Royal insult allegations against Thailand’s former PM

Thai authorities charge exiled Thaksin Shinawatra with monarchy insult shortly after homecoming

Thai police have charged former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra with insulting the monarchy, a grave offense in Thailand.

This development comes as Thaksin, a controversial figure who returned from self-exile last August, faces a potential release on parole.

The charge relates to Thaksin’s comments in a 2015 interview in South Korea. Prayuth Pecharakun, Thailand’s attorney general’s office spokesman, stated that Thaksin denies the charges and has appealed for fair treatment. Thailand’s lese-majeste laws, among the world’s strictest, carry severe penalties for perceived insults to the monarchy. Offenders can face up to 15 years in prison for each charge.

Thaksin is a billionaire and two-time prime minister who was ousted in a 2006 coup and has been a polarizing figure in Thai politics. Loved by many for his populist policies in the early 2000s, he is equally reviled by the royalist and pro-military establishment.

His return to Thailand coincided with his Pheu Thai Party’s return to power, sparking rumors of a backroom deal to mitigate his legal troubles. This speculation intensified when the king commuted his eight-year sentence to one year. Currently detained in a hospital due to health issues, Thaksin’s political saga continues to stir controversy in Thailand.

Source: Newsroom