Protesters petitioned Thailand’s Ministry of Justice to suspend the parole review process for former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra, arguing that authorities had misinterpreted the law and ignored findings by the Supreme Court relating to his stay at the Police General Hospital while serving a prison sentence. The protest took place on Thursday 7 May, at the ministry’s Chaeng Watthana headquarters ahead of Thaksin’s scheduled parole release on May 11.

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The demonstration was led by the People-Student Network for Reform of Thailand (KPT), headed by activist Pichit Chaimongkol. The group submitted a formal letter calling on the justice minister to review and suspend decisions made by three parole committees that approved Thaksin’s release under electronic monitoring conditions. Ministry official Kittiwit Khongboonrak received the petition on behalf of the minister.

Mr Pichit said the Department of Corrections had wrongly cited Sections 92 and 93 of the Criminal Code, which deal with repeat offences within five years, when explaining Thaksin’s eligibility for parole. He argued that the key issue was whether Thaksin committed disciplinary or criminal violations during his detention after returning to Thailand in August 2024.

The Department of Corrections recently defended its handling of the case, insisting that the parole process complied with legal procedures and that the Supreme Court’s ruling did not affect Thaksin’s eligibility. Authorities stated that the former premier, whose sentence had been reduced to one year by royal pardon, still qualified for parole as a medium-class prisoner.

KPT claimed the department had distorted findings by the Supreme Court Criminal Division for Holders of Political Office, which ruled that Thaksin’s transfer for treatment outside prison was unlawful and that his medical condition was not critical. The group warned that officials involved in the process could face accusations of malfeasance under Section 157 of the Criminal Code.

Meanwhile, members of the Shinawatra family, including former prime minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra, visited Thaksin at Klong Prem Central Prison on Thursday ahead of his planned release. Red-shirt supporters also gathered outside to show support for the former premier.

The Bangkokpost reported that parole decision remains under scrutiny as legal and political pressure continues to build before the scheduled May 11 release date. Authorities have not indicated whether the ministry will reconsider the parole committee decisions following the petition.

Picture courtesy of Bangkok Post

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Adapted by ASEAN Now Bangkokpost 9 May 2026

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He'll be out on Monday - just watch

Protesters are too late. They should have protest weeks ago. Now the decision is made already. Wondering btw if Mr Thaksin is really in jail. He could be go back on Monday and just for the show walk out again. This is Thailand, everything is possible when you are superrich

The ''Rent a crowd ' will be bused in on the 11th to form a photo oppotunitpity to welcome yhe criminals release.

Thaksin still has a large following. And that doesn’t surprise me at all, given the present government.

1 hour ago, jippytum said:

The ''Rent a crowd ' will be bused in on the 11th to form a photo oppotunitpity to welcome yhe criminals release.

Jeez, you haters are really scraping the bottom of the barrel. You remind me of a certain President who, whilst invading Venezuala, threatening Cuba, Canada and Greenland in order to distract public attention from a swathe of files, said to a journalist “are you still talking about Jeffrey…Epstein?”

Let Mr Thaksin enjoy his final few years in peace.

Surely you must have other windmills to tilt at.

Thaksin is no worse than many other hiso Thai " businessmen. " The biggest mistake he made was doing a runner. If he had've fronted court in the first place he would've done minimal time and this saga would've been over years ago.

10 hours ago, ikke1959 said:

Wondering btw if Mr Thaksin is really in jail. He could be go back on Monday and just for the show walk out again. This is Thailand, everything is possible when you are superrich

Thais maybe didn't like Thaksin, but I don't know if a "fake" jail term was necessary to placate the population. It seems like he really made some people mad.

His envelopes have already been delivered so expect to see him released on the 11th. He is still filthy rich and has many connections still standing by him. Let’s just see if he can keep his mouth shut and live more private. I have my doubts and he will more than likely do something stupid again. He does like the limelight.

UPDATE

Corrections Dept Defends Thaksin Parole

13 hours ago, Red Forever said:

Jeez, you haters are really scraping the bottom of the barrel. You remind me of a certain President who, whilst invading Venezuala, threatening Cuba, Canada and Greenland in order to distract public attention from a swathe of files, said to a journalist “are you still talking about Jeffrey…Epstein?”

Let Mr Thaksin enjoy his final few years in peace.

Surely you must have other windmills to tilt at.

I suspect a bowl of cornflakes makes you think of him too. Get another soapbox and into the correct Forum.

16 hours ago, NONG CHOK said:

Thaksin is no worse than many other hiso Thai " businessmen. " The biggest mistake he made was doing a runner. If he had've fronted court in the first place he would've done minimal time and this saga would've been over years ago.

Most Hiso Thai businessmen are not responsible for killing people, he is a convicted felon and should not be let out for what he has done to the thai people

Personally I don't care what happens to him, why would I ? After all, firstly, I am not Thai , and secondly , It will have no bearing on my life whatsoever. Why anybody on here cares is beyond me, get a life. all of you

44 minutes ago, MikeandDow said:

Most Hiso Thai businessmen are not responsible for killing people, he is a convicted felon and should not be let out for what he has done to the thai people

he was not locked up for "being responsible for killing people"

Nobody has said that !! read the post !! but he should have been !!

18 hours ago, Red Forever said:

Jeez, you haters are really scraping the bottom of the barrel. You remind me of a certain President who, whilst invading Venezuala, threatening Cuba, Canada and Greenland in order to distract public attention from a swathe of files, said to a journalist “are you still talking about Jeffrey…Epstein?”

Let Mr Thaksin enjoy his final few years in peace.

Surely you must have other windmills to tilt at.

t

18 hours ago, Red Forever said:

Jeez, you haters are really scraping the bottom of the barrel. You remind me of a certain President cccwho, whilst invading Venezuala, threatening Cuba, Canada and Greenland in order to distract public attention from a swathe of files, said to a journalist “are you still talking about Jeffrey…Epstein?”

Let Mr Thaksin enjoy his final few years in peace.

Surely you must have other windmills to tilt at.

Yhaksin promice

18 hours ago, Red Forever said:

Jeez, you haters are really scraping the bottom of the barrel. You remind me of a certain President who, whilst invading Venezuala, threatening Cuba, Canada and Greenland in order to distract public attention from a swathe of files, said to a journalist “are you still talking about Jeffrey…Epstein?”

Let Mr Thaksin enjoy his final few years in peace.

Surely you must have other windmills to tilt at.

Thaksin promised a quiet life with his grandchildren. Instead he had a high profile although banned from politics. The man ic a con merchant

5 hours ago, MikeandDow said:

Nobody has said that !! read the post !! but he should have been !!

Oh yes you did strongly intimate that Mr T should be locked up in relation to killing people.

Cute semantics won’t get you off that hook.

23 minutes ago, Red Forever said:

Oh yes you did strongly intimate that Mr T should be locked up in relation to killing people.

Cute semantics won’t get you off that hook.

no need to intimate Thaskin should have been in jail for being responsible for killing people, he would have been charged with crimes against humanity if Thailand had ratified the Rome statute and it was Thaskin who did not sign i wonder why !!!

Haha. Check out the news articles about the morons camping outside the prison... brainwashed idiots.