Yingluck’s life after the coup

[webfact]

Yingluck’s life after the coup

By KASAMAKORN CHANWANPEN 
THE NATION

 

 

Ex-PM may be at the top of Junta’s watch list, but her activities include gardening and social media.

 

BANGKOK: -- FROM BEING a successful business woman and the first female prime minister of Thailand to facing criminal lawsuits and having her assets frozen, it can be said Yingluck Shinawatra’s life has been quite a rollercoaster ride for the past three years.

 

She was among those at the top of the junta’s watch list. Immediately after the coup was successfully staged in 2014, Yingluck, a former premier and the sister and political heiress of fugitive ex-premier Thaksin Shina-watra, was summoned to report to the National Council for Peace and Order (NCPO).

 

Like most high-profile political figures, she is prohibited from making any political moves and must seek permission if she wishes to travel abroad.

 

Perhaps the worst of her woes after the former prime minister lost power is having to defend herself in legal cases mounted against her, starting during the late days of her administration when large-scale street demonstrations called for her downfall.

 

First on the list is the rice-pledging case, in which the ex-PM is accused of negligence and malfeasance for allegedly failing to prevent corruption in implementing the scheme that subsequently incurred huge financial losses. Since 2015, when the Supreme Court’s Criminal Division for Political Office Holders accepted the case, Yingluck has attended without fail at least 26 court hearings.

 

If convicted, she could serve up to 10 years in jail in addition to paying compensation to the state of more than Bt35 billion. In the meantime, some of her assets, particularly saving accounts, were frozen prior to her August 1 closing statement and the delivery of her final verdict tomorrow.

 

Feeling distress under great pressure, the former premier of Thailand was moved to tears on a couple of occasions while being watched by millions of people across the country.

 

While making merit at a Bangkok temple on her 50th birthday in June, Yingluck burst into tears during an interview and said she “hoped to be able to make merit again next year”.

 

Yet, despite all the inconvenience and hardship Yingluck has suffered over the past several years, she has been allowed to largely maintain her lifestyle, so long as it did not go against the NCPO’s orders, and in particular the ban on political activities.

 

Two months after the coup, she managed to get permission from the ruling junta to travel with her son Supasek Amornchat to Europe, where they joined the celebration of her billionaire brother Thaksin’s 65th birthday in France. She was also allowed to travel with her son for the second time that year to Japan and China in October and November.

 

 

Once the rice-pledging case was in the courts, Yingluck’s travel was restricted to the Kingdom. She was not allowed to accept a 2015 invitation from the European Parliament to exchange views on the political situation in Thailand. The NCPO may have lifted the international travel ban, but it remained part of the terms she had to commit to after the Supreme Court agreed to release her on Bt30 million bail.

 

There was not much she could do, given all the restrictions. Yingluck resorted to using social media every now and again to communicate with supporters. Sometimes the platform was used to send low-key political messages and announcements, not only to her six million followers, but also to the powers that be. On other occasions, she has shared her activities and lifestyle on social media.

 

 

Unable to participate openly in national affairs, the former PM found an avocation as an amateur vegetable grower. She at least twice opened her house for guests and served them salad straight from her organic vegetable garden. Once was a briefing session last year with international media regarding the rice case. Another was two months ago when she celebrated achieving six million Facebook followers, making her the most popular Thai politician on the Internet.

 

When she is free from tending the vegetable garden, Yingluck has taken time to tour the country. She is often seen travelling with her teenage son, and sometimes with unwanted officers who she wasn’t aware of initially, making merit at Buddhist temples, doing charity work, and meeting with supporters throughout Thailand.

 

During last year’s rice crisis, when the price per kilogram hit lower than the price of a pack of instant noodles, Yingluck did not tell farmers to go grow something else or go sell their yields on Mars. She instead jumped in, bought rice from poor farmers, and helped sell it in a Bangkok mall. The 10 tonnes of rice Yingluck purchased was sold out in about an hour.

 

Yingluck may have been able to lead an almost normal life without having been detained or summoned for an “attitude adjustment” as experienced by other politicians and activists. But she is not off the roller coaster yet. And one of the steepest hills she’ll climb on this ride is the final verdict on the rice-pledging issue to be delivered tomorrow.

 

 

Source: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/detail/politics/30324701

 

-- © Copyright The Nation 2017-08-24

[Raymonddiaz]

Nation is on the watch list of the junta.

[hobobo]

And who cares, really? Moaning about how life is so difficult on 2,500,000 baht a month didn't win her any new supporters I imagine

[worgeordie]

Mushroom growing and shopping for handbags,nothing will change,

unless found guilty and ever makes it to a prison cell, but then she 

will become a martyr ,not what the junta wants.

regards worgeordie

[wealthychef]

She was charged with failing to prevent corruption?  Wow, seems like perhaps a lot of pots calling the kettle black on that score to me.  

 

[Eric Loh]

23 minutes ago, hobobo said:

And who cares, really? Moaning about how life is so difficult on 2,500,000 baht a month didn't win her any new supporters I imagine

The article is not written by her but by the media. 

[hobobo]

6 minutes ago, Eric Loh said:

The article is not written by her but by the media. 

I'm pretty sure that if she was misquoted she would have sued the relevant media.

And, aren't most articles written by the media? I didn't say it was her autobiography...

[Get Real]

Can´t let her go totally free, and can´t make a powerful statement. Interesting! I really wonder how this one is going to be solved.

[Eric Loh]

7 minutes ago, hobobo said:

I'm pretty sure that if she was misquoted she would have sued the relevant media.

And, aren't most articles written by the media? I didn't say it was her autobiography...

Don't think it was misqouted but that doesn't mean she want or prevent her private life to be expose publicly and seen by you as moaning. 

[AGareth2]

stay strong stay brave

your time will come again

one day

[hobobo]

3 minutes ago, Eric Loh said:

Don't think it was misqouted but that doesn't mean she want or prevent her private life to be expose publicly and seen by you as moaning. 

If she agreed to talk to the media she must have known that the topics discussed were not for the reporter's private collection. And if you go back to the article she states clearly that living on 2.5 million baht a month was difficult and didn't allow for luxuries. I guess I took that as moaning, maybe I should correct myself and say that she was just stating facts. Peace brother, there are more important issues at hand

[Cadbury]

44 minutes ago, hobobo said:

And who cares, really? Moaning about how life is so difficult on 2,500,000 baht a month didn't win her any new supporters I imagine

You are free to imagine whatever you choose. I imagine your comment to be a selective cheap shot from the peanut gallery.

[Baerboxer]

1 hour ago, hobobo said:

And who cares, really? Moaning about how life is so difficult on 2,500,000 baht a month didn't win her any new supporters I imagine

 

Yes, it must be hard for a billionaire used to doing what she wants, when she wants, and how she wants - and being immune to any consequences or having anyone interfering in anyway.

 

[Baerboxer]

33 minutes ago, Cadbury said:

You are free to imagine whatever you choose. I imagine your comment to be a selective cheap shot from the peanut gallery.

 

Whereas your comment isn't aimed at dismissing the fact she lives on 2.5m ThB a month? What was the minimum wage she introduced?

[Baerboxer]

1 hour ago, wealthychef said:

She was charged with failing to prevent corruption?  Wow, seems like perhaps a lot of pots calling the kettle black on that score to me.  

 

 

Undoubtedly. But the trick is to make sure you don't leave any doors open. And some one did see that never attending and chairing meetings could easily be construed as negligence, especially given all those warnings.

 

Either someone did a crap job in advice and is in deep poo poo or someone set her up.

[Baerboxer]

42 minutes ago, AGareth2 said:

stay strong stay brave

your time will come again

one day

 

You really think she'll get back to the tough and whitewashing big brother again?

[Baerboxer]

1 minute ago, Father Fintan Stack said:

You've just described the junta in a coconut shell there. 

 

All of them - and she and her family are just like the rest. Just they want it all for themselves and have possibly bitten off more than they can chew. Fat cats can turn into tigers when threatened!

[LannaGuy]

So much respect and love for her in the country at large. Real courage, calm and graciousness that whatever happens she will be the heroine out of all this. The Junta created a martyr. 

[wealthychef]

Just now, LannaGuy said:

So much respect and love for her in the country at large. Real courage, calm and graciousness that whatever happens she will be the heroine out of all this. The Junta created a martyr. 

 

Love because of the interest free cars they profited from hawking to gullible Thais?  Probably. Like the American electorate, "bringing home the bacon" always triumphs over passing wise policy.  

[Cadbury]

5 minutes ago, Baerboxer said:

 

Whereas your comment isn't aimed at dismissing the fact she lives on 2.5m ThB a month? What was the minimum wage she introduced?

Can't you read properly. I didn't make any comment about the her spending habits. I made a comment referring to someone else's selective comment. Why is that suddenly your business? Shoo fly, don't bother me.

[wealthychef]

14 minutes ago, Baerboxer said:

 

Undoubtedly. But the trick is to make sure you don't leave any doors open. And some one did see that never attending and chairing meetings could easily be construed as negligence, especially given all those warnings.

 

Either someone did a crap job in advice and is in deep poo poo or someone set her up.

 

It sounds like you are assuming that there is some set of rules the elite class has to follow.  It's all about power and perception, not about doing what is good and right.  If you are powerful enough, you craft the perception by controlling the media and bribery etc.  

[LannaGuy]

1 minute ago, wealthychef said:

 

Love because of the interest free cars they profited from hawking to gullible Thais?  Probably. Like the American electorate, "bringing home the bacon" always triumphs over passing wise policy.  

 

Great policy that helped so many Thais I know own their FIRST car. It was not available to everyone so please get your facts straight. She might not have been the greatest PM ever (was there one?) but she's achieved greatness now all thanks to the mighty Junta.

[Baerboxer]

Just now, wealthychef said:

 

It sounds like you are assuming that there is some set of rules the elite class has to follow.  It's all about power and perception, not about doing what is good and right.  If you are powerful enough, you craft the perception by controlling the media and bribery etc.  

 

No, I do think they observe certain unwritten rules regarding their behavior to one another. The way they accord one another certain courtesies, and privileges.

 

Like wai-ing, certain formalities, and keeping face with one another.

 

When they do fall out, unpleasant things follow. The whole feudal system here is lubricated by corruption. Control of the media was easy - through money influence and enforced by protectionist laws (crafted for use by the rich and powerful). The rise of social media must be a bugger for them. Which is why governments are pushed to control social media.

[wealthychef]

1 minute ago, LannaGuy said:

 

Great policy that helped so many Thais I know own their FIRST car. It was not available to everyone so please get your facts straight. She might not have been the greatest PM ever (was there one?) but she's achieved greatness now all thanks to the mighty Junta.

I guess it's debatable.  It would be more impressive to me if they didn't own the company that built the cars that people were allowed to buy with the loan subsidy paid for from the general treasury.  That sounds like a sweet deal for her, wouldn't you say?  I might be misinformed, that's just what I heard.  

Perhaps one could argue that it's about time that the common person benefitted from the corruption in Thailand, but I have to think that it's over all just a sad mess.  I'm from America, so I'm a little sensitive to corruption at the moment.  

[Baerboxer]

10 minutes ago, Cadbury said:

Can't you read properly. I didn't make any comment about the her spending habits. I made a comment referring to someone else's selective comment. Why is that suddenly your business? Shoo fly, don't bother me.

 

The same reason as why your initial reply was your business - it's a public forum. Not under your personal control. If you don't like it - hard luck.

 

Call me a fly at your peril. It's a forum, not an insult exchange chocolate boy.

[Baerboxer]

14 minutes ago, LannaGuy said:

So much respect and love for her in the country at large. Real courage, calm and graciousness that whatever happens she will be the heroine out of all this. The Junta created a martyr. 

 

Any proof of your imagined "respect and love" by country "at large"? 

 

Great actress though. And sure, she'll milk the verdict, whatever it is, for all its worth. Floods of tears - but for joy, sadness or anger? We shall see soon enough.

[LannaGuy]

1 minute ago, Baerboxer said:

 

Any proof of your imagined "respect and love" by country "at large"? 

 

Great actress though. And sure, she'll milk the verdict, whatever it is, for all its worth. Floods of tears - but for joy, sadness or anger? We shall see soon enough.

Fancy an election to find out?

[LannaGuy]

9 minutes ago, wealthychef said:

I guess it's debatable.  It would be more impressive to me if they didn't own the company that built the cars that people were allowed to buy with the loan subsidy paid for from the general treasury.  That sounds like a sweet deal for her, wouldn't you say?  I might be misinformed, that's just what I heard.  

Perhaps one could argue that it's about time that the common person benefitted from the corruption in Thailand, but I have to think that it's over all just a sad mess.  I'm from America, so I'm a little sensitive to corruption at the moment.  

You are misinformed and I respectfully suggest you let that piece of 'fake news' go.  Reduced tax was available for first time car buyers and many of my young (mostly) Thai friends benefited from their first cheap car.

 

I can see that your comment was not vexatious just misinformed. Anyway back 'on topic'  Yingluck's'  'life after' will be very quiet for awhile and, hopefully, no more Junta spies following her everywhere and her star will rise again. Let's see but it will take years to pan out.

[Cadbury]

5 minutes ago, Baerboxer said:

 

The same reason as why your initial reply was your business - it's a public forum. Not under your personal control. If you don't like it - hard luck.

 

Call me a fly at your peril. It's a forum, not an insult exchange chocolate boy.

Junta huggers such as yourself can't take criticism lightly just like their fearless military leader. Your repetitive one sided junta propaganda is becoming boring and only enlivened by your display of immaturity.

[Baerboxer]

Just now, Cadbury said:

Junta huggers such as yourself can't take criticism lightly just like their fearless military leader. Your repetitive one sided junta propaganda is becoming boring and only enlivened by your display of immaturity.

 

Another poster who wants to claim any who don't lick the Shin's arse must be Junta supporters! What a convenient little mantra that is - means you don't have to think. 

 

Now if you could read and research you'd see I criticize the Junta too. But as this post is about the Shins, and as usual attracts all their fanboys, then I post comments on topic about them.

 

Must all be a bit hard for you to grasp. Easier to just dismiss it all ad Junta huggers and pretend the Shins are innocent social democrats who never ever did anything wrong.