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Thailand's Junta

Thaksin Shinawatra and his daughter Paetongtarn arrive at Pheu Thai party headquarters in Bangkok before the royal endorsement ceremony appointing her as Thailand’s new prime minister on August 18. Photo: AP

Thailand

Thaksin is back, but can the Shinawatras win over a changing Thailand?

From coup to comeback, the Shinawatra clan’s restoration has thrust Thailand into a reckoning with its past – and an uncertain future.

24 Aug 2024 - 12:30PMvideocam

Thailand

Opinion | Can the US lure a China-friendly Thailand back into its orbit?

18 Aug 2024 - 6:52PMvideocam

China-Asean relations

China ties strong enough to weather Thailand’s political turmoil: analysts

15 Aug 2024 - 9:00PMvideocam

Thailand

Thai court dissolves election winning reform party, bans executives from politics

The party was found guilty of attempting to overthrow the monarchy for its calls to reform the country’s royal defamation law.

7 Aug 2024 - 8:07PMvideocam

Thailand

Thailand to indict ex-PM Thaksin over royal insult

30 May 2024 - 3:22PM

Thailand

Thailand’s ex-PM Thaksin to face trial for royal defamation

Thailand’s lese-majeste law, which carries up to 15 years in jail per conviction, has been wielded against pro-democracy activists in recent years.

30 May 2024 - 3:28PMvideocam

Thailand

Ethics probe into Thailand PM Srettha seen as power play by country’s old powers

The prime minister faces potential removal if the Constitutional Court finds his appointment of Pichit Chuenban breached ethics rules

24 May 2024 - 4:38PMvideocam

Thailand

Thailand’s poll body asks court to disband party that won 2023 election

The move comes after a ruling by the Constitutional Court that said Move Forward violated the constitution with its plans to change a law against insulting the monarchy.

12 Mar 2024 - 6:19PM

Thailand

Thaksin’s parole stirs anger at ‘double standards’ across political spectrum

Critics are concerned that conflict could ensue if Thaksin remains ‘above the law’ amid mounting speculation of his return to politics.

19 Feb 2024 - 6:00PMvideocam

Thailand

Thai ex-PM Thaksin released on parole after serving 6 months in hospital

Thaksin was released from Police General Hospital, where for the last six months he had been serving time for corruption-related offences.

18 Feb 2024 - 3:00PM

Thailand

Jailed ex-Thai leader Thaksin to be released Sunday, PM Srettha says

Thaksin has been in hospital detention since August, after making a dramatic homecoming from living abroad for 15 years in self-exile to avoid prison for a conflict of interest.

17 Feb 2024 - 3:16PM

Jailed former Thai PM Thaksin Shinawatra will be released on February 18, the Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin said on Saturday.
Photo: AFP

Thailand

Thailand’s jailed ex-PM Thaksin to be freed early

Thaksin Shinawatra to be freed possibly as soon as the weekend – just six months after returning from 15 years of self-imposed exile.

13 Feb 2024 - 4:06PMvideocam

Thailand

Former Thai PM Thaksin charged with royal insult

Thailand has some of the world’s strictest royal defamation laws protecting King Maha Vajiralongkorn and his close family, with each charge bringing a potential 15-year prison sentence.

6 Feb 2024 - 5:00PMvideocam

Thailand

Jailed Thai ex-PM Thaksin qualifies for ‘special’ parole next month

Thaksin, whose eight-year jail sentence was commuted to a year following a royal pardon, qualifies for release on parole next month due to his age and health.

17 Jan 2024 - 9:00PMvideocam

Former Thai prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra waves at Don Mueang airport in Bangkok on August 22. Photo: Reuters

Thailand

Thailand accused of ‘piggybacking’ Myanmar by leading talks with junta

Several Asean member states are believed to be upset with Thailand for organising direct talks with Myanmar.

21 Dec 2023 - 6:30PMvideocam

Thailand

Thailand’s opposition Move Forward Party names new leader

Chaithawat Tulathon, a former political magazine editor, will head the progressive party after Pita Limjaroenrat stepped down earlier this month.

23 Sep 2023 - 5:00PMvideocam

Thailand

‘Most popular’ Thaksin could play advisory role after jail release, says Thai PM

Thailand PM Srettha Thavisin says Thaksin Shinawatra can play a role in the government, and that it would be ‘unwise’ of him not to seek the ex-premier’s opinion.

21 Sep 2023 - 1:54PMvideocam

Thailand

In Thailand’s new prime minister, the US glimpses a rare chance to reset ties

Srettha Thavisin has been in office for less than a month, but Washington already sees its best opportunity in two decades to get its alliance with Thailand back on track.

20 Sep 2023 - 3:05PMvideocam

Thai Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin gestures last week as he arrives for his first official cabinet meeting at Government House. He is is in New York this week for the United Nations General Assembly. Photo: EPA-EFE

Thailand

Ex-Thai PM front runner Pita Limjaroenrat resigns as MFP’s leader

Pita Limjaroenrat has resigned as the leader of the Move Forward Party and says he will still be involved in the party.

15 Sep 2023 - 3:26PMvideocam

Thailand

New Thai PM to bolster economy still reeling from Covid: ‘Thailand is like a sick person’

Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin plans to make a cash handout of US$280 each to 55 million adults as part of an attempt to stimulate the country’s economy in addition to other measures he will reveal to parliament on Monday.

6 Sep 2023 - 5:29PM

Thailand

Thai artist pelted with poop in show of protest against army-linked government

Architect and artist Duangrit Bunnag carried out a promise to be pelted with faeces in a performance following the formation of a coalition government involving army-backed parties.

3 Sep 2023 - 11:01AMvideocam

Thai architect Duangrit Bunnag has bags of cow faeces thrown at him in response to Pheu Thai Party’s inclusion of army-linked parties in the government coalition. Photo: AFP

Thailand

Thai king reduces former PM Thaksin’s prison sentence to one year

The Royal Gazette state journal said 74-year-old billionaire Thaksin Shinawatra had ‘accepted his crime and shown remorse’.

2 Sep 2023 - 1:27AMvideocam

Thaksin Shinawatra bows in homage to the king’s portrait after landing at Bangkok’s Don Mueang airport on August 22. Photo: AFP

Thailand

Thai billionaire ex-PM Thaksin requests royal pardon

Thailand’s most famous politician returned home last week from living abroad in self-exile for 15 years after his party was ousted in a coup.

31 Aug 2023 - 7:38PMvideocam

Thailand

Asian Angle | Thaksin’s back, but Thailand’s anti-democratic forces are as strong as ever

Thailand’s politics is set to enter another volatile era with the election of Srettha Thavisin as prime minister, and the return and incarceration of former leader Thaksin Shinawatra.

27 Aug 2023 - 10:30AMvideocam

Thailand

Thailand’s jailed ex-PM Thaksin moved to hospital 1 day after return from exile

Corrections department officials say Thaksin Shinawatra has pre-existing issues with his heart, lungs, spine and blood pressure, and would be monitored closely.

23 Aug 2023 - 2:15PMvideocam

Former Thai Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra pictured on Tuesday upon arrival at Bangkok’s Don Mueang airport after 15 years in exile. He was jailed the same day. Photo: AFP

Thailand

Thai political drama: new PM finally appointed as Thaksin returns from exile

In a parliamentary vote on Tuesday afternoon, Srettha passed the threshold of 375 votes needed to become premier and form the next government.

22 Aug 2023 - 11:05PMvideocam

Pheu Thai’s Srettha Thavisin. Photo: Reuters

Thailand

Thailand’s Thaksin poised for return as Pheu Thai seals pact with old foes

A possible ‘super-deal’ with former political foes may allow Thaksin to be held in special detention and swiftly seek a royal pardon from the Thai king.

21 Aug 2023 - 9:11PMvideocam

Thailand

Exiled ex-PM Thaksin’s return to Thailand to coincide with new PM vote: daughter

Thaksin Shinawatra’s potential return to the kingdom on Tuesday coincides with a key parliamentary vote that could end a political deadlock to choose a new prime minister.

19 Aug 2023 - 12:31PMvideocam

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Thailand's Junta

Thailand's Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-ocha and his junta government, formally known as the National Council for Peace and Order, took power after the bloodless coup on March 22, 2014, that they said was to end six months of political deadlock aimed at removing the government of former prime minister Yingluck Shinawatra.

last updated:

9 September, 2024