Thai prosecutors announced this morning that former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra will face charges of defaming the country’s monarchy, three months after being released on parole in another case.
Spokesperson Prayuth Bejraguna informed reporters that “The attorney-general has decided to indict Thaksin on all charges.” Thaksin, who was absent from the hearing due to a COVID-19 infection, is required to appear in court on June 18 for formal indictment.
The lese-majeste complaint was filed in 2016 by royalist activists, stemming from an interview Thaksin gave in 2015 to South Korea’s Chosun Ilbo newspaper. In the interview, he suggested that the Privy Council supported the 2014 coup that removed his sister Yingluck Shinawatra from power.
Criticisms of the Thai monarchy are severely punished under Article 112 of the penal code, known as the lese-majeste law, which can lead to prison terms of up to 15 years. Critics argue that this law is used to silence dissenting voices.
Thaksin’s case is one of over 270 Article 112 prosecutions in Thailand. This week, two individuals were sentenced to prison for insulting the monarchy. Thaksin also faces charges under the Computer Crime Act.
The decision to proceed with the lese-majeste charge indicates a potential shift in the political landscape that has allowed Thaksin’s return to politics in recent months.
Thaksin’s rehabilitation followed last year’s general election, where a new party, the Move Forward Party (MFP), gained prominence. This led to a coalition government under Srettha Thavisin, with Thaksin’s party joining the coalition.
Despite serving only a fraction of his prison sentence in a comfortable hospital suite, Thaksin’s recent actions have reignited tensions with the establishment. His influence in politics has raised concerns among royalists and military figures.
The outcome of Thaksin’s lese-majeste case will likely determine the future of the political alliances in Thailand and whether the current pact between opposing factions will hold in the long run.