EC need not to vet military reshuffle : Defense Ministry
The Defence Ministry insisted on Monday that the proposed list of military rotations could be submitted for royal approval without having to be vetted by the Election Commission during the leadup to the new election.
"The Cabinet laid down the legal guidelines for seeking royal approval of the military assignments back in 2000," ministry permanent secretary General Sirichai Thanyasiri said.Sirichai said a constitutional clause requiring that the EC scrutinise bureaucratic appointments covered only those positions endorsed by the Cabinet. Since the military appointment process involves the prime minister and not the Cabinet, the government has the power to bypass the EC, he said. He also confirmed that the new military lineup had been finalised on Thursday and was forwarded to caretaker Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra yesterday. Thaksin is expected to seek royal approval for the military reshuffle before departing today for Finland to attend the AsiaEurope Meeting. The Nation
|
