Gen Prayut said if Thaksinʼs rank as police lieutenant colonel was revoked, all his royal decorations and rank insignia will also be seized as part of normal procedure.
“There is a clear law on the rank-stripping process and we have to comply with it,” Gen Prayut said.
“Relevant sectors are now proceeding with the next step on this issue.”
Meanwhile, Justice Minister Paiboon Koomchaya said the proposal to strip Thaksin's rank, agreed by the committee comprising him, representatives from the Royal Thai Police (RTP) and the Council of State, has also been proposed to Gen Prayut.
The next step of the process will be supervised by national police chief Somyot Poompunmuang who is the person in charge of this matter.
Gen Paiboon suggested Pol Gen Somyot “make his decision carefully” as the Justice Ministry and the Council of State had also agreed to strip Thaksin of his rank, adding that in 2011 the council ruled that the criteria can apply to retired police officers.
Gen Paiboon, however, said he had no right to interfere with Pol Gen Somyotʼs decision and had no idea how the police chief will handle the issue.
Asked whether Pol Gen Somyot will be accused of dereliction of duty for not approving the stripping of Thaksin's rank earlier, Gen Paiboon said the RTP has to be responsible for its decisions.
“The RTP should talk to Gen Prayut as he is its direct superior,” Gen Paiboon said.
Pol Gen Somyot was accused of foot-dragging over the controversial issue, though he denied it.
Foreign Minister Tanasak Patimapragorn also remarked on the stripping of the ex-prime ministerʼs rank which some foreign countries view as politically motivated.
Gen Tanasak said the government has clearly followed the law on the process and holds no bias.
As for fugitives who are still at large abroad, the ministry will normally ask for co-operation from that country to repatriate them, he said.
“However, this depends on law of each country,” he said.
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