Regional News
Thailand Drops Terrorism Charges Against Thaksin Shinawatra
BANGKOK — Terrorism charges against fugitive former Thai prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra in connection with the 2010 red-shirt protests have been dropped by prosecutors in Thailand due to “weak evidence”, says attorney-general Athapol Yaisawang.
He said the decision was made by his predecessor Chulasingh Vasantasingh, according to a Thai media report.
Reports on the terrorism charges against Thaksin and 23 other red-shirt protesters were submitted by the Department of Special Investigation (DSI) to the Attorney-General.
The charges against Thaksin were reviewed as a separate case because he was a fugitive. Because the alleged offence had happened outside Thailand, Chulasingh had the final word on whether to try Thaksin.
Nanthasak Pulsuk, spokesman for the Office of the Attorney-General, said Thaksin had only phoned in to the rallies from abroad, and there was no clear evidence he had encouraged people to carry out terrorist acts.