In honour of King and country: Thaksin bowing in homage to the king’s portrait after landing at Bangkok’s Don Mueang airport. Thaksin returned to the kingdom yesterday after 15 years in exile, before being led away by officials to be processed on multiple outstanding criminal cases. — AFP
Thaksin returns to shouts of ‘I love you’ and eight years’ jail
Former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra returned after 15 years of self-imposed exile to thousands of excited supporters – and a jail term of eight years.
The mixed reception underscores how controversial a figure the telecommunications billionaire is in Thai politics.
He has built a loyal fan base due to populist policies that have benefited the rural poor and grassroots communities, but was also spurned by the military-royalist establishment, who regard him as corrupt and a crony capitalist.
His return home yesterday morning comes just hours before Parliament decides on the country’s next premier after three months of jostling among various political parties since the May 14 election. The Pheu Thai Party, which Thaksin backs, is now the frontrunner to form the next government.
Soon after his arrival, the 74-year-old made a brief appearance at the terminal lobby before he was whisked off to the Supreme Court and handed an eight-year jail sentence.
The jail term covers three different cases for abuse of power and malfeasance, illegally ordering a state-run bank to issue a foreign loan, and illegally holding shares via nominees, said the Supreme Court.
Thaksin was later transferred to Bangkok’s Khlongprem Central Prison. The Department of Corrections said that due to his age and several medical issues, like hypertension as well as heart and lung ailments, he will be held in a separate medical ward where he will be monitored closely.
Thanks for your support: Thaksin greeting his supporters with his youngest daughter Paetongtarn after landing at Bangkok’s Don Mueang airport, while (below) former prime minister Yingluck hugs her brother at the airport. — AFP/Reuters
Thaksin’s private jet, which flew from Singapore, touched down at Don Mueang International Airport at 9am.
He emerged about 20 minutes later and one of the first things he did was to pay respects to a portrait of Thailand’s king set up in front of the terminal doors.
Thousands of ecstatic supporters, mostly older people, flanked the streets leading up to the airport terminal. Some had arrived the night before and others in the wee hours yesterday.
Damrong Khongpanya, 61, had made the eight-hour journey to the airport by car from the north-eastern province of Nong Khai, beginning on Monday and arriving in Bangkok at 4am yesterday.
Seated on makeshift mats by the road, the farmer expressed excitement at the former premier’s return.
“Even if I don’t get to see him in person, knowing that he is here is enough to make me happy,” he said.
Dressed in red – with many also wearing shirts with images of Thaksin and his sister, former premier Yingluck Shinawatra – several groups of supporters danced to songs in the north-eastern dialect and clutched bouquets of flowers they hope to give him.
“I love Thaksin!” shouted some supporters to foreign media who were taking photos of the crowds.
Thaksin’s arrival took place just hours before Parliament is expected to decide if it will support a nominee from Pheu Thai to become Thailand’s 30th premier.
This will be the first step in forming the next administration.
A few youthful supporters like Hataichanok Srisunakhrua, 22, were among the throngs who were pressed against the terminal fences hoping to catch a glimpse of Thaksin as he arrived.
“I don’t agree with people saying that Pheu Thai betrayed the voters. One of their main promises was to amend the constitution and that is what they have said is the priority,” said the undergraduate as a passer-by nodded in agreement and some patted her on the back.
She was referring to the criticism of Pheu Thai, which is the election runner-up with 141 MPs for forming a potential government coalition with other parties, that include the pro-military parties that it had earlier promised not to partner with.
Risky return: A poster featuring Thaksin ahead of his arrival at Don Mueang airport in Bangkok. — Bloomberg
Some critics and former Pheu Thai supporters had called the partnership with the Palang Pracharath and the United Thai Nation – parties associated with the former junta government – a betrayal of supporters who were against military-intervention in politics.
Another supporter, 65-year-old shopkeeper Siriphorn Panya who had travelled from Thaksin’s hometown of Chiang Mai in the north, said: “I am sure Pheu Thai has thought about it, and it was a necessary move.”
The Pheu Thai-led coalition includes 11 parties with a total of 314 MPs. The party had earlier ended its partnership with election winner Move Forward, that won 151 seats, after conservative and military-linked lawmakers said it would not support any coalition that included the reformist party.
Thaksin, who is historically a polarising figure in politics, says his return to Thailand is unrelated to the prime minister vote.
Since his government was ousted in the 2006 military coup, Thaksin has voiced his intention to return multiple times.
But he had remained overseas since 2008, mostly based in Dubai, to avoid criminal charges in Thailand for corruption and abuse of power, which he says were politically motivated.
Thaksin’s vows to come home had garnered more credence in the past months, with his daughter Paetongtarn Shinawatra, 37, announcing specific times and dates for his return.
He had postponed his arrival twice in the last month amid uncertainties over the formation of the government, and many had been sceptical of his latest promise to return. — The Straits Times/ANN
Srettha secures votes to become PM
Thai lawmakers approved real estate tycoon Srettha Thavisin (pic) as the kingdom’s new prime minister, ending three months of political deadlock on the day former premier Thaksin Shinawatra returned from exile.
Srettha easily secured a majority across the two houses of parliament to be approved as Thailand’s 30th prime minister, despite his Pheu Thai party coming second in the May election.
He sailed past the 374 votes needed for a majority of elected lower house MPs and senators appointed by the last junta according to a count of votes broadcast live on Parliament TV yesterday. — AFP
