Thailand charges former PM Thaksin Shinawatra with royal defamation

Thailand’s ex-Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra is facing lese majeste charges, officials announced on Wednesday. This is just the latest development in a long-running political story in the Southeast Asian nation.

The charges were brought by the police, who claim that Thaksin broke Thailand’s strict royal insult law during an interview he did in 2015 with the South Korean newspaper Chosun Ilbo.

The attorney general has announced that Thaksin will be charged with all offenses, according to spokesperson Prayuth Bejraguna. Thaksin is required to attend a meeting at the Office of the Attorney General on June 18, followed by a court appearance. Unfortunately, he was unable to attend the recent hearing due to contracting Covid-19, as mentioned by the spokesperson.

Despite the accusations, Thaksin has maintained his innocence, as stated by the spokesperson. He has also reassured his commitment and support to the monarchy on numerous occasions.

Thaksin, who was prime minister from 2001 until he was ousted in a military coup in 2006, made a surprising comeback to Thailand last August after 15 years of living in self-imposed exile. He was then arrested and taken into custody.

There are some experts who speculate that Thaksin may have made an agreement with the country's influential conservative and royalist establishment in order to return, especially considering his past court convictions and pending charges. However, Thaksin has denied these allegations.

Pro-democracy protesters light candles during a mourning ceremony for Netiporn Sanesangkhom, a Thai political activist, outside The Southern Bangkok Criminal Court on May 14, 2024. Sanesangkhom died from cardiac arrest at after 65 days on hunger strike in prison.

Pro-democracy protesters gathered outside The Southern Bangkok Criminal Court on May 14, 2024, to honor the memory of Netiporn Sanesangkhom, a Thai political activist. Sanesangkhom sadly passed away from a heart attack after being on a hunger strike in prison for 65 days.

Peerapon Boonyakiat/SOPA Image/Shutterstock

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A young Thai activist's death in detention after a 65-day hunger strike has led to calls for reform in the justice system. He was initially sentenced to eight years in prison for conflict of interest, abuse of power, and corruption during his time in power. However, his sentence was later reduced to just one year. In February, the 74-year-old activist was released from detention after being granted parole. He had only served six months in a police hospital before being released.

Thailand has very strict laws against insulting the royal family, with penalties of up to 15 years in prison for each offense. The lese majeste law, found in Section 112 of the Criminal Code, has resulted in lengthy sentences for those found guilty, and many individuals have been prosecuted in the past few years.

Earlier this month, many people in Thailand were saddened by the news of a young activist who passed away while in pre-trial detention for lese majeste charges. This tragic event has once again brought attention to the need for reform in the justice system.

Thaksin, who was once the owner of Manchester City Football Club, comes from a well-known political family in Thailand. This dynasty has been a major force in Thai politics for the last twenty years, with two former prime ministers hailing from the family.

Even today, the Pheu Thai party, led by Thaksin's daughter Paetongtarn, remains in power as part of a coalition government with former military rivals after the May 2023 election.

After years in exile, the powerful Shinawatra clan has made a comeback through their party's involvement in the ruling coalition.

Thaksin's comeback to Thailand brought back a prominent and controversial figure during a period of political tension. After being freed from detention, Thaksin has been touring the nation, attending various public events, including visits to his hometown of Chiang Mai where he has a strong following.

Thaksin was widely loved by Thailand's rural and working class during his time in office. However, his policies were strongly disliked by the wealthy elites and conservatives, who believed he was a corrupt and dangerous populist leader.

Even when he was not physically present in Thailand, Thaksin continued to have a significant impact on the country's political scene. He has consistently been a central figure in Thailand's turbulent and sometimes violent political environment.

Former Thai Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra, who has been living in self-imposed exile for almost two decades, was seen waving at Don Mueang airport in Bangkok, Thailand on August 22, 2023. He is expected to be arrested upon his return.

Former Thai Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra, who is expected to be arrested upon his return as he ends almost two decades of self-imposed exile, waves at Don Mueang airport in Bangkok, Thailand August 22, 2023.

Athit Perawongmetha/Reuters

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Former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra has come back to Thailand after 15 years of living outside the country. Despite the political divide in Thailand, Thaksin has stated that he is not secretly controlling things from behind the scenes. He has made it clear that he has returned to Thailand to enjoy his retirement and to be with his family.

Some analysts believe that Thaksin regards himself as an influential figure in politics, while his former opponents in the establishment still view him as a potential risk.

According to Thitinan Pongsudhirak, a political science professor at Chulalongkorn University, the accusation against Thaksin is purely politically motivated and cannot be seen in any other light.

The Pheu Thai party in government is concerned about Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin's influence, as he has avoided jail time despite being seen as a threat. This has caused consternation due to the perceived double standard. Last week, Thailand’s Constitutional Court accepted a petition to remove the Prime Minister from office for appointing a Cabinet member with close ties to Thaksin, who had previously been in jail.

Pichit Chuenban was sentenced to six months in prison in 2008 for contempt of court. He had attempted to bribe Supreme Court officials in a land case related to Thaksin.

Thitinan believes that the two cases are linked. He suggests that the lese majeste accusation was a method to control Thaksin's actions.

“It’s an indictment and a reminder to Thaksin of who has real power in Thailand,” he said.

Calls for reform

Human rights organizations and free speech campaigners have long argued that lese majeste has been utilized as a political weapon to suppress critics of the Thai government.

Rights groups highlight that the freedom of expression in Thailand has faced more challenges following the 2020 nationwide youth-led protests, where millions of young individuals protested for constitutional and democratic changes. These protests marked the first time when criticisms were openly directed towards the monarchy, questioning its authority and resources.

Four years after King Bhumibol Adulyadej's son King Maha Vajiralongkorn took over the throne following his father's seven-decade reign, protests erupted in Thailand.

Even with the transition from a military-backed government to civilian leadership in the previous year, activists and students still face surveillance and intimidation, as reported by Thai Lawyers for Human Rights.

Since the protests began in July 2020, a legal advocacy group reported that 1,954 individuals have been prosecuted or charged for participating in political assemblies and speaking out. Among these cases, 286 involve children.

Leading up to the 2023 general election, there was a strong movement to reform the lese majeste laws. The progressive Move Forward Party emerged as the winner with the most votes.

The party's attempt to form a government was unsuccessful due to opposition to its reform plans. Additionally, the Constitutional Court found Move Forward in violation of the constitution for its efforts to change the lese majeste law, and instructed the party to cease all related activities.

Editor's P/S:

The article highlights the ongoing political turmoil in Thailand, particularly the lese majeste charges against former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra. These charges, widely seen as politically motivated