Thai Criminal Court dismisses royal insult case against former PM Thaksin

Key Concepts:

• Royal Insult Law (Lèse-Majesté)
• Political Dynasties in Thailand (Shinawatra Family)
• Populist Policies
• Military Coups
• Ethical Violations
• Coalition Governments
• Judicial Review
• Political Influence

1. Tuxen Shinawatra's Acquittal:

• The criminal court in Bangkok dismissed a royal insult case against former Prime Minister Tuxen Shinawatra.
• The case stemmed from a 2015 social media video clip of an interview with a South Korean newspaper.
• The court stated that the evidence was unclear in its origin and that Tuxen didn't directly insult the monarchy when discussing the toppling of his sister Yinglak's government in 2014.
• Tuxen's lawyer described his relief at the outcome.

2. Thailand's Lèse-Majesté Law:

• The law criminalizes threats and insults to the monarchy, with punishments of up to 15 years in jail per offense.
• The interpretation of the law has been widened to include general discussions of the monarchy's role in Thailand's power structure.
• Hundreds of activists calling for political reform have been charged under this law.

3. Ongoing Legal Challenges for the Shinawatra Family:

• The acquittal is just one of three court verdicts against Tuxen and his family.
• Tuxen's daughter, Prime Minister Petan Shinawatra, is suspended from office and faces an ethics case related to a leaked phone call with former Cambodian Prime Minister Hunen during a border dispute.
• A Supreme Court verdict is due on September 9th regarding Tuxen's controversial hospital detention.

4. Tuxen's Return and Perceived Deal:

• Tuxen returned from 15 years of self-exile exactly two years prior to the report.
• He served his sentence in a VIP hospital wing and was pardoned and released after only half a year.
• This is widely perceived as part of a deal with his political enemies, allowing his return but forcing him to share power.

5. Tuxen's Continued Influence and Backlash:

• Since his release, Tuxen has openly commented on his daughter's government affairs.
• Observers believe this led to the legal complaints and court cases against him and his family, aimed at containing his influence.

6. Potential Setback for the Purai Party:

• Removing Petan Shinawatra from government would be a setback for the Purai party, which Tuxen founded in 1998.
• The party might be forced to rebuild the government for the second time in as many years.

7. Tuxen Shinawatra's Background and Rise to Power:

• Tuxen began his career as a police officer before entering business.
• He started a telecom's empire, Shin Core, in the late 1980s.
• He entered politics in 1998, forming the Thai Rock Thai Party.
• His populist policies, including cheap medical care and debt relief, resonated with poorer voters.
• He was elected in 2001 and again in 2005, becoming the first prime minister to serve a full term.

8. Controversies and Exile:

• His anti-drug war campaign resulted in around 2,800 extrajudicial killings, drawing international condemnation.
• A military coup ended his second term in 2006 while he was abroad.
• He faced corruption charges and lived in self-imposed exile for 15 years.

9. Yinglak Shinawatra's Premiership:

• Tuxen's sister, Yinglak Shinawatra, led the Pua party to victory in 2011 and became Thailand's first female prime minister.
• Her government's proposal for Tuxen's amnesty led to nationwide protests and another military coup in 2014.

10. Petan Shinawatra's Current Situation:

• Tuxen's daughter, Prime Minister Petan Shinawatra, is currently suspended from office and facing a separate ethics case.

11. Analysis of the Purai Party's Future:

• Ditan Pong Sudarak from Chula Longon University sees the politiz party's future as fragile.
• He believes that if Petan survives, she will be very weak, and the coalition is also very weak.
• He suggests that the party could split up, and it is just a shadow of its former self.

12. Conclusion:

• The Shinawatra dynasty's future in Thai politics hangs in the balance due to ongoing legal and political challenges.
• The next few weeks will be crucial in determining whether this could spell the end of their influence.