In a dramatic escalation that has sent shockwaves through Thai politics, the kingdom's former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra was formally indicted on a charge of defaming the monarchy on Thursday. The controversial figure, whose return from exile last year already destabilised the political landscape, now faces the severe prospect of a lengthy prison sentence.
The charge of lèse-majesté—one of the strictest of its kind globally—stems from an interview the 74-year-old billionaire gave to a news outlet in 2015. Prosecutors allege his comments violated the country's revered royal institution.
A Tense Court Appearance and Bail
Shinawatra, visibly frail and arriving in a wheelchair accompanied by his daughter Paetongtarn—the current leader of the ruling Pheu Thai party—entered the Bangkok court amid a media frenzy. The hearing lasted over an hour before he was granted bail on a hefty 500,000 baht (£10,700) bond.
The court imposed strict conditions, prohibiting him from leaving the country without permission—a significant constraint for a man who spent 15 years in self-exile before his negotiated return.
The Shadow of a 2015 Interview
The case hinges on a nine-year-old interview Thaksin gave to Chosun Ilbo, a South Korean newspaper. Authorities claim that within it, he made statements that maligned the monarchy. Thaksin's legal team has vehemently denied the allegations, asserting his innocence and his unwavering loyalty to the crown.
A Political Tightrope Walk
This indictment is a political earthquake. Thaksin is the patriarch of the most powerful political dynasty in modern Thailand. His return and subsequent parole were widely seen as part of a delicate pact that allowed the Pheu Thai party to form a government—a coalition that included its erstwhile military-backed rivals.
Charging such a pivotal figure risks shattering this fragile truce and plunging Thailand back into the cycle of political turmoil that has defined it for nearly two decades. The move is perceived by many supporters as a direct assault by the nation's conservative, royalist establishment on a enduring political foe.
The Severe Weight of Lèse-Majesté
Thailand's lèse-majesté law, Article 112 of the criminal code, carries a sentence of up to 15 years in prison for each count of insulting the king, queen, heir, or regent. Its application has become increasingly frequent and controversial since the 2014 military coup, used against pro-democracy activists, protesters, and even ordinary citizens.
Critics, including international human rights organisations, condemn it as a draconian tool to suppress political dissent and silence criticism. Thaksin Shinawatra now finds himself at the centre of this fierce legal and political storm, his personal fate once again inextricably linked with that of the nation.
