Barkar Nash (Page 1,089)

Former PM could seek pardon right away but if it’s refused, he must wait two years to apply again

Fugitive former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra will go to jail when he returns to the country, according to Wissanu Krea-ngam, deputy prime minister and acting justice minister.

Mr Wissanu discussed procedures for Thaksin’s return in response to an announcement by Thaksin’s daughter Paetongtarn that he would arrive at Don Mueang airport at 9am on Tuesday.

It was the latest of innumerable announcements in recent months about a possible homecoming, but Ms Paetongtarn insists that this one is for real.

Although the government has not been informed officially about the planned return, officials had already made detailed preparations to receive Thaksin in response to earlier reports, Mr Wissanu said on Saturday.

Senior police and officials from the Corrections Department, the Immigration Bureau and the Metropolitan Police Bureau conferred again on Friday to confirm how they intend to handle the high-profile arrival.

When Thaksin lands at Don Mueang, he will be subject to the normal legal action and procedures for any people of similar status, Mr Wissanu said.

Thaksin would be served with an imprisonment order by the Supreme Court’s Criminal Division for Holders of Political Positions. Then corrections officials would bring him to the Corrections Department and the Klong Prem Central Prison in Chatuchak district of Bangkok, the deputy prime minister said.

Before entering the prison, Thaksin would undergo a physical checkup like other inmates, Mr Wissanu said. He was uncertain if Thaksin’s family members and relatives would be able to meet him in the prison right away.

It has been speculated that Thaksin will immediately seek a royal pardon, and that he would not be returning to the country unless he had assurances that his request would be treated favourably.

Mr Wissanu confirmed that Thaksin could seek a royal pardon or others could seek it on his behalf. However, if the request is turned down, he would have to wait two years before resubmitting it. During the two-year-long wait, he would remain imprisoned, Mr Wissanu said.

Reporters asked whether authorities had other concerns, given that parliament is scheduled to vote for a prime ministerial candidate from the Pheu Thai Party just hours after Thaksin arrives.

Mr Wissanu, who served under Thaksin as a deputy premier 20 years ago, replied that he was uncertain if his former boss would really return on that day.

Pheu Thai is the third incarnation of the Thai Rak Thai Party that Thaksin founded more than two decades ago. Despite repeated protestations by the party, he is still its chief strategic thinker, judging by the number of flights senior Pheu Thai members and representatives of other parties take each year to visit him in Dubai, Hong Kong and elsewhere.

Pheu Thai is expected to nominate former property tycoon Srettha Thavisin for prime minister when parliament meets. However, Thaksin’s daughter Paetongtarn is also a prime ministerial candidate of the party.

Since being overthrown by a military coup on Sept 19, 2006, Thaksin has been living in self-imposed exile, except for a brief visit to the country in 2008. During his absence, the Supreme Court’s Criminal Division for Holders of Political Positions sentenced him to a total of 12 years in prison in four cases.

In the first case, Thaksin was found guilty of abuse of authority over the purchase by his then-wife Khunying Potjaman na Pombejra of state-owned land in the Ratchadaphisek area of Bangkok at a price below the market value, resulting in a two-year prison sentence. The 10-year statute of limitations on the court ruling expired in October 2018.

The second case led to a two-year prison sentence for the fugitive former prime minister, as he was found guilty of malfeasance in connection with the two- and three-digit lottery case.

In the third case, Thaksin received a three-year prison sentence for abusing his position by authorising 4 billion baht in loans to Myanmar through the Export-Import (Exim) Bank of Thailand. The funds were used to purchase equipment from the telecoms firm owned by his family.

The fourth case resulted in a five-year prison sentence, as the court found him guilty of using nominees to hold shares in Shin Corp, a telecommunications company, which is prohibited for any political office holder.

The statutes of limitations for the court decisions on the second, third and fourth cases have not expired.

Earlier Mr Wissanu confirmed that the combined jail term for Thaksin was 10 years.

Former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra will return to Thailand on Tuesday, his youngest daughter Paetongtarn “Ung Ing” Shinawatra announced on social media on Saturday.

“On Tueday of Aug 22 at 9am, I will be at Don Mueang (airport) to welcome my father Thaksin,” Ms Paetongtarn, one of the Pheu Thai Party’s three prime ministerial candidates, wrote on her Instagram and X, former known as Twitter, on Saturday morning.

She also posted a message saying her father’s planned return to his home country was not cancelled but delayed, adding that this is not a nonsense statement.

On Thaksin’s 74th birthday on July 26, Ms Paetongtarn announced that her father was set to arrive at Don Mueang airport on Aug 10, but political observers, including Chuvit Kamolvisit and Jatuporn Prompan, insisted they had reasons to believe his homecoming plan was nothing but hot air. This prompted a reaction from Ms Paetongtarn, who said Mr Chuvit’s comment was ‘nonsense’.

On Aug 5, the fugitive former prime minister posted on X, saying he was postponing his return from self-exile for a couple of weeks, as a doctor wanted him to undergo health checkups.

Thaksin, a former telecoms tycoon, has been living in self-imposed exile since being overthrown by a military coup on Sept 19, 2006.

The Royal Thai Police and relevant agencies reportedly met on Friday to make preparations for the much-anticipated return of ousted prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra who might arrive early next week.

A source said assistant police chief Pol Lt Gen Prachuap Wongsuk called the meeting with a number of agencies including the Corrections Department, the Immigration Bureau and the Metropolitan Police Bureau to prepare for Thaksin’s homecoming.

The fugitive former prime minister is said to be arriving early next week, possibly on Monday or Tuesday. It is believed Thaksin will arrive via private plane and land at Don Mueang Airport.

The planned return coincides with the planned prime ministerial vote on Aug 22. Pheu Thai which is forming a coalition, plans to nominate former real estate tycoon Srettha Thavisin for the top political job.

Jatuporn Prompan, former chair of the red-shirt United Front for Democracy against Dictatorship and a staunch critic of Thaksin, on Friday shrugged off the latest speculation about Thaksin’s return after 17 years in self-imposed exile.

“I’d love to see him come back so that we can move on to address national issues. But given the political situation, his timing doesn’t make sense,” he said.

Anusorn Iamsa-ard, a Pheu Thai list-MP, said Thaksin’s return has nothing to do with the government coalition formation and that the former prime minister can return whenever he feels comfortable.

Thaksin fled Thailand in 2008, shortly before the Supreme Court convicted him for helping his then-wife, Khunying Potjaman Na Pombejra, buy prime land in the Ratchadaphisek area at a discount while he was prime minister.

Thaksin posted on X (formerly Twitter) that he had originally planned to return to Thailand by Aug 10, but that plans for a medical checkup meant a delay of two weeks.

His daughter, Paetongtarn, who is a prime ministerial candidate for the Pheu Thai Party, flew to Dubai early this week to take him to see an ophthalmologist. Thaksin faces jail sentences of 10 years in three cases in which he was convicted in absentia by the Supreme Court’s Criminal Division for Holders of Political Positions.

Questions remain on support for Srettha

Questions remain over whether the country’s 30th prime minister can be elected on Tuesday as the political situation is still highly volatile, according to observers.

The Pheu Thai Party, which is in charge of forming a new government, now has the backing of the United Thai Nation (UTN) Party, which has agreed to join a Pheu Thai coalition and vote for its prime ministerial candidate Srettha Thavisin.

A group of 40 MPs from the Palang Pracharath Party (PPRP) earlier also promised to vote for Pheu Thai’s PM candidate, even though the PPPR has not yet announced a formal decision.

However, it is still not clear whether Mr Srettha will receive backing from the 250 senators because some senators have questioned his qualifications following claims made by whistleblower Chuvit Kamolvisit about alleged irregularities at property developer Sansiri while Mr Srettha served as its chief executive.

Some senators have also voiced opposition to Pheu Thai’s push for a new constitution after the new government takes office.

Under the current constitution, a PM candidate needs the support of at least half of the 750 members of both the lower and upper chambers of parliament or 376 votes in total.

Yutthaporn Issarachai, a political science lecturer at Sukhothai Thammathirat Open University, said that Mr Srettha is expected to receive backing from the UTN and the PPRP during the PM vote on Tuesday.

But it remains to be seen whether the senators will also vote for him, Mr Yutthaporn said.

“There are several factors, particu- larly the allegations made by Mr Chuvit,” he said. “These will put pressure on Pheu Thai. Its PM candidate will only have one chance during the vote.”

He cited a precedent set by parliament when it rejected a bid to renominate Move Forward Party leader Pita Limjaroenrat at a joint sitting on July 19, with opponents citing a parliamentary regulation. They argued that renomination violated parliamentary regulation 41, which prohibits resubmitting a failed motion during the same parliamentary session.

Mr Yutthaporn added that currently, there are four PM candidates from three parties who are likely to be nominated for PM; namely, Mr Srettha and Paetongtarn Shinawatra from Pheu Thai; Gen Prawit Wongsuwon of the PPRP and Anutin Charnvirakul of the Bhumjaithai Party.

If Mr Srettha is not elected during the vote, it is still not clear whether Pheu Thai will nominate Ms Paetongtarn.

“If she is not nominated, the post of prime minister may be taken by those from the old power group,” Mr Yutthaporn said.

“Eventually, Pheu Thai may have to accept conditions from other coalition allies bargaining for cabinet posts,” he said, adding Pheu Thai may also be forced to nominate Gen Prawit for prime minister.

Lt Gen Nanthadet Meksawat, former chief of the special operations centre at the National Security Centre, posted on Facebook that he believed Mr Srettha is unlikely to win endorsement from parliament on Tuesday following the move by Mr Chuvit.

Sen Jadet Insawang previously said several senators have questioned Mr Srettha’s suitability after Mr Chuvit made allegations against him.

Speaking on Facebook Live, Jatuporn Prompan, former chair of the red-shirt United Front for Democracy against Dictatorship, shared the view that Mr Srettha’s bid for prime minister would fail because the senators would not vote for him.

“Mr Srettha no longer has the backing of the people now Pheu Thai has joined hands with the two ‘uncle’ parties,” he said, referring to the UTN and the PPRP.

Meanwhile, Mr Srettha will not be asked to outline his vision as a PM candidate ahead of a parliamentary vote on Tuesday, according to parliament president Wan Muhamad Noor Matha.

The matter was agreed upon by whips from the Senate and representatives of political parties who met with Mr Wan on Friday.

Mr Srettha did not seek office in the May 14 election as a constituency or party-list MP. There are no rules specifically barring a non-MP from addressing a parliamentary meeting, Mr Wan said.

However, those at Friday’s meeting did not believe it was necessary for anyone nominated for prime minister to give a vision statement because the constitution and parliamentary regulations did not stipulate any such requirement, Mr Wan added.

Says Chuvit still bitter about unsold land

Pheu Thai Party’s prime ministerial candidate Srettha Thavisin posted a video message on his Facebook account on Friday claiming that whistleblower and former parlour tycoon Chuvit Kamolvisit made allegations of improper business dealings against him because Mr Srettha declined to buy some of his land on Soi Sukhumvit 24 last year worth 2 billion baht.

Mr Srettha is attempting to fend off the corruption allegations ahead of the next round of voting for a new prime minister next week.

Parliament will meet on Tuesday to decide whether to vote for him and end three months of political deadlock since the May 14 general election.

Mr Srettha, a wealthy property mogul, said Sansiri — the property developer of which he was CEO — strictly abides by good governance principles and steadfastly observes all legal procedures without seeking to exploit them for self-serving purposes.

He said the company has never faced any such accusations before.

“We are transparent in our work. I come here today to show my innocence to the general public, and to say that my activities were done in accordance with the law,” he said.

Mr Srettha denied all of Mr Chuvit’s accusations. He said Sansiri buys land and has no obligation to intervene with the interior administration of the seller.

As a purchaser, it does not use nominees and never takes out loans, he said, referring to Mr Chuvit’s other claim on Tuesday that the company used four nominees and a 1-billion-baht loan from its subsidiary previously to purchase land in the Thong Lor area of Bangkok.

The 1 billion baht alluded to was the mortgage agreed to and signed by both parties, coupled with the attendant insurance policy, Mr Srettha said.

“I have all the evidence and I insist there was no such loan contract. I am not involved in any illegal activities and neither myself nor the Sansiri employees ever receive any money from corruption,” Mr Srettha wrote.

Mr Srettha claimed Mr Chuvit simply has an axe to grind over a property deal last September that never materialised. Sansiri was not able to buy the land as Mr Chuvit’s land was legally tied to another company, Raimon Land.

“Since then, I have been threatened by Mr Chuvit’s aides via messages demanding that I pay the deposit to buy [Mr Chuvit’s land] at the full price.

“[He wanted] me to sign an MoU on the land purchase deal without any conditions after Pheu Thai decided to nominate me as its prime ministerial candidate,” Mr Srettha wrote.

He also urged Mr Chuvit to stop distorting information about Pheu Thai’s digital wallet policy.

Mr Chuvit posted photos online of one of the alleged nominees to back his claim.

The Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) is allowing a controversial sculpture of the deity Khru Kai Kaeo to remain on the premises of the Bazaar Hotel on Ratchadaphisek Road for the time being despite a barrage of complaints.

Bangkok governor Chadchart Sittipunt said he ordered the BMA’s permanent secretary to confirm whether or not the statue contravenes any laws or regulations. No violation has been found thus far, he said.

“As the sculpture is clearly visible from Ratchadaphisek Road, its scary-looking appearance might frighten passers-by and commuters. We understand that the sculpture makes some people feel uncomfortable. We will try our best to find a solution,” he said.

The 4-metre-tall gargoyle-like effigy is painted black with red eyes, yellow fangs and long red nails. Some claim it depicts the revered mentor of Jayavarman VII, a former king in the Khmer Empire. But historians have dismissed this as not having any basis in fact.

Pimuk Simaroj, Mr Chadchart’s secretary, said representatives of the BMA and the Bazaar Hotel agreed on Friday in principle that the hotel will build a screen so the statue cannot be seen from the road.

“We have to weigh the needs of two groups of people: those who are displeased at seeing the sculpture and the worshippers who don’t want it to be removed,” Mr Chadchart said.

As the statue is less than 10m tall it does not require a permit from the BMA. It also sits on private property, making its installation the prerogative of the hotel, he added.

To find a solution, the BMA has ordered the hotel to design a screen to make it invisible to road users and submit the design to a district office for approval.

“The screen will prevent passers-by from seeing it but still allow worshippers to pay their respects,” he said, adding the hotel agreed to the move.

The public is welcome to file complaints with the BMA if there are any issues that City Hall needs to address, Mr Chadchart said.

A red-shirt supporters group has called on Pheu Thai Party to help bring exiled activists accused of political offences back home after it forms a government.

The group calling itself the Media for Democracy, led by Jutikhong Phummoon, gathered at Pheu Thai’s headquarters on Friday.

Mr Jutikhong said that once Pheu Thai forms a government, it should clear the way for the activists, accused of political offences but not implicated in lese majeste cases, to come home as innocent people and facilitate their return.

He also said the group supported Pheu Thai’s efforts to set up a constitution drafting assembly to draw up a new charter as quickly as possible once the new government takes office.

He said the new government should also reduce water, electricity and fuel prices and speed up its 10,000-baht digital wallet programme referring to a handout for Thais aged 16 and over, delivered to their smartphone. The giveaway aims to stimulate spending in local communities in the administration’s first six months with the help of blockchain technology. The money must be spent within a 4-kilometre radius of the user’s registered address.

Nikhom Boonwiset, a Pheu Thai list-MP, accepted the group’s petition and said the party will step up efforts to implement its election policy pledges.

He said Pheu Thai made the right decision to work with other parties from the opposite end of the political spectrum to form a government to reduce conflict and foster unity for the country’s sake. He was referring to the United Thai Nation Party, which agreed to join the Pheu Thai-led coalition on Thursday.

A source previously said Pheu Thai had also sealed a deal with the Palang Pracharath Party (PPRP), which had agreed to vote for Pheu Thai’s prime ministerial candidate, Srettha Thavisin, in exchange for cabinet posts.

As a result, Pheu This is taking heavy criticism for reneging on its word before the May 14 election that it would not work with “uncle” parties — those linked to military leaders involved in the 2014 coup.

The “uncles” refer to Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha, the former UTN chief adviser and prime ministerial candidate, and Deputy Prime Minister Prawit Wongsuwon, the leader and prime ministerial candidate of the PPRP.

Parents are being told to equip their vehicles with seats and seatbelts suitable for young children now that a new law aimed at promoting child safety has taken effect.

Deputy government spokeswoman Rachada Dhnadirek said the law on mandatory safety seats for children under six came into force on Aug 17 and offenders must pay a fine of up to 2,000 baht. However, public transport vehicles are exempted from this requirement.

Ms Rachada said if children under six years old do travel in vehicles without specially fitted child seats, drivers must not break the speed limit and stay in the left-most lane while the child must be seated in the back seat with a caregiver present. In pickup trucks, the child must be seated in the front passenger seat. If there is no caregiver, the child must be secured with a lap belt.

She said Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha has strongly urged parents to abide by the law as it is intended to minimise injuries suffered by children in the event of road accidents.

The Department of Environment Quality Promotion has officially been renamed the Department of Climate Change and Environment as per a royal command by His Majesty the King.

Natural Resources and Environment Minister Varawut Silpa-archa said the name change took effect yesterday, adding the new department will be restructured to meet its new challenges.

Citing recent remarks by UN secretary-general Antonio Guterres on “global boiling”, Mr Varawut said the new department is essential to Thailand’s efforts to address issues related to climate change. According to Mr Guterres, global surface and ocean temperatures have reached historically high levels, which signals that global warming has ended and the “global boiling” era is here.

Mr Varawut said he has instructed natural resources and environment permanent secretary Jatuporn Buruspat to oversee the transition and work closely with the new department chief, Somsak Sappakosolkul, to ensure the work is not disrupted.

Ministerial regulations will soon be issued about the structure of the new department, which will integrate work handled by the Department of Climate Change and Environment and that by the Climate Change Management and Coordination Division under the Office of Natural Resources and Environmental Policy and Planning (Onep).

“The department is vital as Thailand now has a body that is directly responsible for tackling issues related to climate change,” he said.