NationThailand-Jan 25
Fugitive former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra insists his return to Thailand will come without help from Pheu Thai or the ruling Palang Pracharath Party and will be announced by his daughter Paetongtarn. Thaksin made the latest declaration on returning to his homeland during a discussion on the Clubhouse social media app on Tuesday night. It came amid rumors that Palang Pracharat and Pheu Thai have done a deal for Thaksin to return after the general election, scheduled for May. The former PM was answering questions from supporters in a live session held by the CARE Kid Kluan Thai (Think and Move Thailand) Facebook page. Asked when he would return to Thailand, Thaksin revealed that he suffered an illness last year that disrupted his plans to come back. “I intended to do so and I sped up oxygen treatment before the year-end. But the situation remained dangerous and my children had concerns over my safety,” he said. The ex-PM did not reveal why he needed oxygen therapy, though he reportedly caught Covid-19 last year. “Anyway, I can confirm that I’ll definitely return and I want to emphasize here that I won’t be seeking help from any political party, including Pheu Thai. “Ing [Paetongtarn] will announce when I’ll be back,” Thaksin added. The former prime minister said no amnesty law would be enacted to pardon him and Pheu Thai would not seek compromise with Palang Pracharath over an amnesty. Complaining of persecution by Thai authorities during his exile, he said he would return to his homeland to defend himself. Thaksin was ousted in a military coup on September 19, 2006 while attending a UN meeting in New York. He returned in April 2008 to a hero’s welcome only to flee from a corruption trial in August 2008. He was eventually sentenced to a total of 10 years in jail. Read more at:
