Thaksin Shinawatra, the former Prime Minister of Thailand, has been released on parole. The billionaire has been serving a one-year jail sentence for corruption and abuse of power since last August.
His release has sparked a wave of reactions across the netizens of Thailand and beyond. With people already showing dissent over his commuted punishment from 8 years to 1 year by the King of Thailand (Maha Vajiralongkorn), the release has further strengthened the questions about the privileges enjoyed by the rich and powerful.
Thailand’s Move Forward Party commented on the development, “Thailand needs a democratic system where the rule of law and justice system is applied in the same way for everyone, without double standards… for privileged people.”
Table of Contents
Why Thaksin Shinawatra Went to Prison?
Thaksin Shinawatra, credited with spreading the benefits to the rural population of the country and bridging the gap between the rich and the poor during his tenure, was a figure of significant influence and controversy.
However, his downfall began with a series of corruption charges that eventually led to his imprisonment.
Thaksin Shinawatra was found guilty of corruption by the Thai Supreme Court. The charges stemmed from a case where he was found to have violated conflict of interest rules. The case involved his wife purchasing land from a state agency at a significantly reduced price. It was seen as an abuse of power, given his position as the Prime Minister at the time.
Upon his return to Thailand in August after 15 years of self-imposed exile, Thaksin Shinawatra was immediately detained. He was sentenced to eight years in prison on charges of graft and abuse of power.
Despite his conviction and sentence, Thaksin Shinawatra did not spend a single night in jail. He complained of health problems and was transferred to a police hospital. During his time in the hospital, he reportedly suffered from chest tightness and high blood pressure. His family stated that he underwent two operations during this period.
Shinawatra’s Journey from Business to Politics:
Thaksin Shinawatra’s journey into politics was not a straightforward one. Before he became a political figure, he was a businessman who, along with his wife, ran several businesses. However, not all of these ventures were successful.
In the 1980s, Thaksin got his break when he started leasing computers to the police. This venture was followed by others in the telecommunications sector, including satellites and a cellphone company.
From there on, Thaksin entered the political sphere in 1994 when he was asked to be a foreign minister under the Palang Dharma Party (PDP) regime.
However, his tenure was short-lived as the government fell three months later. He went on to set up the Thai Rak Thai (TRT) party, leading them to a convincing victory in national elections on January 6, 2001.
It was a significant turn in his political career as he was appointed Prime Minister by King Bhumibol Adulyadej on February 9.
During his tenure as Prime Minister, Thaksin implemented populist policies, such as expanding spending on healthcare, rural development, and farming subsidies. These policies, often referred to as “Thaksinomics,” were popular among the poor.
However, Thaksin’s time in office was not without controversy. His family’s business empire thrived on government concessions while he was premier, leading to public anger. This anger was further fueled when the Shinawatra family sold its telecommunications firm, Shin Corporation, to a Singapore state firm tax-free, using a capital gains loophole.
In 2006, Thaksin was ousted in a military coup while he was overseas. Instead of fighting the corruption charges, which he says were politically motivated, Thaksin skipped bail and went into self-exile.
Despite the challenges and controversies, he managed to leave a significant impact on Thailand’s political landscape.
The Legacy of Thaksin Shinawatra
Thaksin Shinawatra’s legacy is complex and contentious. His tenure as Prime Minister saw significant economic growth and improved welfare for Thailand’s rural poor.
For instance, the GDP of the country rose from 4.9 trillion baht in 2001 to 7.1 trillion baht in 2006 under his leadership. From repaying IMF loans ahead of time to a significant hike in forex reserves, the economic prosperity under Thaksin was visible from miles away.
Thaksin also paid equal focus on the education system of the country and healthcare policies, and most importantly, he launched campaigns against the lingering problem with drugs in Thailand.
However, his administration was also marked by allegations of corruption, human rights abuses, and an increasingly authoritarian style of governance.
Despite his controversial legacy, the former PM remains a popular figure among many Thais, particularly in the rural north and northeast. His populist policies, such as universal healthcare and microcredit schemes, have left a lasting impact on the country.
As Thaksin Shinawatra adjusts to life back in Thailand, questions abound about his future role in Thai politics. Will he seek to regain his former political glory, or has his time in the political spotlight come to an end? Only time will tell.