According to authorities in Thailand, former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra faces lese majeste charges following a complaint filed by police. The charges stem from a 2015 interview with the South Korean newspaper Chosun Ilbo, where Thaksin allegedly violated Thailand's strict royal insult laws.

Spokesperson Prayuth Bejraguna confirmed the indictment, stating, "The attorney general has decided to indict Thaksin on all charges." Thaksin is scheduled to appear before the Office of the Attorney General on June 18, followed by a court hearing.

However, Thaksin was unable to attend the initial hearing due to a Covid-19 infection, as reported by the spokesperson. The legal proceedings mark the latest chapter in Thailand's enduring political saga.

Lese-majeste, or lese-majesty, is defined as an offence against the dignity of a ruling head of state or the state itself, and carries severe penalties in Thailand.

Thaksin Shinawatra, who served as prime minister of Thailand from 2001 until his ousting in a military coup in 2006, made a high-profile return to the country last August after 15 years in self-imposed exile. Upon his return, he was promptly taken into custody.

There has been speculation among experts that Thaksin may have negotiated a deal with Thailand's influential conservative and royalist establishment for his return, given his past court convictions and the charges against him. Thaksin, however, has refuted these claims.

During his time in office, Thaksin faced allegations of conflicts of interest, misuse of authority, and corruption, resulting in an initial eight-year prison sentence, later reduced to one year. He spent six months in a police hospital before being granted parole and released from custody in February.

Thailand's royal defamation laws, among the strictest globally, impose severe penalties for criticising the monarchy, with a maximum 15-year prison sentence for any instance of insulting the king, queen, or heir apparent. Section 112 of Thailand's Criminal Code, known as the lese majeste statute, has led to the prosecution of hundreds of individuals in recent years, with potential sentences spanning decades.

The recent death of a young Thai activist while in pre-trial custody on lese majeste charges has reignited calls for justice reform in Thailand.

Thaksin Shinawatra belongs to a prominent political family that has dominated Thai politics for the past two decades, including two former prime ministers. His daughter, Paetongtarn, now leads the Pheu Thai party, the latest iteration of the influential Shinawatra dynasty, which currently holds power through a coalition formed after the May 2023 election.

Image source: ANI