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PM stops awards of honorary ranks



Subject: PM stops awards of honorary ranks  Politicians 'should serve the

country'  
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DEFENCE MINISTRY

PM stops awards of honorary ranks 
Politicians 'should serve the country' 

Wassana Nanuam

The prime minister has banned the Defence Ministry from seeking honorary
military ranks for politicians.

Chuan Leekpai, also the defence minister, issued the order after a negative
reaction to reports Pol Gen Pracha Promnok, the national police chief, was
proposing the rank of police general for Sanan Kachornprasart, the interior
minister.

The Democrat secretary-general had already been promoted once from
lieutenant-colonel to major-general while he was the interior minister in
the first Chuan government.

Nareunart Kampanartsaenyakorn, the defence minister's secretary, said Mr
Chuan had made clear politicians must serve the country, not to seek honour
and rewards for themselves.

Gen Nareunart said Mr Chuan had never wanted a military rank. "He sees that
a civilian defence minister signifies full democracy in Thailand."

He also said Gen Chettha Thanajaro, the former army chief, made a big
sacrifice in accepting the post of Maj-Gen Sanan's adviser on security
affairs as he had to quit as board chairman of Thai Military Bank.

Gen Nareunart said Gen Chettha could not be seen as relegating himself to
be Maj-Gen Sanan's subordinate.

A defence source said the army had proposed the appointment of FM Thanom
Kittikachorn, the former strongman, and Maj-Gen Manoonkrit Roopkachorn, the
interior minister's chief adviser, as special officers attached to the 31st
Infantry Regiment and fourth Cavalry Regiment, respectively.