Former Thai Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra has been released on parole after spending six months in the hospital. Thaksin, who returned to Thailand in August after 16 years of self-imposed exile, left the Police General Hospital in central Bangkok on Sunday. He was seen wearing a neck brace and a surgical mask as he departed in a vehicle. Thaksin was then taken to his home in western Bangkok, where a banner with the words “Welcome home” and “We’ve been waiting for this day for so long” was displayed at the front gate.
Thailand’s Prime Minister, Srettha Thavisin, had announced earlier in the week that Thaksin would be released on parole. Thaksin had previously been sentenced to eight years in jail on corruption charges, but his sentence was later reduced to one year by King Maha Vajiralongkorn. The exact details of Thaksin’s parole are unclear, but rumors have circulated that a backroom deal was made to reduce his time in jail. The government, however, has denied these claims.
Thaksin has been a prominent figure in Thai politics for over two decades, serving as the country’s Prime Minister from 2001 to 2006 before being ousted in a military coup. Despite his exile, Thaksin’s influence remained strong through his allies, including his sister Yingluck Shinawatra, who became Thailand’s first female Prime Minister from 2011 to 2014.
Thaksin’s return to Thailand in August was met with enthusiastic support from his followers, who cheered him on as he arrived to serve his sentence. However, shortly after his return, he was transferred from prison to the police hospital for medical treatment related to undisclosed health issues.
Thaksin’s parole marks a period of reconciliation between his populist movement and the conservative, royalist establishment in Thailand. The rivalry between these two factions has dominated Thai politics for decades. Thaksin’s populist platform resonated with rural Thais who felt marginalized by the ruling elites. However, he has also faced criticism for alleged human rights abuses during a violent conflict in the country’s Muslim-majority southern provinces, as well as a controversial “drugs war” that resulted in thousands of deaths.
As Thaksin begins his parole, the political landscape in Thailand is likely to undergo further changes. With his Pheu Thai party back in power through a coalition with the pro-military Palang Pracharath Party and United Thai Nation, there is anticipation of potential shifts in policies and power dynamics. The release of Thaksin on parole has sparked both hope and concern among the Thai population, as the country navigates the delicate balance between reconciliation and justice.
