By Thai PBS World’s Political Desk

 

The one wish Thaksin Shinawatra made while blowing out 72 candles on his birthday cake on Monday (July 26) was to be able to return home.

 

Thaksin was ousted in the 2006 coup after serving as prime minister for just over five years. He returned to Thailand for a brief visit in February 2008 before fleeing charges of corruption in July that year. He was subsequently sentenced to two years in jail in absentia and has lived in self-exile ever since.

 

The fugitive former premier has repeatedly voiced a desire to return to his motherland. However, he has never sounded so confident about achieving that aim as he did on July 13 in a chatroom of the social-networking app Clubhouse.

 

Full story: https://www.thaipbsworld.com/has-thaksin-finally-found-a-way-of-returning-to-thailand-through-the-front-door/

 

-- © Copyright Thai PBS 2021-07-29

 

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The only way he should be allowed back is if he goes to jail first .

1 minute ago, keith101 said:

The only way he should be allowed back is if he goes to jail first .

Why, he did a far better job than the present clowns

At this point he or Yingluck are Thailand's best chance of getting out of this mess. 

There was never any restriction for him to come back to Thailand. He has Thai citizenship, he could and can return anytime.

The only thing which holds him back is the fact that he thinks he is above the law. He is not. How many years does he need to understand that simple concept?

12 minutes ago, keith101 said:

The only way he should be allowed back is if he goes to jail first .

what was he convicted of and by whom

 

5 minutes ago, pegman said:

At this point he or Yingluck are Thailand's best chance of getting out of this mess. 

Why are two convicted criminals the best chance?

Are there no competent and honest people in Thailand?

Some people pretend it must be Prayut or Thaksin. No! Those are just two of many options.

17 minutes ago, JoePai said:

Why, he did a far better job than the present clowns

Some say Peter Sutcliff did a better job than Jack the Ripper. 

10 minutes ago, OneMoreFarang said:

There was never any restriction for him to come back to Thailand. He has Thai citizenship, he could and can return anytime.

The only thing which holds him back is the fact that he thinks he is above the law. He is not. How many years does he need to understand that simple concept?

Thinking oneself above the law seems to be endemic in Thailand. 

 

First thing the junta did was give themselves total amnesty for their treasonous and undemocratic actions. 

22 minutes ago, JoePai said:

24 minutes ago, keith101 said:

The only way he should be allowed back is if he goes to jail first .

Why

How about the corruption conviction?

10 minutes ago, OneMoreFarang said:

Why are two convicted criminals the best chance?

Are there no competent and honest people in Thailand?

Some people pretend it must be Prayut or Thaksin. No! Those are just two of many options.

Your preference of coup then junta being the better option has foundered the Thai ship for years to come.

 

Given what a complete and total disaster it has been, then your opinions on what is best for Thai politics should be taken with a mountain of salt. 

2 minutes ago, Liverpool Lou said:

How about the corruption conviction?

Could be deemed politically motivated after coups and juntas took over the country. 

 

The democratic process and the rule of law gets eroded to such a degree where it can't be trusted. 

Where I live he never left....jfi..Thaksin's most effective policies were reducing rural Poverty and the introduction of universal [email protected] Bt throw allowing him to gather the hitherto-neglected support of the rural poor....and they have long Memories.Also his economic policies helped the Nation to recover from the 1977 Asian financial crisis and substantially not only reduced poverty but the GDP grew from 4.9 trillion baht in 2001 to 7.1 trillion baht in 2006 resulting in  the country  repaying its debts to the IMF two years ahead of schedule....and on and on...

20 minutes ago, OneMoreFarang said:

There was never any restriction for him to come back to Thailand. He has Thai citizenship, he could and can return anytime.

The only thing which holds him back is the fact that he thinks he is above the law. He is not. How many years does he need to understand that simple concept?

Hoe does not understand it but on the other hand most people in government in Thailand think they are above the law. 

23 minutes ago, pegman said:

At this point he or Yingluck are Thailand's best chance of getting out of this mess. 

Many Thais I have spoken to believe he will come back to save Thailand from this regime. 

 

Can't see it myself. 

 

This current govt. is the most unpopular I have experienced in 31 years. 

18 minutes ago, steve187 said:

what was he convicted of and by whom

 

It was all over the news, did you miss it? You could also try to google it.

12 minutes ago, Whale said:

Some say Peter Sutcliff did a better job than Jack the Ripper. 

What about Lizzie Borden?

2 minutes ago, Mr Meeseeks said:

Could be deemed politically motivated after coups and juntas took over the country. 

 

The democratic process and the rule of law gets eroded to such a degree where it can't be trusted. 

But was corruption. I mean the cakebox is bribery. Come on just be honest with yourself the guy was as dirty as they come.  Not saying the current mob is not. But to act like he was clean and charges fabricated (politically motivated) is false.

7 minutes ago, Mr Meeseeks said:

20 minutes ago, OneMoreFarang said:

Why are two convicted criminals the best chance?

Are there no competent and honest people in Thailand?

Some people pretend it must be Prayut or Thaksin. No! Those are just two of many options.

Your preference of coup then junta being the better option has foundered the Thai ship for years to come.

 

Given what a complete and total disaster it has been, then your opinions on what is best for Thai politics should be taken with a mountain of salt. 

Exactly which part of my 3 line comment don't you understand?

I will repeat my last line in bold and big letters. Maybe that helps you reading it. If you understand it depends your intelligence.

Some people pretend it must be Prayut or Thaksin. No! Those are just two of many options.

 

2 hours ago, Rinrada said:

Where I live he never left....jfi..Thaksin's most effective policies were reducing rural Poverty and the introduction of universal [email protected] Bt throw allowing him to gather the hitherto-neglected support of the rural poor....and they have long Memories.Also his economic policies helped the Nation to recover from the 1977 Asian financial crisis and substantially not only reduced poverty but the GDP grew from 4.9 trillion baht in 2001 to 7.1 trillion baht in 2006 resulting in  the country  repaying its debts to the IMF two years ahead of schedule....and on and on...

The 1977 Asian financial crisis?

6 minutes ago, Liverpool Lou said:

How about the corruption conviction?

I think you need to understand what the 'corruption conviction' actually was.   A piece of land, owned by the FIDF, was sold at auction, and bought by Thaksin's then wife.   The auction was legitimate, however inspite of the FIDF being previously ruled as a non-Government entity, Thaksin was charged with abuse of power in that he permitted his wife to purchase a state asset (all Thai husbands have to counter sign if their wives buy land or property).   He was convicted by a 3/2 majority by the Supreme court.   This is his only conviction, and as with Yingluck, the law was manipulated to get rid of them.

Most Thai politicians are corrupt (look at the current cabinet!).  Prayuth is reeling under on an onslaught of charges.  It might suit him to retire quietly and pave the way for the magnanimous gesture of allowing Thaksin back? 

42 minutes ago, JoePai said:

Why, he did a far better job than the present clowns

Do some google research or read the article in the link

1 minute ago, pagallim said:

I think you need to understand what the 'corruption conviction' actually was.   A piece of land, owned by the FIDF, was sold at auction, and bought by Thaksin's then wife.   The auction was legitimate, however inspite of the FIDF being previously ruled as a non-Government entity, Thaksin was charged with abuse of power in that he permitted his wife to purchase a state asset (all Thai husbands have to counter sign if their wives buy land or property).   He was convicted by a 3/2 majority by the Supreme court.   This is his only conviction, and as with Yingluck, the law was manipulated to get rid of them.

But there are many more cases waiting to be tried. 

4 minutes ago, pagallim said:

19 minutes ago, Liverpool Lou said:

How about the corruption conviction?

I think you need to understand what the 'corruption conviction' actually was.

I think you need to understand that I don't need you to tell me what I "need" to understand!

30 minutes ago, steve187 said:

what was he convicted of and by whom

 

read the article in the link

6 minutes ago, pagallim said:

I think you need to understand what the 'corruption conviction' actually was.   A piece of land, owned by the FIDF, was sold at auction, and bought by Thaksin's then wife.   The auction was legitimate, however inspite of the FIDF being previously ruled as a non-Government entity, Thaksin was charged with abuse of power in that he permitted his wife to purchase a state asset (all Thai husbands have to counter sign if their wives buy land or property).   He was convicted by a 3/2 majority by the Supreme court.   This is his only conviction, and as with Yingluck, the law was manipulated to get rid of them.

Not his only conviction and the auction was only open to a very limited audience.

5 minutes ago, Liverpool Lou said:

The 1977 Asian financial crisis?

1997....as the tears and the years...roll by....⏳

Just now, robblok said:

But there are many more cases waiting to be tried. 

Yes, and virtually all relating to his ownership and disposal of AIS.   The whole point with Thaksin, is that whilst he obviously made sure that his own interests were being served, he was also passionate about bettering the lives of ordineary Thai, be that through health provision to education.   His desire to change the patriarchal nature of Thai society brought about his downfall as was independently wealthy and not reliant on favours from anybody.   Of course, the old card of anti institution was played to the masses.

14 minutes ago, Liverpool Lou said:

How about the corruption conviction?

No not corruption but "Conflict Of Interest" because his wife bought Land at an open an Auction.
Now of course there are other cases against him mostly COI there was a real Witch Hunt after the Coup,

a lot of those giving evidence against him have been REWARDED with important positions in Government.
At least he didn't steel from a Fund for the Desolate and Needy funny we never heard anything else about that since.