The return of Thaksin - again maybe - this time August 10 - nope Now August 22

[Gaybutton]

I've placed this topic back under announcements. This time it looks like he really will return.

I'm wondering why. I believe there is much more to it than the public is being told. It just doesn't make sense to me that a 74 year old man is going to voluntarily return and potentially have to go to prison for the next 10 years, perhaps die in prison, when he could simply remain out of Thailand and with his wealth live out his life as fabulously and lavishly as he pleases.
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Thaksin to return on Tuesday - daughter

August 19, 2023

Former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra will return to Thailand on Tuesday, his youngest daughter Paetongtarn "Ung Ing" Shinawatra announced on social media on Saturday.

"On Tuesday Aug 22 at 9am, I will be at Don Mueang (airport) to welcome my father Thaksin," Ms Paetongtarn, one of the Pheu Thai Party's three prime ministerial candidates, wrote on her Instagram and X, formerly known as Twitter, on Saturday morning.

She also posted a message saying her father's planned return to his home country was not cancelled but delayed, adding that this is not a nonsense statement.

Tuesday is also the day on which parliamentarians will meet to vote for a new prime minister. The Pheu Thai-led coalition is expected to nominate property tycoon Srettha Thavisin but it is still not clear whether he will have the necessary support.

On Thaksin's 74th birthday on July 26, Ms Paetongtarn announced that her father was set to arrive at Don Mueang airport on Aug 10, but political observers, including Chuvit Kamolvisit and Jatuporn Prompan, insisted they had reasons to believe his homecoming plan was nothing but hot air. This prompted a reaction from Ms Paetongtarn, who said Mr Chuvit's comment was "nonsense".

On Aug 5, the fugitive former prime minister and patriarch of Pheu Thai posted on X, saying he was postponing his return from self-exile for a couple of weeks, as a doctor wanted him to undergo health checkups.

Thaksin, a former telecoms tycoon, has been living in self-imposed exile since being overthrown by a military coup on Sept 19, 2006.

https://www.bangkokpost.com/thailand/po ... y-daughter
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Wissanu: Thaksin will go to jail on arrival

August 19, 2023

Fugitive former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra will go to jail when he returns to the country, according to Wissanu Krea-ngam, deputy prime minister and acting justice minister.

Mr Wissanu discussed procedures for Thaksin’s return in response to an announcement by Thaksin’s daughter Paetongtarn that he would arrive at Don Mueang airport at 9am on Tuesday.

It was the latest of innumerable announcements in recent months about a possible homecoming, but Ms Paetongtarn insists that this one is for real.

Although the government has not been informed officially about the planned return, officials had already made detailed preparations to receive Thaksin in response to earlier reports, Mr Wissanu said on Saturday.

Senior police and officials from the Corrections Department, the Immigration Bureau and the Metropolitan Police Bureau conferred again on Friday to confirm how they intend to handle the high-profile arrival.

When Thaksin lands at Don Mueang, he will be subject to the normal legal action and procedures for any people of similar status, Mr Wissanu said.

Thaksin would be served with an imprisonment order by the Supreme Court’s Criminal Division for Holders of Political Positions. Then corrections officials would bring him to the Corrections Department and the Klong Prem Central Prison in Chatuchak district of Bangkok, the deputy prime minister said.

Before entering the prison, Thaksin would undergo a physical checkup like other inmates, Mr Wissanu said. He was uncertain if Thaksin’s family members and relatives would be able to meet him in the prison right away.

It has been speculated that Thaksin will immediately seek a royal pardon, and that he would not be returning to the country unless he had assurances that his request would be treated favourably.

Mr Wissanu confirmed that Thaksin could seek a royal pardon or others could seek it on his behalf. However, if the request is turned down, he would have to wait two years before resubmitting it. During the two-year-long wait, he would remain imprisoned, Mr Wissanu said.

Reporters asked whether authorities had other concerns, given that parliament is scheduled to vote for a prime ministerial candidate from the Pheu Thai Party just hours after Thaksin arrives.

Mr Wissanu, who served under Thaksin as a deputy premier 20 years ago, replied that he was uncertain if his former boss would really return on that day.

Pheu Thai is the third incarnation of the Thai Rak Thai Party that Thaksin founded more than two decades ago. Despite repeated protestations by the party, he is still its chief strategic thinker, judging by the number of flights senior Pheu Thai members and representatives of other parties take each year to visit him in Dubai, Hong Kong and elsewhere.

Pheu Thai is expected to nominate former property tycoon Srettha Thavisin for prime minister when parliament meets. However, Thaksin’s daughter Paetongtarn is also a prime ministerial candidate of the party.

Since being overthrown by a military coup on Sept 19, 2006, Thaksin has been living in self-imposed exile, except for a brief visit to the country in 2008. During his absence, the Supreme Court’s Criminal Division for Holders of Political Positions sentenced him to a total of 12 years in prison in four cases.

In the first case, Thaksin was found guilty of abuse of authority over the purchase by his then-wife Khunying Potjaman na Pombejra of state-owned land in the Ratchadaphisek area of Bangkok at a price below the market value, resulting in a two-year prison sentence. The 10-year statute of limitations on the court ruling expired in October 2018.

The second case led to a two-year prison sentence for the fugitive former prime minister, as he was found guilty of malfeasance in connection with the two- and three-digit lottery case.

In the third case, Thaksin received a three-year prison sentence for abusing his position by authorising 4 billion baht in loans to Myanmar through the Export-Import (Exim) Bank of Thailand. The funds were used to purchase equipment from the telecoms firm owned by his family.

The fourth case resulted in a five-year prison sentence, as the court found him guilty of using nominees to hold shares in Shin Corp, a telecommunications company, which is prohibited for any political office holder.

The statutes of limitations for the court decisions on the second, third and fourth cases have not expired.

Earlier Mr Wissanu confirmed that the combined jail term for Thaksin was 10 years.

https://www.bangkokpost.com/thailand/ge ... on-arrival

[KeithAmbrose]

I wonder what deals have been agreed?

[Gaybutton]

I wonder what deals have been agreed?

If nothing else, I would think whatever arrangements are necessary so that he won't have to spend any time in jail, at least not more than a day or two, are likely to have been made. I would also think arrangements have been made so that he will be able to keep all of his money.

Another question is what his plans might be. Is he going to stay out of politics or dive in again?

I believe he would not return unless the things he wants to happen - or not happen - are iron clad sealed. I don't think he wants to swim in hostile waters.

Whatever happens with him, it certainly is going to be interesting. I wonder what kinds of deals have been made, if any, who made them, and why.

[Jun]

If nothing else, I would think whatever arrangements are necessary so that he won't have to spend any time in jail, at least not more than a day or two, are likely to have been made.

He'd have to be out of his mind to return unless he has confidence in such arrangements.

I would also think arrangements have been made so that he will be able to keep all of his money.

That's a given. I assume anyone in his position would also have adequate offshore funds to live a very lavish lifestyle. Possibly even more luxurious than certain board members.

[Gaybutton]

I assume anyone in his position would also have adequate offshore funds to live a very lavish lifestyle.

The latest I'm seeing is when he steps off the plane instead of being taken immediately to jail, they are going to take him to a courtroom where it will be decided where he will be incarcerated for the time being.

I'm with you on this one. I don't believe for a second that he will come unless he knows damned well exactly what will happen. I suppose it is possible that whatever arrangements have been made could be betrayed, but I doubt that will happen. I believe the fact he plans to come on the very same day the legislature is supposed to vote again for Prime Minister is no accident or coincidence.

[KeithAmbrose]

Agreed. I'm sure it has all been agreed behind the scenes with appropriate contributions etc!

[Gaybutton]

At the time of this post, Thaksin's plane is scheduled to arrive less than two hours from now. Assuming he really does return, I'll post updates as they come in.

[travelerjim1]

https://thainewsroom.com/2023/08/21/tha ... -tomorrow/

WHILE four private aircraft have officially requested permission to land and park at Mjets Ltd.’s private passenger terminal within Don Mueang Airport tomorrow (Aug. 22), Pheu Thai Party de facto boss/former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra’s name is not listed among the passengers arriving on all four private airplanes, Matichon newspaper and Sanook.com said this afternoon (Aug. 21).

[Gaybutton]

Thaksin Shinawatra’s name is not listed among the passengers arriving on all four private airplanes

I have not seen any similar reports in any of the other media.

We will know soon enough. The media has been saying he will land at 9:00am this morning. At the moment it is 7:50am.

Again, the media has been saying he will be taken into custody upon arrival, then taken immediately to court, if permitted will post bond, or the court will send him immediately to jail, which most likely will be the Bangkok Remand Prison.

The media says he will not receive any special treatment other than making sure he will be safe wherever he is kept.

If he will be allowed to post bond, I have not seen anything that says how much that might be or what will happen after that.

I appreciate your post. I would like to keep the situation updated, but I can't do it alone. Those of you who spot updates and information, please post. I will check periodically, but I can't spend the entire day monitoring and posting.

[travelerjim1]