Thailand’s Former PM Thaksin Shinawatra Signals His Return

Thailand’s self-exiled former prime minister announced Tuesday that he plans to return home by July of this year. Thaksin Shinawatra tweeted for the second time this month that he wants to visit his grandchildren.

He stated that he is ready to face justice, including many convictions for abuse of power and alleged corruption.

“I’ve decided to return home to raise my grandchildren by July, before my birthday.” Please forgive me. I’ve been separated from my family for about 17 years. “I’m already old,” he Tweeted.

Thaksin, 73, was a populist prime leader who was deposed in a 2006 military coup.

He fled Thailand to avoid a prison sentence in multiple criminal charges that were extremely politically motivated. The administration of his sister, Yingluck Shinawatra, was similarly overthrown in a 2014 coup led by the current Prime Minister and election candidate, Gen. Prayuth Chan-ocha.

If Thaksin keeps his promise to return before his birthday on July 26, he might face at least a decade in prison. Thaksin is a popular but polarizing figure in Thai politics, and his reappearance might prove destabilizing.

Thaksin stated in a tweet that he will not be a burden to his daughter’s Pheu Thai Party.

“I’ll begin the legal process, and the day I return will be during Gen. Prayuth’s interim government.” “I made this decision based on my love and bond with my family, my homeland, and our master,” he explained. It was unclear to whom he was referencing as the master, although it could be a reference to Thailand’s king, whom his people venerate.

Thaksin’s youngest daughter, Paetongtarn Shinawatra, has repeatedly led opinion polls as a preferred prime minister candidate. Her millionaire father’s residual popularity, particularly among poor and working-class Thais, is a crucial factor in her rise.

Thaksin tweeted that he would like to travel home to visit his grandchildren after she gave birth to a newborn boy this month, concluding the tweet with “See you soon.” It prompted Paetongtarn to downplay the message’s significance, claiming it was only a normal reaction of a grandfather who was “very happy and excited.”

In 2013, Yingluck’s government, widely regarded as Thaksin’s proxy, proposed a political amnesty bill that would allow Thaksin to avoid incarceration. It sparked a series of violent protests, finally leading to the coup in 2014.

“I am my father’s daughter, always and forever, but I make my own decisions,” Paetongtarn stated at a Pheu Thai campaign rally.

Caretaker Deputy Prime Minister Wissanu Krea-ngam wants Thaksin in Prison

If Thaksin Shinawatra returns home, he must spend his term in prison, not under house arrest, according to caretaker Deputy Prime Minister Wissanu Krea-ngam a stanch royalist. Mr Wissanu, the cabinet’s legal expert, says Thaksin is involved in three types of cases.

The first were cases where the courts had already rendered a decision and Thaksin had not returned to face punishment.

The second category included cases in which court decisions were still pending. Third, there were situations in which courts had already ruled Thaksin not guilty.

According to Mr. Wissanu, officials must segregate the cases and follow the required legal procedures for each one.

When questioned whether Thaksin could petition for bail in circumstances where a court had already sentenced him to prison, Mr Wassanu reiterated his conviction that Thaksin should be imprisoned.

Somsak Thepsuthin, the former justice minister mentioned, resigned from the cabinet in March to join the Pheu Thai Party. Paetongtarn Shinawatra, Thaksin’s youngest daughter, is one of Pheu Thai’s three contenders for prime minister.

When asked about royal pardons, Mr. Wissanu explained that there are two kinds: those sought by authorities for criminals and those sought by individual prisoners requesting a reduction in their sentence. It was unclear whether a royal pardon would be given.

Individual inmates must spend at least eight years, or one-third of their sentence term, to seek a royal pardon by a royal proclamation, he said.

Thaksin was deposed by a military coup in 2006 and is now living in self-exile after being found guilty in absentia by a military aligned court for abuse of power. A charge he has always said was extremely politically motivated. Thaksin is still hugely popular among the rural Thai people.

Thaksin’s newest tweets were dismissed by caretaker Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha, who claimed he had not seen them.

“It’s up to him and the judicial procedures,” Gen Prayut said when asked for his thoughts.

When asked if Thaksin’s tweet was a signal to Gen Prayut to strike a deal, he replied, “Did he send a signal via air?” I didn’t get any signals.”

When asked how he saw Thaksin’s motives in making the announcement just a few days before the general election, Gen Prayut laughed and stated, “You asked this question, so you answer it.”