Guardian

Former Thai PM Thaksin Shinawatra indicted, accused of insulting monarchy

Time

Former Thai PM Thaksin Formally Charged in Royal Insult Case

Former Thai PM Thaksin indicted on charge of royal defamation

Independent

Thaksin Shinawatra: Former Thai PM indicted in royal insult case

Former Thai Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra on Tuesday was granted 500K baht ($13.6K) bail by the Criminal Court of Thailand following his indictment on lese majeste charges.

reuters.com

Following his indictment on lese majeste charges, or defaming the royal family, on Tuesday, former Thai Prime Minister (PM) Thaksin Shinawatra was granted 500K baht ($13.6K) bail by the Criminal Court of Thailand.

Thaksin is charged with defaming the monarchy during an interview he gave to a South Korean newspaper nine years ago, when he accused the king's advisory council of helping conduct a coup the year before.

nytimes

Thaksin is charged with defaming the monarchy during an interview he gave to a South Korean newspaper nine years ago, during which he accused the King's advisory council of helping conduct a coup the year before.

Thaksin was initially charged in 2016, but the case wasn't pursued since he had been living in exile since 2008 following his ouster in a 2006 coup. He went into exile to avoid other charges he said were politically motivated.

Thaksin was initially hit with lese majeste charges in 2016, but they weren't pursued since he had been living in exile since 2008 following his ouster in a 2006 coup. He went into exile to avoid other charges he claimed were politically motivated.

The billionaire former PM, who is still closely tied to the ruling Pheu Thai Party, returned to the country last August as his party regained the majority in government. Thai politics are divided between political parties and the military-backed, pro-monarchy elite.

Al Jazeera

Besides his defamation case, Thaksin faces potential removal from politics at the request of 40 military-backed senators. Likewise, the progressive Move Forward Party (MFP) faces potential dissolution by a court due to its attempt to amend lese majeste laws.

Alongside his lese majeste charges, which carry up to 15 years in prison for each insult, Thailand's Attorney General is also prosecuting him for alleged computer crimes.

Bangkokpost

Alongside the lese majeste charges — which carry up to 15 years in prison for each insult — Thaksin is being prosecuted for alleged computer crimes, which accuse him of inputting information into a computer that threatened national security.

Alongside the lese majeste charges, which carry up to 15 years in prison for each insult, Thaksin is also being prosecuted for alleged computer crimes, which allege he inputted information into a computer that threatened national security.

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Bangkokpost #

Thaksin is a corrupt businessman-turned-politician who, despite his indictments and previous parole status, decided to act as a de facto diplomat by meeting with foreign governments. Instead of allowing the MFP to take charge and make real change, Thaksin's Pheu Thai Party is also proposing economic policies that would benefit his corporate friends over working-class people.

thediplomat.com

thediplomat.com #

Thaksin Shinawatra and the Rise of Political Nihilism in Thailand

Thaksin's wealth doesn't mean he's an elitist. Upon entering politics he garnered a voter base of working-class Thais, particularly farmers, whom he provided lower healthcare costs. As Thaksin's anti-monarchy platform inspired regular people to speak out themselves, however, the military establishment cracked down on him and his supporters through coups and lawfare.

openDemocracy

openDemocracy #

Anti-populist coups: Thaksin, dictatorship and Thailand’s new constitution

There is a 55% chance that Thailand experiences a coup d'etat before 2040, according to the Metaculus prediction community.

Metaculus

Metaculus #

Which of these nations will experience a successful coup d'etat before 2040?

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Thailand: Former PM Indicted on Royal Defamation Charges

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Thaksin must be held accountable for his corruption. Despite his indictments and previous parole status, he decided to act as a de facto diplomat by meeting with foreign governments. Instead of allowing the MFP to take charge and make real change, Thaksin's Pheu Thai Party is also proposing economic policies that would benefit his corporate friends over working-class people.

Thaksin's wealth doesn't mean he's an elitist. Consider how he garnered a voter base of working-class Thais, and how his anti-monarchy platform inspired regular people to speak out. If the military establishment didn't crack down on him and his supporters through coups and lawfare, he wouldn't be facing these charges.

There's a 55% chance that Thailand experiences a coup d'etat before 2040, according to the Metaculus prediction community.

Thailand: Former PM Indicted on Royal Defamation Charges

Thailand: Former PM Indicted on Royal Defamation Charges

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Thailand: Former PM Indicted on Royal Defamation Charges

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