Thaksin deal redux and double standards

While we don’t know the exact details of the palace/establishment deal done with Thaksin Shinawatra to get him back and to keep him out of prison, it does seem that another deal is being negotiated, quite publicly, for Yingluck Shinawatra’s return.

The public voice in this is lawyer and Shinawatra favorite Pichit Chuenban. Pichet is well known as a bagman for Thaksin:

He was sentenced to six months in prison while leading the defence team for former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra in June 2008. The Supreme Court held him and two legal representatives responsible for an apparent attempt to bribe the court.

Two million baht in cash was found wrapped in a paper bag in the court’s compound in early June 2008. Pichit claimed he thought it was a bag of snacks. He was seen handing the so-called “snack bag” to court clerks when Thaksin and his then-wife Potjaman Na Pombejra were due to appear in the Supreme Court’s Criminal Division for Holders of Political Office.

Pichit is now an “adviser” to the prime minister.

He says: “There is nothing complicated about the [return] process… It will depend on [Yingluck] on when she decides to come home.” He then made the extraordinary claim that the deals done and being done “is not considered a double standard as it is done in accordance with the law.” He says: “We have adhered to the principles of law enforcement and justice process…”.

Like so many who are trained and work in the legal system, Pichit is unable comprehend the meaning of double standard. This is because double standards are simply normalized. The rich, the powerful, and the influential get wondrous interpretations of the law while the poor, ordinary, and, significantly, political opponents of the establishment get something else.

In other words, “principles of law enforcement and justice process” are constructed on double standards.

Redux: Why the lese majeste law is an abomination

We want to re-publish a post from 2011 that, despite a changing cast, seems entirely relevant today. It is by Giles Ji Ungpakorn, now long in lese majeste exile, and published at Red Thai Socialist. It called for the abolition of the lese majeste law:

The lese majeste law in Thailand represents a gross attack on the freedom of speech, freedom of expression and academic freedom. It is a fundamental attack on Democracy carried out by the Military, the Palace and the elites. The practical impact is that Thailand has struggled for years to achieve a fully developed democracy, a free press and internationally accepted academic standards in our universities.

Today, Da Torpedo, Red Eagle, Surachai Darnwattanan-nusorn (Sa-Darn) and many others are in prison in Thailand for merely expressing their beliefs in a peaceful way. In recent days arrest warrants have been issued for 5 more people and the police have a list of 30 more people who face arrest. Lese majeste prisoners are denied bail. The royalist judges claim that the offense is “too serious” and “a threat to national security”. Thai dictatorships have used the excuse that their opponents were seeking to “overthrow the Monarchy” in order to kill unarmed demonstrators in 1976 and 2010. Jail terms for lese majeste are draconian. Da is in prison for 18 years and prison conditions are appalling. Chiranuch Premchaiporn, the web manager of the independent Prachatai newspaper faces 50 years in prison for not removing other peoples’ web-posts. A student faces lese majeste charges for not standing up for the King’s anthem in the cinema and the Military-backed Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva tells lies about how he is committed to reforming the law. Abhisit and the army generals also tell lies about the deliberate state-ordered killings of unarmed protesters in May 2010.

In my particular case, my own university gave my anti-coup book to the police special branch, which resulted in a lese majeste prosecution against me. Imagine the impact on my fellow academics. This climate of fear creates poor quality academic work which avoids all important controversial issues and debates. This appalling tradition of educational mediocrity starts at primary school and works its way right to the top of the educational system. Students are encouraged to learn subjects parrot-fashion and write descriptive, one-sided essays. Academics refuse to engage in any debate, do not read work by those who do not agree with them and regard any academic arguments as personal attacks.

Professor Amara Ponsapich and the Thai National Human Rights Commission have disgraced themselves by remaining silent on lese majeste. At the same time they have defended the “right” of fascist PAD members to cause a war with Cambodia. Recently Amara warned the pro-democracy Red Shirts not to cause “trouble” with their protests. No such warning was ever given to the royalist mobs. NGO senator Rosana Tositakul told Red Shirt MPs to stop whining about the 90 deaths last year and to concentrate on the problems of inflation. Amnesty International has followed in the same path by defending the use of lese majeste. Academic hold seminars about why the lese majeste law “needs to be reformed”. But it cannot be reformed. It has to be abolished.

The Thai Monarchy is said to be “universally loved by all Thais”. This may have been the case in some periods of history, but it is no longer true. Many millions have turned against the Monarchy for appearing to condone the 2006 military coup and for saying nothing about the 90 deaths last year. This openly expressed hatred of the Monarchy is despite the climate of fear created by the lese majeste law, along side a manic promotion of the Monarchy. The King is said to be a genius in all fields. All statements by the Monarch are repeated as though they are the ultimate wisdom and he is referred to as “our father”. Photographs are circulated to “prove” that the King actually tied his own shoe-laces!! Many have made comparisons with North Korea. Now they are comparing Thailand to the Middle-Eastern dictatorships. Recently the head of the army claimed that Thailand was “nothing like Egypt”. If he really believed that, then why did he bother to make the public statement in the first place?

Another example of “Monarchy Mania” is the idea of “Sufficiency Economics”. Once the Monarch gave his blessing to the “Sufficiency Economy”, we were all supposed to accept it and praise it without question. The Sufficiency Economy is really a reactionary political ideology that teaches people to be happy with their present circumstances and to ignore the need for income redistribution. Luckily, this aspect of brain-washing has not worked very well in Thai society, for a society which cannot openly discuss economic and political policies will remain backward and under-developed. But the mere criticism of the Sufficiency Economy is enough to attract charges of lese majeste.

What is the aim of all this attempt at enforced idiocy among the population? It is a continuous attempt to keep the vast majority of Thai people in their place. We are encouraged to believe that the King is all powerful, when in fact he is a spineless willing tool of the Military. The Thai population are encouraged to believe that we live under an “ancient system of Monarchy”, a cross between a Sakdina, Absolute and Constitutional Monarchy system. People have to crawl on the ground in front of the King. But the true beneficiaries of this are the Military, the civilian conservative bureaucrats and the Democrat Party who are now in government.

The Military often claim that they are the “defenders of the Constitutional Monarchy”, yet the Thai Military has a long history of making un-constitutional coups. These are often “legitimised” by claiming to protect the Monarchy. The 19^th September 2006 coup is a good example. The Military sought to legitimise themselves by referring to the Monarch. The lese majeste Law is thus used as a tool by the military to defend coups. The promotion of an image that the Monarchy is all powerful (an un-constitutional image), is part of this self-legitimisation by the military and other forces who are now in government. Lese majeste cases have multiplied since the Democrats were manoeuvred into government by the army in December 2008. It is now a central weapon to be used against all those who criticised the 2006 coup or those who oppose this military-installed government.

It is now an undeniable fact that this brain-washing campaign is falling apart. And it is falling apart at the very moment when the King is getting old and may soon die because he is so frail. If the King were ever loved and respected, the same cannot be said about his son. We know from Wikileaks that even the elites think the prince is a liability. The Military, the right-wing PAD protestors who closed the airports and the Democrat Party, have dragged the Monarchy into politics by claiming that the 2006 coup and violent actions by the PAD were supported or even directed by the Monarchy. It is now common to hear ordinary Thais complain that “the iguana and his wife” ordered the May 2010 killings. Royal legitimacy is all that the conservative authoritarians have and they are panicking because it is all unravelling. They have brought this on themselves.

We must not forget the plight of those jailed and killed on the pretext of defending the Monarchy. We must wage an international and national political campaign to defend democratic rights in Thailand and for the abolition of the lese majeste law. Without abolishing this law, we cannot have democracy in Thailand and without overthrowing the dictatorship we cannot abolish lese majeste.

Lese Thaksin II

A couple of weeks ago we posted on the royal-like status being accorded Thaksin Shinawatra following his return from exile, his sentence-reducing royal pardon, and his rapid transfer from prison to luxury hospital room.

Now, the Bangkok Post reports, the Corrections Department has “asked people not to refer to former prime minister Thaksin … as a prison inmate, to smooth his future return to society – even though he is serving a jail sentence while in hospital.”

This comes on top of the same department’s boss “deciding” that Thaksin could “continue to receive medical treatment at the Police General Hospital after the expiration of the 120-day limit.”

It has been reported that it is only Thaksin who is receiving such treatment. All other inmates are sent back to prison.

We can think of many political prisoners who would have appreciated such special consideration. We also recall that several political prisoners accused or convicted of lese majeste have died in custody.

But, of course, they did not do a deal with the palace. Nor did they sell their souls to the conservative regime.

 

Police and palace

Back in October, Pol Gen Torsak Sukvimol leapfrogged more senior officers to become police chief. This was not unexpected as he was a palace favorite for the job.

Critics explained the move without reference to palace intrigue:

Torsak

The move came amid criticism that Torsak was not the best candidate for the post. Former deputy national police chief Pol General Aek Angsananont, the commission member who voted against Torsak, said the appointment was not in line with existing rules and regulations. He said he refused to be influenced by anyone and had chosen the candidate who would best benefit the police force and the country.

Another critic of the appointment was former national police chief Pol General Sereepisuth Temeeyaves, now the leader and only MP of the Thai Liberal Party (Seri Ruam Thai). Sereepisuth said Torsak’s rapid rise had come at the expense of his colleagues in the force. Without his fast-track promotions, Torsak would now be a deputy commander with a rank no higher than a colonel, he added.

This relates to earlier questions raised regarding Elephant Tickets.

As a reminder of this tawdry affair, a recent report explains:

Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin has endorsed the transfer of Deputy National Police Commissioner Pol Gen Roy Ingkapairote to the position of National Security Council (NSC) chief.

Secretary general to the prime minister, Prommin Lertsuridej, has submitted an urgent request to the Royal Thai Police regarding the transfer.

The transfer is seen as a consolation post for Roy, who missed the chance to be promoted to the top police post last year, despite being the most senior deputy national police chief.

Instead, the position went to Pol Gen Torsak Sukvimol, the second most senior deputy police commissioner.

It has been anticipated that the premier, also chair of the Police Commission, would find a consolation position for Roy, who is set to retire this September.

The palace and the most senior police are now joined at the hip.

Lese Thaksin

The palace deal done to maintain a conservative, royalist regime brought Thaksin Shinawatra home. Since his arrival and royal pardon, the Puea Thai government has kept mum on what is going on with Thaksin, his privileged treatment and, of course, his political role.

Now, one of his minions wants to allocate him royal-like status by forbidding members of parliament from even mentioning him in debate.

Visuth Chainaroon, a deputy government chief whip, spoke after chairing a government whip’s meeting regarding preparations for the budget debate. He declared: “those who might possibly involve Thaksin one way or another when it comes to the running of any government agencies or the allocation of funds for them would likely be charged with libel lawsuits to be filed on behalf of the de facto Pheu Thai boss.” He went on: ““The opposition should not mention Thaksin in parliament, as he is not involved in the budget bill debate. This is not a censure debate…”.

The deal and the situation where Thaksin gets privileged legal treatment is one that no one in Puea Thai (or the palace) wants discussed.

The succession problem II

Royal World Thailand:

It has been almost a year now that Her Royal Highness Princess Bajrakitiyabha of Thailand, The Princess Rajasarini Siribajra has been hospitalised after collapsing and losing consciousness while running a dog in Pak Chong District, Nakhon Ratchasima Province. Her sudden sickness brought the nation into shock. Until now, her hospitalisation will be mark 1 year of her absence. How the public follow the news and express their wish for the beloved Princess?

In the evening of 14 December 2022, only a week after her birthday, The King’s eldest daughter was declared losing consciousness with heart problems. She was taken by a helicopter from Pak Chong Nana Hospital in Nakhon Ratchasima to King Chulalongkorn Memorial Hospital in Bangkok, following what it is officially announced in a statement by the Royal House.

Huge crowds gathered at Bhumisiri Mangalanusorn Building, where the Princess has been receiving her treatment until now to pray and express their wishes for their Princess to be soon recovered. Members of the public also expressed their support to The King and Queen when visiting the Princess at the hospital.

The Royal Household released the third statement on 8 January 2023 that the Princess was diagnosed with the cardiac arrhythmia with the infection of Mycoplasma pneumoniae. The Princess has not yet been conscious. The medical teams are still closely following her health by using the equipment to support her heart, lung, and kidney. This is the latest statement and there is no longer news updated about her.

The Princess’ health has still been in public eyes from both royal supporters and anti-monarchist movements whether there is any official updates from the palace, despite other senior royal members are also receiving their own treatments. Queen Mother Sirikit currently resides in the same building, along with the Princess’ own mother, Princess Soamsawali who also receives her treatment from stroke.
Princess Bajrakitiyabha’s health is however, the most serious condition than others as she was publicly seen very healthy and active. She is also highly expected to be recovered as soon as possible. However, due to no updated news released, questions are also raised on social media whether there is any possibility for the Princess to be fully recovered as it has been too long.

Princess Bajrakitiyabha is one of the most active and hardest working members of the Royal Family. Following her several projects of which most of them are relevant to law and criminal justice, she is outstandingly recognised both domestically and internationally. She is also regarded as one of the “bearers” for maintaining the positive image for her father and stepmother who face the decreasing popularity. She is even regarded with possibility to be the first female heir in history.

The Princess has still been hospitalised with nothing has been updated until now. Whether how long she will be resided for treatment, public still hope and pray for her to be soon recovered from all sickness she is suffering. On the occasion of the 45th birthday of The Princess Rajasarini Siribajra on 7 December 2023, we wish you a good health and prosperity….

Updated: A whiff of palace

Readers know that PPT has posted a couple of times on the swamp known as the police. In recent days things have become even more bizarre/complicated/ridiculous.

A quick scan of just the Bangkok Post produces a trail of reports that are interconnected. It begins with the shock news that the Cyber Crime Investigation Bureau (CCIB) police, backed by police commandos in SWAT uniforms, raided and “searched the house of deputy national police chief Pol Gen Surachate ‘Big Joke’ Hakparn in Bangkok on Monday morning after he was allegedly found to have been involved in gambling site operations.”

The raid catches Big Joke within his underwear. Clipped from Bangkok Post

They apparently had a court search warrant for Big Joke’s luxury home and for “five houses in Soi Vibhavadi 60 behind the Police Club. The houses were reportedly bought by Pol Gen Surachate for his subordinates.” There’s a warning light, but see below. We know senior police are almost all unusually wealthy, but this is quite a claim.

Big Joke initially refused the police entry because he is a senior policeman and how dare they search his place. There’s another warning light. The report continues:

Pol Gen Surachate’s house, in Soi Vibhavadi 60, was reportedly among about 30 houses to be searched on Monday in Bangkok and five provinces – Phetchaburi, Samut Prakan, Khon Kaen, Udon Thani and Saraburi.

The other houses reportedly belong to junior police officers close to Pol Gen Surachate and alleged to have been involved in online gambling sites operating in Laos with about one billion baht in circulation.

Big Joke has denied everything.

Big Joke has been incredibly high profile in recent months, handling several big cases. Previously, at the Immigration Police he was also high profile. But he’s also seen controversy. As the Post points out, he was “appointed as the chief of the Immigration Bureau in September 2018 and removed from his post in 2019 for unclear reasons.” Another warning light. And, in 2020 he was targeted by gunmen who fired seven bullets into his parked car. Stories abounded and there were more warning light:

He denied that the incident had been staged, saying the attack was related to the Immigration Bureau’s controversial procurement of an expensive biometric system. The case was never solved, and a senior officer was later dismissed over the leak of a recording in which a superior is heard telling him not to pursue the investigation.

That cop was later reinstated.

Interestingly, the story includes this line as yet another warning light: “Pol Gen Surachate is one of four deputy national police chiefs, all eligible to aspire to the position of national police chief when Pol Gen Damrongsak Kittiprapas retires at the end of September.”

In an editorial, some of these warnings are taken up: “… [the] decision to search the house of deputy national police chief …’Big Joke’, who is among those tipped to be the next national police chief, couldn’t come at a worse time.” Apparently just a couple of days before “the cabinet is due to announce the name of the next police chief.” The editorial continues: “The court-warranted search seemed to confirm the rumour that the appointment of the next national police chief will not be as smooth as predicted and tainted by political intervention.”

By whom? No answer. Usually newspapers write in code when they a worried that the sky might fall on them.

It says it was known that there was interference “after Pol Gen Surachate was told to hand over the investigation into the fatal shooting of a police officer in Nakhon Pathom.” That’s an execution rather than an everyday shooting.

The Post then calls on the new government to “ensure that the selection of the next national police chief will be merit-based and done in a fair and transparent manner.” It seems clear that the editorial writer knows the process is already corrupted and is making a plea for the government to have a say.

The government needed to do something, and decided that an inquiry to “investigate alleged police involvement in online gambling operations.” The panel is made up from the already discredited senior bureaucracy: “Chatchai Promlert, former permanent secretary for interior as chairman; Chartpong Chirabandhu, former deputy attorney-general, and Pol Gen Winai Thongsong, former deputy national police chief, who is secretary.” How serious? Well, Deputy Prime Minister Somsak Thepsutin’s response was to say that “[o]nline gambling should be legalised to increase government revenue…”.

Meanwhile, Big Joke has responded by filing “a complaint with the Criminal Court on Tuesday alleging contempt of court in the police application for a warrant that allowed them to search several houses he uses on Monday.” He stated: “If the court had known that they are my houses it would have acted fairly, because I do not face prosecution…”.

As it turns out, the six houses in a prime location do not belong to the Big Joke. He’s now said his five houses “actually belong to a close relative, a big businessman in Udon Thani province…. He rented the houses for his convenience when staying in Bangkok, because he is a native of the southern province of Songkhla. He stayed in two of the houses, and used the three other properties for storage.” More warning lights as the whole story has changed. That could be crap reporting or it could be posterior covering.

But getting closer to the heart of the story, Big Joke declared: ” I am sure that someone ordered it [the search]… It is about politics within the Royal Thai Police Office…”.

In amongst all of this reporting, the Bangkok Post had a story headlined: “Torsak tipped as new top cop.” It says:

Deputy police chief Pol Gen Torsak Sukvimol is strongly tipped to be named the new police chief on Wednesday following a high-profile house search of another contender Pol Gen Surachate “Big Joke” Hakparn, as part of a police probe into online gambling websites….

Torsak

A source in the Police Commission said Mr Srettha [Thavisin] is widely expected to name Pol Gen Torsak for the top police post at Wednesday’s meeting.

That should not really come as a surprise. Torsak is very close to the palace.

Back in early 2021, Move Forward MP Rangsiman Rome made a speech in parliament, armed with a four-page document from 2019, when the Royal Thai Police force was under the leadership of Gen Prayuth Chan-ocha and Gen Prawit Wongsuwan. The so-called chang or elephant ticket was allegedly a list of police officers assured of promotion. The ticket was said to be a vehicle for positions and connections within the police, bypassing the official merit-based system for promotion.

Rangsiman said “he was aware that he was breaching a dangerous taboo against some of the country’s most powerful vested interests.” That’s code for the monarchy and that he was speaking of the involvement of the palace in police promotions and corruption was clearer – but still unstated – when he said:

This is probably the most dangerous action I’ve ever taken in my life,” he said during the hearing. “But since I have been chosen by the people, I will fight for the people…. I do not know what tomorrow will bring, but I have no regrets over the decisions that I have made today.

The palace connection was confirmed when Khaosod reported that Rangsiman’s “bombshell revelation” was that “a handful of government favorites and a royal aide can dictate appointments and removals within the police force at their whim…”. The documents showed that “police officers can gain immediate promotions without going through the formal route if they manage to obtain a ‘Ticket,’ a document signed by Maj. Gen. Torsak Sukvimol, the commander of the Ratchawallop Police Retainers, King’s Guard 904.”

Torsak is the younger brother of the king’s most important official. The link to the palace is clear:

The MP said the scheme is run by Torsak’s brother, Sathitpong Sukvimol, who serves as Lord Chamberlain to the royal palace. Documents shown by Rangsiman shows that Sathitpong in 2019 wrote to a certain institution asking for 20 police officers to receive either new ranks or titles.

Of course, the king’s previous interference in police promotions has been well-documented. An academic piece, drawing on Wikileaks, summarizes this, stating that Vajiralongkorn twice “intervened in matters to do with the appointment of the national police chief, in 1997 and 2009, both seemingly with personal motives…”.

There’s plenty of warning lights in this sorry tale, but also that whiff of palace.

Update: As expected, the palace candidate Pol Gen Torsak was appointed national police chief. As the Bangkok Post says:

Pol Gen Torsak was fourth in seniority among the four contenders for the job.

The other candidates were Pol Gen Roy Ingkapairote, the most senior, Pol Gen Surachate Hakparn, the second-most senior, and Pol Gen Kittirat Phanphet, the third.

Pol Gen Torsak was strongly tipped for the position following the high-profile search of houses occupied by Pol Gen Surachate, known as “Big Joke”. There had been some speculation earlier that a decision on the new chief might be postponed in light of the events involving Pol Gen Surachate.

As usual with things related to the palace, no real mention is made of Torsak’s connections or of the controversy of his “special” promotions.

Lese majeste-like case

Prachatai reports on an odd lese majeste-like case. It involves bellicose ultra-royalist snitch Maj Gen Rientong Nan-nah, 10 year-old Facebook posts, and the use of a computer crimes charge rather than Article 112.

The details are provided in the report.

Rienthong

A 57-year-old man known as Wichit (pseudonym) was arrested on 19 September 2023 “under the Computer-Related Crime Act for messages criticizing the political situation following the 2014 coup.” The arrest was by “officers from the Cyber Crime Investigation Bureau (CCIB) and Provincial Police Region 4 in Khon Kaen Province on an arrest warrant issued by the criminal court.”

After a night in custody, Wichit “was charged with the offence of importing into a computer system forged computer data which is likely to cause damage to national security or cause panic among the public, under Section 14 (2) of the Computer-Related Crime Act.” In most cases. “national security” means the monarchy.

Wichit denied the allegation.

The rotten royalist Rienthong complained that Wichit “posted ten messages on Facebook between 24 October 2014 and 20 June 2015. The content of the posts dealt with political matters during the post-coup period and some of them referred to the monarchy.”

Wichit was jailed on 21 September 2023 but was granted bail.

Wichit had never received a summons and was surprised that the charge referred to posts made almost a decade ago.

That the case is not an Article 112 charge is potentially of interest. Is it that the advent of a new government is cause for trying to roll back 112 cases?

Readers will recall that before the 2014 military coup, the then Puea Thai Party government did somewhat dampen the enthusiasm for the crushing use of lese majeste. Puea Thai must have noticed that Move Forward garnered considerable electoral support by opposing 112.

Clipped from France24

There is also the thought that, before the youth uprising in 2020, there was a palace effort to garner some better press by reducing the use of lese majeste, replacing it with charges of computer crimes and treason. Is this happening again? Or is it a slip in the system that prosecutors will be ordered to “fix”?

Puea Thai as political pawn

Maybe much of the material in a new East Asia Forum article by academic Greg Raymond has already been said, including at PPT. Yet, the article is still worth a read.

It begins with this:

Newin and Abhisit

…Thailand’s democratic processes have been subverted by not only a deeply illiberal constitution but also by a set of opaque machinations reminiscent of those that elevated conservative former prime minister Abhisit Vejajiva to office in 2008. Then as now, the voice of the people is less important than backroom negotiations between powerful elites.

We don’t think the Abhisit regime’s rise is really comparable. For one thing, it didn’t follow an election and it was about getting rid of a pro-Thaksin Shinawatra government. Rather, it followed a judicial coup and the military manipulated a new government. Even so, the point about deals among the powerful is appropriate.

It is probably also worth recalling that the Abhisit regime made the Democrat Party politically toxic. We guess that Puea Thai apparachiks know that their party now risks a similar decline.

Raymond observes that the royal pardon for Thaksin:

…confirmed the palace’s involvement in the tawdry affair. Thailand’s media will say nothing about this for fear of prosecution under the lese majeste law, showing its enduring utility as a political tool.

He also cites rumors of the palace’s unhappiness over Move Forward. There was, of course, a broader unease across the ruling class that progress would prevent it from continuing a system that extracts huge wealth from the many to the few.

In this context, it is possible that the deal done between palace, military, and the rest of the ruling class may not last and it is likely that Puea Thai is a useful pawn:

It might be thought that the joint sitting of Parliament on 22 August that elected Pheu Thai’s Srettha Thavisin as Thailand’s 30th prime minister represents a significant realignment of Thai politics, ending two decades of bitter conflict, a coalition comprising Pheu Thai and former government parties. It is much more likely that this is but a tactical manoeuvre as the durable conservative establishment adapts its system of competitive authoritarianism as a consequence of its parties’ poor showing in Thailand’s 14 May election.

Ultra-royalists remember Thaksin’s 112 cases

Oddities and contradictions continue to expand as Thailand heads down yet another political slip road.

While we understand the calls, the idea that equality should apply in prison when it exists nowhere else in the country is somewhat confusing. We recall efforts to treat political prisoners differently. We’d also suggest that the moneyed have usually been able to buy better conditions in prison.

But, of course, this all has to do with Thaksin Shinawatra and the predictable rise of anti-Thaksinism.

Credit: Kahosod

For us, the interest in this story is lese majeste.

Lese majeste has emerged as talk of Thaksin Shinawatra seeking a royal pardon develops. Like others, we can speculate about a royal pardon being a part of the deal cut, probably with the palace.

As has been stated for a while, including by the legal snake Wissanu Krea-ngam, like other prisoners, Thaksin can apply for a pardon.

However, anti-Thaksinistas “object to him making such a request due to his open lese majeste case.” We have some details on Thaksin’s 112 travails, noting that these go back to 2009.

The mad monarchists at the electorally unpopular Thai Pakdee Party has trumpeted its (unsurprising) objection “to Thaksin applying for a royal pardon because he has yet to be tried over his lese majeste case.”

Those ultra-royalists claim “the army accused Thaksin of violating Section 112 of the Criminal Code, also known as the lese majeste law,” and that the “Criminal Court accepted the case for trial in 2015 and issued an arrest warrant for Thaksin but he did not appear at the court as ordered…”.

At least Thaksin is receiving “equal” treatment from the ultra-royalists.