Thailand’s attorney general is deliberating over pressing charges against the country’s former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra for allegedly insulting the monarchy, a move that comes just as he nears potential parole. The case, rooted in a 2015 interview given in South Korea, revives longstanding tensions in Thai politics and the sensitive issue of lese-majeste laws.
Thaksin, who led Thailand from 2001 to 2006 before his ousting and subsequent self-imposed exile, has consistently professed his loyalty to the monarchy, a cornerstone of Thai identity where the king is to be held in “revered worship.” Yet, he finds himself potentially facing charges under the world’s strictest lese-majeste laws, where each perceived insult could entail up to 15 years of imprisonment.
The billionaire’s dramatic return to Thailand last August ended 15 years of exile and began an eight-year sentence for abuse of power, which the king later reduced to one year. Thaksin, now 74 and detained at a hospital for an undisclosed health issue, has yet to spend a full night in prison. His eligibility for parole later this month adds a complex layer to the unfolding legal drama.
Former Thai prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra arrives to greet his supporters after landing at Bangkok’s Don Mueang airport on August 22, 2023. © Lillian Suwanrumpha, AFP
The seven-year delay in prosecuting the royal insult complaint, attributed to Thaksin’s absence abroad, highlights the lasting influence of political dynamics on legal processes in Thailand. Prayut Petchkhun, a spokesperson for the attorney general’s office, remained tight-lipped on the specifics of the allegations, noting only Thaksin’s denial of wrongdoing and his plea for fairness.
The backdrop to Thaksin’s legal challenges includes the recent ascendancy of Srettha Thavisin, a Thaksin ally and real estate tycoon, to the prime ministership, sparking speculation of political maneuvering. This conjecture is further fueled by the recent controversy surrounding the Move Forward party’s thwarted attempt to amend the lese-majeste law, a proposal met with legal pushback and heightened scrutiny of the party’s standing.
