Arrr! Thailand scurvy dog correction department be denyin' the title 'inmate' for that former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra, matey!
2024-01-16
Arrr, me hearties! The esteemed Correction Department of Thailand be sayin' that the former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra, who be currently locked away, be not to be called an inmate. Aye, they be wantin' a fancy title for him, me thinks!
The Correction Department of Thailand has declared that former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra, currently serving a prison sentence, should not be referred to as an inmate in public statements. The agency explained that it avoids using the term "inmate" to prevent stigmatization and only uses it internally among officials. Critics argue that Thaksin, a billionaire populist and unofficial patron of the political party that returned to power last year, is receiving special treatment by serving his sentence in a private room at a state hospital rather than in a prison cell.Thaksin was overthrown in a military coup in 2006, accused of corruption, abuse of power, and disrespecting the monarchy. He fled into exile in 2008 and returned to Thailand last year, where he was immediately taken to prison to begin his eight-year term. However, he was soon transferred to the Police General Hospital due to health concerns, including high blood pressure and low oxygen levels. Recently, Thaksin requested a royal pardon.
Thaksin's return coincided with the victory of the Pheu Thai party, which he originally led to power in 2001, in a parliamentary vote to form a new government. The military, which had ousted Thaksin in 2006, continued to oppose him and his allies. Following his return, King Maha Vajiralongkorn reduced Thaksin's sentence to one year, and he will be eligible for parole after serving one-third of the amended sentence.
Thaksin, a former police lieutenant colonel turned successful telecoms entrepreneur, has undergone two surgeries during his confinement, although the specific details of his treatment have been kept private. His daughter, who now leads the Pheu Thai party, has expressed concern about his health, particularly related to a heart condition and complications from contracting the coronavirus in 2020.