wongsuwan, were dismissed from the police force after they were found guilty by the National Counter Corruption Commission (NACC) for suppression of the PAD demonstrators on October 7, 2008. Pol. Gen. Pacharawat was discharged by the Police Board.

Two PAD protesters were killed and some 130 others were wounded or injured when police fired teargas into their ranks near Parliament and at Metropolitan Police Bureau headquarters.

The crackdown on the protesters in the northeastern province of Udon Thani took place on July 24, 2008.

Mr Abhisit said he wanted to see the decision by the Police Commission first but both the acting national police chief and the Police Commission “cannot violate the Constitution”.

He said there is no need for the government to forward the issue to the Constitution Court to interpret because it had earlier considered opinions given by the Council of State.

The premier said there is a possibility that the new National Police Chief would be appointed this month.(TNA)