Amid a throng of passionate supporters, Thaksin Shinawatra made a grand entrance at the Pheu Thai Party headquarters in March 2024. Captured by the sharp lens of Varuth Hirunyatheb, the former prime minister’s presence electrified the atmosphere (Photo: Varuth Hirunyatheb).
Tuesday morning saw Thaksin report to public prosecutors and was subsequently escorted to the Criminal Court for arraignment concerning his lese-majeste case, as revealed by Prayut Phetcharakhun, the spokesperson for the Office of the Attorney-General (OAG). The court formally accepted the case at precisely 8:56am, thus officially branding Thaksin as a defendant.
Late last month, the OAG had declared its decision to indict Thaksin, despite him being on parole. Originally, the indictment was scheduled for an earlier date but was postponed until Tuesday, June 18, due to Thaksin’s unfortunate bout with Covid-19.
The 74-year-old former premier is accused of defaming the monarchy during an interview with the South Korean newspaper Chosun Ilbo, dated May 21, 2015. In this controversial interview, Thaksin alleged that privy councillors had supported the 2014 coup which resulted in the ousting of his younger sister’s government, Yingluck Shinawatra.
The initial complaint was lodged in 2015 by Gen Udomdej Sitabutr, who was at the time serving as the deputy defence minister in the military government led by Gen Prayut Chan-o-cha. It was Gen Udomdej who instructed the Judge Advocate General’s Department to initiate legal proceedings against Thaksin, leading the OAG to file a lawsuit.
By 2015, the Criminal Court had accepted the case for trial and issued an arrest warrant for Thaksin, who chose to remain abroad and only returned to Thailand in August last year.
The accusations against Thaksin’s comments during that fateful interview were that they violated Section 112 of the Criminal Code, commonly referred to as the lese-majeste law, alongside infractions under the Computer Crimes Act.
In a recent statement, the OAG’s spokesperson confirmed that Attorney-General Amnat Chetcharoenrak had resolved to indict Thaksin on both charges, pursuant to police recommendations. The computer crimes charge pertains to Thaksin inputting information into a computer system deemed as threatening to national security.
Denying any wrongdoing, Thaksin now faces the possibility of pre-trial detention should the Criminal Court deny him bail post-indictment. Under the rigid lese-majeste law, each alleged royal insult carries with it the specter of up to a 15-year prison sentence.
This high-stakes drama continues to unfold, capturing the attention of both national and international observers as Thaksin’s legal battle charges forward. As supporters rally behind their embattled leader, the courtroom remains a contentious battleground for this divisive figure in Thai politics.
This whole case is just a political witch hunt. Thaksin has always been a threat to the military regime, and they are using the lese-majeste law to silence him.
But defaming the monarchy is a serious offense and undermines national unity. Thaksin should have known better than to get involved with such sensitive issues.
Maybe, but using such a harsh law against political opponents just shows how fragile their power really is. It’s a democracy in name only.
Exactly! Governments should be able to handle criticism without resorting to draconian measures. This sets a dangerous precedent.
Why even bother with democracy if you’re going to jail anyone who speaks out? It’s a sham.
Lese-majeste laws are outdated and should be abolished. They have no place in a modern democracy.
If you don’t respect the monarchy, you don’t respect Thailand. Period. The law is there for a reason.
Respecting an institution should not mean silencing criticism. That’s not respect; that’s fear.
Laws should evolve with society. Just because something has been around for a long time doesn’t make it right.
It’s suspicious that Thaksin had COVID right before his indictment. Seems like an excuse to delay the legal process.
Or maybe he actually had COVID. People always jump to conspiracy theories.
The timing is indeed suspicious, but I won’t jump to conclusions without evidence.
Thaksin is a flawed leader, but criminalizing political dissent is a step backward for Thailand.
True, no one is perfect. But in this case, the focus should be on the draconian laws being employed.
Thaksin should never have returned to Thailand if he knew he could face such charges.
He returned because he believes in his cause and has massive support. It’s a gamble, but one he seems willing to take.
Using the Computer Crimes Act in conjunction with lese-majeste laws is just overkill.
It’s like they are trying to get him on anything and everything possible. There must be more to this than just what he said.
Politics in Thailand have always been a mess. This just adds to the chaos.
It’s not just Thailand. Many countries use legal systems to suppress political opponents.
People should be able to criticize their leaders without fear of imprisonment. This is basic human rights.
But what if the criticism threatens national security? There’s a fine line.
National security shouldn’t be a blanket excuse to suppress free speech. The world is watching.
Thaksin’s supporters are blind to his flaws. He’s not a saint, and his actions have consequences.
It’s interesting how Thaksin always manages to stay relevant in Thai politics despite all odds.
Thaksin might be controversial, but his policies had a significant impact on rural development.