Report Activists Accuse Thai PM Paetongtarn of Crimes Punishable by Death

[webfact]

Picture courtesy of MGR online

 

In a dramatic turn of events, two activists in northeastern Thailand have put the country's political scene on edge by accusing Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra of serious charges that could even warrant the death penalty.

 

The accusations stem from the leak of a phone call between Ms Paetongtarn and former Cambodian leader Hun Sen, where she reportedly criticised a military commander involved in border affairs. This has sparked a storm of condemnation from some groups opposed to the Shinawatra family.

 

The formal complaint was lodged by anti-corruption crusaders Tul Prasertsilp and Chaichana Tasaniyom on Thursday at the Muang Khon Kaen police station.

 

The duo contends that the Prime Minister's conversation violates several crucial sections of the Thai Criminal Code: Sections 116, 119, 157, and 164, with some suggesting penalties as severe as life imprisonment or the death penalty.

 

These sections include charges such as sedition, national security violations, dereliction of duty, and revealing classified information.

 

The leaked call reportedly included Ms Paetongtarn referring to the Second Army Region’s commander as an “opponent” and discussing border checkpoint negotiations, which Mr Chaichana believes could harm Thailand's national interests.

 

He has demanded that Ms Paetongtarn either step down or dissolve the House of Representatives and publicly apologise. He warned that public opposition to her government would increase if she did not comply.

 

The severity of the charges stems from the following Criminal Code sections: Section 116 deals with sedition and its potential to cause societal unrest, punishable by up to seven years in jail.

 

Section 119 addresses national security issues that could subject the kingdom to the control of a foreign power, with penalties that may include life imprisonment or death.

 

Section 157 speaks to malfeasance by officials, with a maximum ten-year sentence and fines reaching 200,000 Thai Baht.

 

Section 164 covers the unauthorised disclosure of state secrets, which may lead to a five-year sentence and fines up to 100,000 Thai Baht.

 

As the situation unfolds, the allegations have brought significant attention to the potential legal and political repercussions for the Prime Minister. Analysts and political observers are closely monitoring the developments to see how this affects Ms Paetongtarn’s leadership and government stability.

 

  Adapted by ASEAN Now from Bangkok Post 2025-06-20

 

 

[Geoffggi]

I think the death penalty is a step too far, in a nutshell the problem is Ms Paetongtarn is sorely under qualified for the position she is in & everyone knows if it wasn't for her fathers influence she would not have been considered for the PM position.

[dinsdale]

Two lunatics.

[JAG]

32 minutes ago, Geoffggi said:

I think the death penalty is a step too far, in a nutshell the problem is Ms Paetongtarn is sorely under qualified for the position she is in & everyone knows if it wasn't for her fathers influence she would not have been considered for the PM position.

Quite unlike Anutin then...

 

But what constitutes being qualified? In a democracy, even one as flawed as this one, the requirement is to command a majority in the parliament. I don't like the way in which that was arranged, but Paetongtarn emerged from the shenanigans following the election commanding a majority.

 

As for these two buffoons from Khon Kaen...

 

 

[Peter Crow]

 

10 minutes ago, dinsdale said:

Two lunatics.

 Dangerous ones though..

[KhaoHom]

I'd laugh , but this is exactly what the Left was doing to Trump - and continues to this day.

 

Looks so ridiculous in another country but it's the same - lawfare

 

I'd love to see the transcript translated into English. I'm guessing she did none of this. My guess is she was in true Thai fashion complementary and differential to The Head of State. Merely being polite as Thais are. This is being blown up into some ridiculous circus the political gain.

 

She has all the intelligence to be the prime minister of this country. Ministers around her and the political machinery are no geniuses by any stretch of the imagination. It's just a swirling maelstrom of graft and corruption.

 

Any of them could do their job and were intelligent enough to do their job the country would not be in such an economic funk for the last 25 years. The education system wouldn't be broken and irreparable. The nation would have its universities working on high level scientific goals and innovation.

 

Instead bickers over phone calls

 

 

[dinsdale]

14 minutes ago, JAG said:

Quite unlike Anutin then...

 

But what constitutes being qualified? In a democracy, even one as flawed as this one, the requirement is to command a majority in the parliament. I don't like the way in which that was arranged, but Paetongtarn emerged from the shenanigans following the election commanding a majority.

 

As for these two buffoons from Khon Kaen...

 

 

In a democracy it's normal for the party that wins the election to become the government.

[JAG]

7 minutes ago, dinsdale said:

In a democracy it's normal for the party that wins the election to become the government.

If I recall no party had a clear majority. Therefore a coalition was formed. I don't like the way the coalition was put together, nevertheless when the dust settled she had a majority in parliament.

[thesetat]

34 minutes ago, dinsdale said:

Two lunatics.

She literally told the other leader to tell her what to do and keep it a secret... I would say they are justified in trying to get her taken out of office. 

[dinsdale]

Just now, JAG said:

If I recall no party had a clear majority. Therefore a coalition was formed. I don't like the way the coalition was put together, nevertheless when the dust settled she had a majority in parliament.

You recall incorrectly. FFP got a clear majority of the votes. It came down to voting for the PM. This is where the military senate came into the picture and PITA could not get a majority of both houses votes. Then of course the Junta's legal arm came in disqualifying Pita and after that the FFP itself.

[JAG]

38 minutes ago, dinsdale said:

You recall incorrectly. FFP got a clear majority of the votes. It came down to voting for the PM. This is where the military senate came into the picture and PITA could not get a majority of both houses votes. Then of course the Junta's legal arm came in disqualifying Pita and after that the FFP itself.

FPP got 151 seats (251 required for a parliamentary majority) and 37.99 of the vote. It was the biggest share, but certainly not a clear majority. That led to the coalition negotiations. After some breath takingly cynical shenanigans Pheu Thai ended up forming a coalition government, which had a majority in the parliament.

[0ffshore360]

50 minutes ago, JAG said:

Quite unlike Anutin then...

 

But what constitutes being qualified? In a democracy, even one as flawed as this one, the requirement is to command a majority in the parliament. I don't like the way in which that was arranged, but Paetongtarn emerged from the shenanigans following the election commanding a majority.

 

As for these two buffoons from Khon Kaen...

 

 

Of interest is that this drama arises from a supposedly loyal Red Shirt stronghold  that some strangely still believe holds Godfather Thaksin in awe !

 

 

 

[daveAustin]

What a ridiculous storm in a teacup. Thailand still light years away from adolescence. 

[ricklev]

I don't really understand the politics here, and I might be wrong, but I read the phone conversation transcript and it seemed to me she was trying to deescalate an absurd border dispute with a rational discussion to find a mutually acceptable solution that considered both sides politics.  

[Hunz Kittisak]

38 minutes ago, JAG said:

FPP got 151 seats (251 required for a parliamentary majority) and 37.99 of the vote. It was the biggest share, but certainly not a clear majority. That led to the coalition negotiations. After some breath takingly cynical shenanigans Pheu Thai ended up forming a coalition government, which had a majority in the parliament.

That was all in the plan of genius Thaksin.

Could you all not see it? Pretend to lay in bed with the powerful military first then once their guard is down pick them off one by one as we have all seen. Anutin being the last to be forced out. 
Next fresh elections where PPP and PTP will form the new government as per the voters wishes 

[Peter Crow]

1 hour ago, KhaoHom said:

complementary and differential

This must be a MAGA oxymoron ?..

[fondue zoo]

 

43 minutes ago, Hunz Kittisak said:

That was all in the plan of genius Thaksin.

 

Maybe he did think to himself that he would be able to run a number on them as soon as he returned, but, as with a lot of very wealthy people, they start  believing their own bs and  overestimate their power/position. Maybe the High Table cut a deal thinking he would comply and act as the background glue against FF.  But you don't become a policeman billionaire to sit around with your grand-kids all day in the pool. He can't help himself meddling at this point.

 

[KhaoHom]

1 hour ago, JAG said:

If I recall no party had a clear majority. Therefore a coalition was formed. I don't like the way the coalition was put together, nevertheless when the dust settled she had a majority in parliament.

 

Agreed

 

But this time around was especially problematic. I had hopes of some Taksin magic, but seemingly only concern is casinos.

 

Daughter does indeed appear like she's not in control of her party or the government.

 

Thailand had a second taste of Taksin2. No idea what's going to fix the country economically at this point.

 

IMO it's just going to be forever taxes and economic stagflation

[dinsdale]

2 hours ago, thesetat said:

She literally told the other leader to tell her what to do and keep it a secret... I would say they are justified in trying to get her taken out of office. 

Not put to death which is what these two loons are saying though.

[dinsdale]

1 hour ago, JAG said:

FPP got 151 seats (251 required for a parliamentary majority) and 37.99 of the vote. It was the biggest share, but certainly not a clear majority. That led to the coalition negotiations. After some breath takingly cynical shenanigans Pheu Thai ended up forming a coalition government, which had a majority in the parliament.

Yes. Sorry you are correct. 

[lordgrinz]

Since she is just a puppet, this "death sentence" should be given to the puppet master himself. 

[redwood1]

Its time to fire up old sparky...

 

[KhaoHom]

4 hours ago, dinsdale said:

In a democracy it's normal for the party that wins the election to become the government.

 

Pheu Thai didn't win

[scorecard]

5 hours ago, Geoffggi said:

I think the death penalty is a step too far, in a nutshell the problem is Ms Paetongtarn is sorely under qualified for the position she is in & everyone knows if it wasn't for her fathers influence she would not have been considered for the PM position.

 

And luckily she will soon be gone, she cannot continue like this, showing daily she cannot do the job and at the same time the economy is failing.

 

Further there's only one family member left who hasn't been the PM, the son, and he has baggage, he's  been tangled before in nepotism and cronyism and his past behaviors don't present a suitable image plus he doesn't have any capability whatever for the job.

 

So if/when daughter goes who can the paymaster put into the job along with a 'just do as I tell you' mandate?  

[davb]

4 hours ago, ricklev said:

I don't really understand the politics here, and I might be wrong, but I read the phone conversation transcript and it seemed to me she was trying to deescalate an absurd border dispute with a rational discussion to find a mutually acceptable solution that considered both sides politics.  

I said the same thing to my Thai wife and she vehemently disagreed, saying Thailand lost face and was betrayed. Maybe there are Thai cultural aspects at play here also.
 

[lordgrinz]

13 minutes ago, davb said:

I said the same thing to my Thai wife and she vehemently disagreed, saying Thailand lost face and was betrayed. Maybe there are Thai cultural aspects at play here also.
 

 

Losing face is a product of simpletons, people with the emotional maturity of small children. 

[Kiwiken]

I know lets have a coup and show how far Thailand has come as it marches proudly back to the start line!

[Aleksey75]

And who are the activists?! According to the photo, the older generation - can't they just enjoy their retirement instead of ridiculing themselves?!