Protests Threaten Return of Yingluck Shinawatra to Thailand

[webfact]

Picture courtesy: Naewna

 

A coalition led by the People’s Reform Network (PRN) vowed to mobilise protests against the return of former Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra to Thailand, echoing the previous efforts to oust her brother, Thaksin Shinawatra.

 

At a rally in Bangkok’s Democracy Monument, PRN leader Pichit Chaimongkol declared 2025 as the "Year of Reckoning" for what he termed "the Thaksin regime". He urged supporters to prepare for action if the former leader attempts a homecoming.

 

The coalition, critical of the current government and its handling of corruption issues, presented two main demands: the resignation of Tawee Sodsong, the Justice Minister, over scandals involving allegiance with Thaksin, and Pongchai Chunhawachira, Deputy Prime Minister, for pushing unqualified appointments.

 

In addition to these demands, the group opposes five key issues: the proposed MOU 44, new casino licences, online gambling, long-term 99-year land leases they believe compromise national interest, and the damage caused by a digital wallet initiative.

They also urged support for Thailand’s Anti-Corruption Commission and the Medical Council, encouraging scrutiny of alleged misconduct linked to Thaksin’s health status.

 

PRN plans a march to police headquarters and the Medical Council mid-January to demand transparency and accountability regarding Thaksin’s medical records.

 

Picture courtesy: Naewna

 

Pichit also warned of unrest should Thaksin fulfil his promise to bring Yingluck back by April. He claimed Yingluck would face the same protest actions as Thaksin did, stressing the need for close scrutiny on their political involvement.

 

The former premier's alleged influence over state policies, despite stepping back from politics, is viewed by PRN as an overreach of power, and they plan to hold the government accountable amid allegations of policy manipulation.

 

-- 2025-01-12

 

 

[Delta Shift]

Another coup in the next 12 months ? 24 maybe ?

[Highball]

Was this really a thing? I was always under the impression she was set up. Others went to jail.

 

 

[OneMoreFarang]

17 minutes ago, webfact said:

protests against the return of former Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra

 

Let her return. And then obviously she should go to jail. That's what they call justice. 

[OneMoreFarang]

13 minutes ago, Highball said:

I was always under the impression she was set up.

Who gave you that idea?

Maybe she didn't really know what she was doing, because her big brother told her what to do. But she was officially in charge. Guilty!

[MikeandDow]

And some posters think Thaskin is popular with the majority of thais !!!

[OneMoreFarang]

17 minutes ago, MikeandDow said:

And some posters think Thaskin is popular with the majority of thais !!!

He is popular with many Thais. How many? Who knows? 

[MikeandDow]

5 minutes ago, OneMoreFarang said:

He is popular with many Thais. How many? Who knows? 

Maybe some, but the Majority No!!! thats my opinion !!!

[KireB]

15 minutes ago, OneMoreFarang said:

He is popular with many Thais. How many? Who knows? 

Most Thai despise him.

[Patong2021]

The continued persecution of Yingluck is ridiculous and serves no purpose other than to distract from the  need for reform.  The reason so many still cling to the Thaksin clan is the mistaken belief that it has the power to take on the military cabal. The real evil are the powers who  back sock puppets like the PRN. This keeps the counry mired in unproductive feuds that block any real social progress. Nothing I can do about it. it's like trying to hold back the incoming tide at the beach.

[herfiehandbag]

2 hours ago, MikeandDow said:

And some posters think Thaskin is popular with the majority of thais !!!

 

2 hours ago, OneMoreFarang said:

He is popular with many Thais. How many? Who knows? 

I don't think this bunch of somewhat geriatric protesters represent the views of anything like the majority of Thais.

 

They keep announcing massed marches on police headquarters and so on - but they never seem to actually happen

 

Nice "regimental" haircuts though!

 

As for Thaksin's popularity, well that very much depends on who you ask, and where in the country you ask. I do however suspect that sympathy for Yingluck is quite widespread!

 

Maybe she shouldn't have turned him down

 

https://images.app.goo.gl/u2CitRjvbqej9mdU6

 

I mean, they were made for each other, such a smartly fitting beret!

[MikeandDow]

11 minutes ago, herfiehandbag said:

 

I don't think this bunch of somewhat geriatric protesters represent the views of anything like the majority of Thais.

 

They keep announcing massed marches on police headquarters and so on - but they never seem to actually happen

 

Nice "regimental" haircuts though!

 

As for Thaksin's popularity, well that very much depends on who you ask, and where in the country you ask. I do however suspect that sympathy for Yingluck is quite widespread!

If you can not respect other  posters opinions with out resorting to name calling you should not post,

As for Thaksin's popularity you “Can't see the wood for the trees” but thats my opinion

[herfiehandbag]

1 minute ago, MikeandDow said:

If you can not respect other  posters opinions with out resorting to name calling you should not post,

As for Thaksin's popularity you “Can't see the wood for the trees” but thats my opinion

Name calling? What on earth do you mean!

[mfd101]

A geriatric 'People's Reform Network' attacking from the right is a ludicrous concept.

 

If a real reform party (eg Pita & co) were in power, the PRN would be leading the tanks down to the Parliament to blow the real reformers away.

[impulse]

2 hours ago, OneMoreFarang said:

He is popular with many Thais. How many? Who knows? 

 

As cheap as it is to organize and staff a protest with thousands of paid shills, I don't think any of us know. 

 

What I do know is that if I start to think I understand Thai politics and the interactions between the major factions, I'm just fooling myself.

 

The protests and lead up to the Yingluck coup were actually quite pleasant.  There was a huge camp set up outside the office at Asoke, and it was fascinating to wander around at lunch and after hours, for days on end.  It looked like more of them were having fun than were genuinely angry.

 

Edit:  But I would add, even before that, I was reminded of how bad it could have gotten by the bullet holes in some stainless steel handrails where the protests had happened a few years earlier.

 

[Tropicalevo]

3 hours ago, MikeandDow said:

Maybe some, but the Majority No!!! thats my opinion !!!

 

Strange that.

He was legally voted in at the time, and his party was the most popular.

Not many PM's can say that.

[Highball]

4 hours ago, OneMoreFarang said:

Who gave you that idea?

Maybe she didn't really know what she was doing, because her big brother told her what to do. But she was officially in charge. Guilty!

 

If she didn't know I'm inclined to give her a break. I simply don't know. The government is opaque and all sorts of skullduggery going on. I honestly don't recall the details been so long ago

[Tropicalevo]

2 hours ago, herfiehandbag said:

I don't think this bunch of somewhat geriatric protesters represent the views of anything like the majority of Thais.

 

Just 'rent a mob' selling to the highest bidder.

They'll do anything for a bit of cash.

Easy money and better than working up a sweat.

[MikeandDow]

1 minute ago, Tropicalevo said:

 

Strange that.

He was legally voted in at the time, and his party was the most popular.

Not many PM's can say that.

I dont live in the past !!!! yes he was voted in, In the past !!  but i think we are now talking now, in the present about his popularity

[Tropicalevo]

1 minute ago, MikeandDow said:

I dont live in the past !!!! yes he was voted in, In the past !!  but i think we are now talking now, in the present about his popularity

 

Unfortunately, that was the last time that he stood for an election so it is all that I can quote.

His party is still the second most popular (if I remember correctly).

We will never know if he would win today. He has been banned.

Just like a number of other very popular politicians.

[Highball]

4 hours ago, MikeandDow said:

And some posters think Thaskin is popular with the majority of thais !!!

 

I think he's in better graces now. Much time has passed and tbh who is going to pull this nation out of its economic recession.

 

Reality is things went south after he was coup'ed. Economy been a mess since with a gaggle of ineffective PMs and yet another coup (on top of his coup).

 

Not only is Thailand losing its economy, but so much opportunity. Things so hopeless now everything is pinned on of all things tourism from India and china 😭

[MikeandDow]

1 minute ago, Highball said:

 

I think he's in better graces now. Much time has passed and tbh who is going to pull this nation out of its economic recession.

 

Reality is things went south after he was coup'ed. Economy been a mess since with a gaggle of ineffective PMs and yet another coup (on top of his coup).

 

Not only is Thailand losing its economy, but so much opportunity. Things so hopeless now everything is pinned on of all things tourism from India and china 😭

Totally agree Thailand is going down the tubes !!! But Thaskin is NOT the solution far from it !! Why is all the hiso and Thaskin so afraid of the PP, ??  because Young blood !! not courupt as the old guard, put Thailand first. yes his party is 2nd but that is not what thailand should be settling for, it is number 1 PP.

[Highball]

Just now, MikeandDow said:

Totally agree Thailand is going down the tubes !!! But Thaskin is NOT the solution far from it !! Why is all the hiso and Thaskin so afraid of the PP, ??  because Young blood !! not courupt as the old guard, put Thailand first. yes his party is 2nd but that is not what thailand should be settling for, it is number 1 PP.

 

I hope he is the solution because it's been 20 years and no one has come anywhere close to getting the economy moving. He held a presser and I liked what I heard. Unfortunately, all I see is his daughter giving money away.

[jayboy]

4 hours ago, OneMoreFarang said:

 

Let her return. And then obviously she should go to jail. That's what they call justice. 

 

Did you call for the traitors who launched the illegal military coup to go to jail? Actually in many jurisdictions they would have been court martialled and sentenced to long imprisonment, or worse.That's what they call justice.

 

 

[connda]

We'll have a return of the Yellow Shirt's protests if Yingluck comes back and gets the Thaksin Shinawatra Kid-Glove Treatment.

"Come back and Thailand is yours after doing a couple of months in a hospital penthouse suite."
Bet that's exactly what happens.
"Me too!"

[OneMoreFarang]

58 minutes ago, Highball said:

 

If she didn't know I'm inclined to give her a break. I simply don't know. The government is opaque and all sorts of skullduggery going on. I honestly don't recall the details been so long ago

 

I remember enough of it to know that "I didn't know" just doesn't work.

And she was the PM. If she didn't want the job and didn't want the responsibility, then she should have told her brother: I am not doing that job! Look for someone else! 

[MikeandDow]

31 minutes ago, Highball said:

 

I hope he is the solution because it's been 20 years and no one has come anywhere close to getting the economy moving. He held a presser and I liked what I heard. Unfortunately, all I see is his daughter giving money away.

the PP party and Pita were never givin the chance to show what they could do!!ThePP won the election and I think they will win the next one, Thaskin and is party are all about money for themselves NOT for the people, take,  Tak Bai Inciden, caused by Thaskin policys, and What did his daughter do to bring some of the culprits to justice as the people wanted NOTHING

[OneMoreFarang]

31 minutes ago, jayboy said:

 

Did you call for the traitors who launched the illegal military coup to go to jail? Actually in many jurisdictions they would have been court martialled and sentenced to long imprisonment, or worse.That's what they call justice.

 

 

 

Those "traitors" removed the super corrupt Shinawatras who the police and judges didn't touch. I, like many people who lived in Thailand at that time, were happy that the last two coups happened to remove the Shinawatras.

Lots of people gave flowers to the soldiers because they liked that the military intervened. I was there, and I remember. It was happy party time on the streets - at least in Bangkok.

 

[Highball]

I will forever remember Taksin for his ineffective drug war and all the mayhem that created.

 

I'm very concerned about Thailand. What's in it for me? I am married to a Thai and live in Thailand although that might change with the taxation and violent crime ratcheting upward.

 

There is really zero good news here I'm afraid.

 

Best idea thus far is to suck jobs from China as US looks at tarrifs against all these ridiculous export driven economies. A bunch of promises for a bunch of <deleted> low wage mfg jobs. Data centers lol. A staff of four Thai managed remotely.

 

Ineffective bureaucracy, like Philippines a nation so full of laws and bureaucratic backhanders that nothing moves, a totally failed education system where best and brightest go abroad, entrenched oligarchy, Army predisposed to coups, zero innovation bc Thais are not given the intellectual juice to create and innovate. A tired system of corrupt patronage that honors and rewards anything but what it should. Anyone doubt any of this I think the last election and it's aftermath as evidence as well as the last 25 years.

 

My prediction is we see foreigners and their money far more targeted and not in a thankful, gracious way - it will be a grab for money both by government and in the street. Things will be far more coarse five years from now.

 

They are out of ideas. Hopefully, Taksin can deliver something of substance

 

I can leave, I feel very sorry for these lovely people.

[Highball]

14 minutes ago, OneMoreFarang said:

 

I remember enough of it to know that "I didn't know" just doesn't work.

And she was the PM. If she didn't want the job and didn't want the responsibility, then she should have told her brother: I am not doing that job! Look for someone else! 

 

Yeah, I get the responsibility thing no doubt. Still, the anti Taksin crowd was gunning for her. As I recall she wasn't party to the actual scheme. I mean this sort of crap happens all the time in the west and no one goes to prison - not saying they shouldn't.

 

There is no justice and this is laid bare daily. Again, I just feel sorry for the avg Thai.

 

Move Fwd not taking the helm was a real fail and indictment of the nation. The machinations that set most parties against it despite the nation being solidly behind.

 

Nothing will change.

 

Burn it to the ground, rule over the ashes