A request for a royal pardon is being prepared by former Thai Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra, according to his lawyer. The timing of the submission of this request, however, is at Thaksin’s discretion. Thaksin recently returned to Thailand after spending 15 years in self-exile abroad. Upon his arrival, he was sent to prison to serve an eight-year sentence for charges related to abuse of power and conflict of interest during his time in office.
Shortly after Thaksin’s return, Srettha Thavisin from the Shinawatra family-backed Pheu Thai party became the prime minister through a parliamentary vote. This led to speculation about possible negotiations between Thaksin and his former adversaries in the conservative and royalist military, who had overthrown his governments in 2006 and 2014.
Both Thaksin and the Pheu Thai party have denied these claims. During his first night in Thailand, Thaksin was admitted to a police hospital due to chest pains and high blood pressure. His lawyer, Winyat Chartmontri, informed Reuters that Thaksin is now preparing a request for a royal pardon.
According to Winyat, Thaksin is independently working on the documentation and drafting of the request. However, the legal team has not yet seen the details of the request. As for the submission timing, it will be determined by Thaksin himself.
Despite being absent for 15 years, Thaksin continues to be a prominent figure in Thai politics, known for his populist policies such as universal healthcare and cash handouts. Thaksin-affiliated parties have consistently won elections for the past 20 years, until 2023.
Opposition to Thaksin’s potential pardon has emerged from anti-Thaksin groups, who have appealed to the corrections department to block any such attempts. They argue that corruption cases should not be eligible for clemency.
Reporting by Panarat Thepgumpanat and Chayut Setboonsarng; Editing by Kanupriya Kapoor
Credit: The Star : News Feed
