KUALA LUMPUR – Controversial former Thai prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra has landed in Bangkok at 10am (Malaysian time) today after spending 15 years in exile.
Supporters dressed in red came in droves to welcome Thaksin at the Don Mueang airport with cheers and songs.
In a TikTok video shared by his sister and former prime minister Yingluck, Thaksin was seen giving her a hug before he boarded a private plane from Singapore.
Thailand’s Khaosod Media and Thai PBS also reported that Thaksin was dressed in a dark suit with a red tie.
Accompanied by his three children, Guardian reported that he waved at the media while supporters shouted “We love Thaksin”.
Upon reaching the terminal gate, Thaksin placed a flower wreath and prostrated before a portrait of the Thai king and queen.
Amid the sea of supporters, Khaosod Media reported that a lone monk outside the airport staged against Thaksin while holding up a portrait of the Thai monarch.
His return comes hours before a parliamentary vote to decide whether Srettha Thavisin can take office as prime minister in a bid to end a three-month political imbroglio.
Srettha is a Pheu Thai candidate – a party associated with Thaksin which courted controversy for working with its rival military-backed parties.
During Thaksin’s era as prime minister, he was seen as anti-military-royalist, which later resulted in two military coups, prolonged street protests and more than 90 dead in a 2010 crackdown on his supporters.
Yesterday, Bernama reported that Thai police chief Pol Gen Damrongsak Kittipraphat said the Immigration police would take Thaksin into custody and transfer him to the Metropolitan Police Division 2 where a record of his arrival would be made.
He said the former prime minister would be escorted to the Supreme Court to be confirmed as wanted under court warrants, and the court would issue a detention warrant and hand him over to the Correction Department, before moving him to the Bangkok remand prison.
Thaksin’s supporters have been camping outside the airport since Monday.
Judiciary Office spokesman Sorawis Limparangsi said Thaksin is expected to arrive at the Supreme Court at 10.30am (local time) and the courtroom will be open to only plaintiffs and the defendant’s relatives.
Bangkok Remand Prison has suspended inmate visitation at the prison to step up security in the area where Thaksin is expected to be transferred.
Prior to his return, Thaksin had tweeted this morning, saying, “I am seeking permission to return to Thailand and live on Thai soil and breathe the same air as my Thai brothers and sisters.”
Thaksin, who served as prime minister from 2001 to 2006, has been living in exile since 2008 spending most of his time in Dubai after his government was ousted in a military coup led by General Sonthi Boonyaratglin.
He fled Thailand in August 2008 to avoid prison time as he faced up to 10 years for his convictions by the Supreme Court’s Criminal Division for Holders of Political Positions in three separate cases. – August 22, 2023