BANGKOK, June 3 – Thawil Pliensri, legally reinstated to the National Security Council (NSC) by Thailand’s Administrative Court’s verdict, said he would renew his legal battle if the government decides to appeal the judicial decision.
He said he was waiting to see if Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra would appeal the court’s verdict which reinstated him as head of the NSC, retroactive to September 30, 2011.
Mr Thawil, who was moved to in an inactive post on September 7, 2011, said he would not accept any position other than that of NSC secretary general.
“I can file a lawsuit (against the government) in either the Civil or Criminal Court if the prime minister decides to appeal the Administrative Court’s verdict,” he said. “Don’t misunderstand that I’m fighting against the prime minister, who is my supervisor. I only want to protect my right.”
Paradorn Patanatabut, current NSC secretary general, said earlier that he was unfairly transferred from his post when he worked under Mr Thawil.
Responding to the statement, Mr Thawil said his and Lt Gen Paradorn’s cases were different and the NSC chief should file a lawsuit in the Administrative Court if he believed he was treated unfairly.
Klanarong Chanthik, spokesman and member of the National Anti-Corruption Commission (NACC), said Mr Thawil was entitled by the law to file a complaint against the government with the NACC, and that it is the NACC’s duty to take the complaint into consideration.
Mr Thawil, who is currently an adviser to the prime minister, is due to retire on September 30 next year.
The government is studying the court’s verdict before deciding if it will appeal the reinstatement order.
