THE government of Thailand is confident that former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra will not escape the country again and will bravely face his upcoming lese majeste trial in court.
The attorney-general indicted Thaksin last week on the lese majeste charge which is one of the strictest in the world.
This means the former prime minister faces up to 15 years in prison if proven guilty.
Under Section 112 of the Thai Criminal Code, it is illegal to defame, insult, or threaten the monarch of Thailand which includes the king, queen, heir-apparent, heir-presumptive, or regent.
Thai Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin said he is confident that Thaksin will not escape the country and face the royal defamation charge.
Meanwhile, Thakisn’s daughter Paetongtarn Shinawatra, who is now the current leader of Pheu Thai, a political party he had founded 17 years ago, said her father is ready to face the lese majeste charge in court.
Thaksin revealed that he knows who is behind the campaign to overthrow Srettha Thavisin, the current prime minister after 40 senators filed a petition on the 23rd of May to remove him from power.
The lawmakers argued that Srettha’s appointment of prime ministerial officer Pichit Chenbuan fell short of moral and ethical standards for ministers.
When asked if he was the possible target and not Srettha, the former premier responded by stating his critics should leave him alone and that he has no plans of running again as prime minister.
Thaksin has also volunteered to mediate in the ongoing crisis in Myanmar. However, the government said he is acting on a personal level and not representing the country.
