Thaksin Set for Return to Thailand
Former Thai prime minister, Thaksin Shiniwatra is due to return to Thailand tomorrow following 17 months away from his homeland. Pro-Thaksin supporters are being encouraged to greet his arrival at Bangkok’s Suvarnabhumi international airport and chaotic scenes can be expected. Thaksin’s return from exile will fulfil the pledge of the People Power Party (PPP) who had campaigned in the recent election that they would bring Thaksin back to Thailand. Once the initial furore dies down, Thaksin is expected to report to the Supreme Court as part of the process which will see him face charges of corruption and abuse of power relating to his time in political office.
The Supreme Court are in for a busy time in the coming weeks and their decisions will play a large part in determining the future of Thailand’s current government. As well as dealing with the Thaksin saga, the Supreme Court will have to decide the future of senior PPP official Yongsuth Tiyapairat. The Electoral Commission found Yongyuth, the Speaker of the House, guilty of vote buying in the run-up to the recent election. The Election Commission will forward its findings to the Supreme Court and if they concur with the Electoral Commission it could be the end of not just Yongyuth’s political career, but also the end for the People Power Party. If the PPP are found to be involved or complicit in the offence of vote buying, the party could be dissolved. In a country where large parts of the population are obsessed with the Thai soap operas on the television, the biggest and most important soap continues to be played out on the national stage.
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