Thailand – the fall of Thaksin

Thailand – the fall of Thaksin
Wednesday, 04 Jul 2007 12:38


It's difficult to tell from the grinning face of Manchester City's likely new owner that he's suffered quite a climbdown in the last year or so. Thaksin Shinawatra used to be prime minister of Thailand; after corruption allegations, judicial action and a military coup that's no longer the case.

Back in April 2005, things were looking rosy for Mr Thaksin. Cheap healthcare and cheap loans to farmers were winning his Thai Rak Thai (Thais Love Thais) party significant support in the countryside. That popularity led to an enlarged absolute majority in that year's general elections, putting Mr Thaksin in place to remain prime minister for four more years. Unfortunately for him, it didn't work out that way.

Real discontent in the cities proved a growing problem: the urban middle classes accused him of undermining human rights and press freedoms. They were unhappy about allegations that he used a crackdown on drug dealers as an excuse for extrajudicial killings. He was held responsible for the mishandling of the Muslim insurgency in the country's southern region. Worse than all these, however, were suggestions that he might be engaged in illegally funded personal enrichment - at the cost of the country.

Mr Thaksin's Shin Corporation, the telecommunications and media company which made him a billionaire before his entry into politics, was at the scandal's centre.

In January 2006 he announced its sale to the Singaporean government. As the firm was regarded as a national strategic asset this did not go down well; opponents were additionally enraged when it emerged he would be paying no tax on the sale. An upsurge of political opposition resulted, leading to tens of thousands of protestors descending on his offices by March. They demanded the prime minister's resignation.

In an attempt to nullify the protests Mr Thaksin called a general election, but the policy did not pay off. Opposition parties decided to boycott the April 4th vote. Its legitimacy was called into doubt and, despite winning 57 per cent of the vote, Mr Thaksin was forced to resign shortly afterwards.

He said he would continue as a caretaker leader "until the selection process for the next prime minister is complete". Opposition parties, including the Democrat party, called for fresh elections to be held as hopes that national unity might be restored were kindled. When Judge Ura Wangomklang revealed the constitutional court had ruled the April vote illegal, the prospect of new, post-Thaksin polls appeared.

These have not yet occurred.

On September 19th 2006 the army stepped in and seized power in a bloodless coup. Mr Thaksin, who was at the UN in New York at the time, found himself removed from power as General Sonthi Boonyaratkalin and colleagues took control. Political party meetings and other activities were banned and Surayud Chulanont, a retired army general, was named the new prime minister. The coup's leaders established a national assembly to draft a new constitution and insisted they planned on returning power to the people in the long-term.

On May 30th 2007, nearly a year since the April election, judges ruled on whether the two main parties – the TRT and the Democrats – were guilty of corruption. The Democrats were absolved of urging other parties to influence the results, but the TRT were found guilty of electoral fraud. TRT officials persuaded smaller parties to run against it so a quorum legitimising its continued hold on power could be established, judges ruled, before doling out extreme punishments for the crime. The TRT itself was dissolved, while Mr Thaksin and over 100 other senior party members were banned from politics for five years.

The former policeman may find his political retribution is not yet over. He has been living abroad, mostly in London, but was ordered back to Thailand on June 19th to face corruption charges. Thailand's department of special investigations accuses him of concealing assets in a public company while in office. His safety on returning to Thailand has been guaranteed by the prime minister, but his supporters fear he will be targeted by would-be assassins.

As for Thailand, the latest indications suggest that - with the draft constitution not yet finished - the military 'interim' government is loath to relinquish its power. Mr Chulanont has promised an election in this December, but not all believe his pledge will be met.

Alex Stevenson