All eyes will be on the attorney-general’s decision on Wednesday regarding the potential indictment of former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra on charges of lese majeste.
Attorney-General Amnat Chetcharoenrak postponed the decision on April 10, awaiting an additional interrogation report from the police. The decision was rescheduled for May 29, as the initial report from police investigators was incomplete.
Deputy spokesman of the Office of the Attorney-General (OAG), Prayut Phetcharakhun, stated that the attorney-general required more information for a fair and thorough assessment. Thaksin himself had requested additional questioning to ensure fair treatment.
Despite police from the Technology Crime Suppression Division submitting some of the required information, it was deemed insufficient for the attorney-general to make a conclusive decision. This case follows Thaksin’s parole on February 18 and his temporary release by the police.
The lese majeste charges stem from an interview Thaksin gave to the South Korean Chosun Ilbo newspaper in 2015. During the interview, he allegedly defamed the monarchy by claiming that privy councillors supported the 2014 coup, which led to the ousting of his sister Yingluck Shinawatra’s government. These comments are alleged to have violated Section 112 of the Criminal Code and the Computer Crime Act.
Justice Minister Pol Col Tawee Sodsong emphasized on Tuesday that the OAG operates independently of the Justice Ministry, allowing public prosecutors to handle the case without external influence.
On Tuesday, activists gathered outside the government complex on Chaeng Watthana Road, urging the OAG to expedite the indictment process. Arnon Klinkaew, chairman of the Thai People Protecting the Monarchy group, announced that they would continue to demonstrate if the decision is postponed again, extending their protest until the end of July if necessary.
The final decision on Thaksin’s indictment is anticipated with significant public and political interest, reflecting the ongoing tensions surrounding his controversial political legacy.
