Return of ex-PM Thaksin may still leave Prayut with a test even if he loses this Sunday’s election

[webfact]

General Prayut Chan ocha (right) was offhand and dismissive this week after hearing about Thaksin’s plans to return home to Thailand by July 26th next. The ousted ex-Prime Minister vowed to return home and put himself in the hands of the justice system and General Prayut’s government. The situation, if it comes to pass, would represent a test for the sitting Prime Minister even if he loses next Sunday’s General Election.

 

by Joseph O' Connor

The return of former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra on or before July 26th next, his 74th birthday, would be a sensational and historic moment for Thailand. It is bound to be one that the interim Prime Minister, General Prayut Chan ocha must handle with care and tact. Deputy Prime Minister Wissanu Krea-ngam clarified in recent days that Mr Thaksin faces at least 8 years in prison as some of the cases against him are already finalised and cannot be appealed nor can bail be sought.

Thailand’s Prime Minister General Prayut Chan ocha may still have to face a key moment as Prime Minister even if he loses next Sunday’s General Election following an announcement earlier in the week that former premier and fugitive from justice Thaksin Shinawatra may be intent on returning to the kingdom to face justice on or before July 26th or before a new government is formed.

 

On Friday, Thailand’s army chief General Narongpan Jittkaewtae told reporters that the word coup should be removed from their dictionaries while Prime Minister, General Prayut Chan ocha suggested he would leave politics behind him if his United Thai Nation (Ruam Thai Sang Chart) Party failed to win enough seats to form Thailand’s next government after Sunday’s General Election.

 

Full story: https://www.thaiexaminer.com/thai-news-foreigners/2023/05/12/return-of-thaksin-shinawatra-leaves-a-post-election-test-for-pm-prayut/

 

-- © Copyright Thai Examiner 2023-05-13

 

- Cigna offers a range of visa-compliant plans that meet the minimum requirement of medical treatment, including COVID-19, up to THB 3m. For more information on all expat health insurance plans click here.

 

The most versatile and flexible rental investment and holiday home solution in Thailand - click for more information.

[hotchilli]

Stop this utter rubbish, he ain't coming back.

Unless Pheu Thai win convincingly and they win a Royal pardon before he sets foot back here.

[OneMoreFarang]

He was convicted to jail, a couple of times. If he returns, he will be escorted to prison.

That's it.

Or should the PM think about every criminal who is arrested?

 

[zzaa09]

1 hour ago, hotchilli said:

Stop this utter rubbish, he ain't coming back.

Unless Pheu Thai win convincingly and they win a Royal pardon before he sets foot back here.

Yep.

Especially applied to your second stated point.

 

.......which might just come about [pardon]. 

Never know what's on throughout this wacky world of Thai. 

[Tarteso]

1 hour ago, hotchilli said:

a Royal pardon

Everything is already agreed, are we the last to know?

[BestB]

There is of course another possibility that a deal was reached with him getting pardoned after serving 6 months or so

[Mad mick]

As far as l'm concerned all Millatary Coup d'etat leadership  should be at front of the cuew & imprisoned for life well before Thaksin or his sister The real criminals are in power taken by force , Millatary should be completely removed from any elected Government,  As from removal of word Coup d'etat being removed by military request is nonsense They are criminals & against freedom or so called Democracy, Real criminals are Millatary Jaunta Top Brass & cronies 

[zzaa09]

5 minutes ago, Mad mick said:

As far as l'm concerned all Millatary Coup d'etat leadership  should be at front of the cuew & imprisoned for life well before Thaksin or his sister The real criminals are in power taken by force , Millatary should be completely removed from any elected Government,  As from removal of word Coup d'etat being removed by military request is nonsense They are criminals & against freedom or so called Democracy, Real criminals are Millatary Jaunta Top Brass & cronies 

Yet, the top dog probably doesn't see it that way. 

That's all that matters.

[dinsdale]

Prayut will be toppled might take a while might happen rapidly and then he'll be arrested and escape Thailand via a military helicopter. This is my prediction.

[Bangkok Barry]

1 hour ago, OneMoreFarang said:

He was convicted to jail, a couple of times. If he returns, he will be escorted to prison.

That's it.

Or should the PM think about every criminal who is arrested?

 

The problem is that there might be a teensy weensy reaction from his supporters, of which there are many millions, if he is made to serve his sentence. It's a no-win situation for Thailand.

[hotchilli]

1 hour ago, Tarteso said:

Everything is already agreed, are we the last to know?

Maybe...

[rabas]

2 hours ago, hotchilli said:

Stop this utter rubbish, he ain't coming back.

Unless Pheu Thai win convincingly and they win a Royal pardon before he sets foot back here.

There will be no pardon. Wrong team.

 

[sammieuk1]

Its obvious to a blind man Prayut is done for the legit way but now its all down to skullduggery unbelievable coincidences and the other one ????

Edited May 13, 2023 by sammieuk1

[paddypower]

1 hour ago, dinsdale said:

Prayut will be toppled might take a while might happen rapidly and then he'll be arrested and escape Thailand via a military helicopter. This is my prediction.

2 alternatives routes of escape: a submarine with a malfunctioning engine; a Thai copy of the Hindenburg airship. Hope they do an audit of this (deleted)'s family assets accumulated since he came to power.

[dinsdale]

3 minutes ago, paddypower said:

2 alternatives routes of escape: a submarine with a malfunctioning engine; a Thai copy of the Hindenburg airship. Hope they do an audit of this (deleted)'s family assets accumulated since he came to power.

Agree about assets. Probably being move offshore right now. 

[Jack Cook]

Crooked is as crooked does. No way is Prayut going anywhere. It is Thailand, the elections are just a pantomime 

[Trip Hop]

1 hour ago, dinsdale said:

Prayut will be toppled might take a while might happen rapidly and then he'll be arrested and escape Thailand via a military helicopter. This is my prediction.

My Mrs has been saying for a long time that’s what the new sub is for! ????

[paddypower]

47 minutes ago, dinsdale said:

Agree about assets. Probably being move offshore right now. 

on that submarine?  555

[paddypower]

1 hour ago, rabas said:

There will be no pardon. Wrong team.

 

no need for a Royal Pardon. look back at history ''it was an honest mistake'' and boxes of cookies to the Supreme Court. My investor group of expats appealed to the SC. If you are an expat, they're as uselful as a bunch of gollywogs. 555

Edited May 13, 2023 by paddypower
spell

[paddypower]

1 hour ago, Bangkok Barry said:

The problem is that there might be a teensy weensy reaction from his supporters, of which there are many millions, if he is made to serve his sentence. It's a no-win situation for Thailand.

He could always use his Red Bull get out of jail card

[Road Warrior]

4 hours ago, hotchilli said:

Stop this utter rubbish, he ain't coming back.

Unless Pheu Thai win convincingly and they win a Royal pardon before he sets foot back here.

no way no one one return under his circumstances !!!!!!!!!    ????

[Sydebolle]

Unless, of course, Prayut and Wissanu as well as their fan clubs are sent packing; after all it cannot take more than two months to form a government ......... or am I wrong on that as well? 

[wwest5829]

2 hours ago, dinsdale said:

Prayut will be toppled might take a while might happen rapidly and then he'll be arrested and escape Thailand via a military helicopter. This is my prediction.

Possible ... but I think that would go against the treatment of past coup leaders. Thailand has a long history of dealing with political/social unrest through coups, then trying again to allow greater political/social freedom. In the end, Thailand leans toward the Chinese government model of not letting political/social unrest getting too far out of hand.

[dinsdale]

2 minutes ago, wwest5829 said:

Possible ... but I think that would go against the treatment of past coup leaders. Thailand has a long history of dealing with political/social unrest through coups, then trying again to allow greater political/social freedom. In the end, Thailand leans toward the Chinese government model of not letting political/social unrest getting too far out of hand.

Thailand is changing. These elections will show this one way or the other. The people have had enough. It's time for Thailand to grow up. This is a force that will not be stopped.

[MartinL]

For most of his time in power, my wife has said she dislikes Prayuth and thinks he's a bad PM. I've never heard her say a good word about him.

 

This election, the local candidate for Prayuth's party is some sort of distant relation to her. He's asked my wife to vote for him. She says she will because she likes the candidate. But she still says she dislikes Prayuth.

 

I've tried to get her to see that voting for her relation will help Prayuth back into power with more of a government that she's disliked in the past. My words fall on stoney ground. She'll vote for him, she says.

 

After the election, should Prayuth become PM, I'm sure she'll once again say she dislikes him.

 

My head hurts ????.

[gaucan]

20 minutes ago, dinsdale said:

Thailand is changing. These elections will show this one way or the other. The people have had enough. It's time for Thailand to grow up. This is a force that will not be stopped.

welcome you must be new here

[dinsdale]

13 minutes ago, gaucan said:

welcome you must be new here

19 years and 2 coups. How about you?

Edited May 13, 2023 by dinsdale

[OneMoreFarang]

2 hours ago, Bangkok Barry said:

The problem is that there might be a teensy weensy reaction from his supporters, of which there are many millions, if he is made to serve his sentence. It's a no-win situation for Thailand.

It's time that his supporters understand that a criminal is a criminal. Even if millions of people like him. He is a criminal and he avoided jail for many years. It's time that he goes to jail. If his supporters don't like it, then they should cry in their red villages.

[OneMoreFarang]

2 hours ago, paddypower said:

2 alternatives routes of escape: a submarine with a malfunctioning engine; a Thai copy of the Hindenburg airship. Hope they do an audit of this (deleted)'s family assets accumulated since he came to power.

Please remind us, what was the result of that audit of the Shinawatra family? 

[dinsdale]

3 minutes ago, OneMoreFarang said:

It's time that his supporters understand that a criminal is a criminal. Even if millions of people like him. He is a criminal and he avoided jail for many years. It's time that he goes to jail. If his supporters don't like it, then they should cry in their red villages.

And Prayut. Not a criminal?

Edited May 13, 2023 by dinsdale