Yingluck Shinawatra’s return to Thailand faces unresolved issues
Efforts to facilitate the return of former Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra to Thailand continue, as her father, Thaksin, indicates that several considerations must still be addressed before her possible return.
Thaksin initially committed to her return during an interview last November, suggesting it could occur around this year’s Songkran festival.
The 75 year old former PM expressed optimism regarding the return of his daughter, Yingluck, noting that while there are no apparent obstacles, the timing and opportunity would be crucial factors.
He reiterated this stance to the media yesterday, February 9, affirming that the plan remains intact but acknowledging that some issues require resolution. Details on these matters were not disclosed.
When questioned about Yingluck’s potential return this year, Thaksin responded,
“I’m still looking into it. In fact, she said she wanted to return yesterday.”
Yingluck left Thailand in 2017, just before a court ruling on her administration’s rice-pledging scheme. On September 27, 2017, the Supreme Court’s Criminal Division for Persons Holding Political Positions sentenced her to five years in prison for failing to prevent corruption in government-to-government rice sales, which resulted in at least 500 billion baht in losses, reported Bangkok Post.
The sentence was delivered in her absence, as she did not attend the court session on August 25, 2017, for the ruling’s announcement. An active warrant remains for her arrest.
In related news, it was reported that Yingluck will not qualify for release under the forthcoming alternative prison detention programme if she returns to Thailand, as she does not meet the new eligibility criteria, stated Justice Minister Tawee Sodsong.
Yingluck was sentenced to five years imprisonment in August 2017. New regulations by the Department of Corrections (DoC) allow only those with sentences not exceeding four years to be considered for the alternative programme, as reiterated by Tawee and DoC director-general Sahakarn Phetnarin.
In other news, Thaksin has been tasked with proposing and recommending that ASEAN consider adopting a cryptocurrency. He will undertake this role as a personal adviser to Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim, who currently chairs ASEAN.
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