16-3-2024 (CHIANG MAI) In an extraordinary meeting, Srettha Thavisin, Thaksin Shinawatra, and Somchai Wongsawat came together last night for a dinner in Chiang Mai. The trio, led by current Prime Minister Srettha, convened as Thaksin, who is currently on parole, returned to his hometown for various engagements, including paying homage to his late parents.
Thailand’s 23rd prime minister, Thaksin, who previously faced a corruption conviction, hardly experienced life behind bars before being transferred to the Police General Hospital, where he spent a notable 180 days citing grave health concerns. However, his recent parole release has allowed him to return to Chiang Mai and engage in a flurry of activities, contradicting the seriousness of the portrayed ailment. Thaksin’s daughter, Paetongtarn, the leader of the Pheu Thai party, initially claimed her father’s health condition to be severe.
PM Srettha clarified his presence in Chiang Mai, stating that he was concerned about environmental issues such as PM 2.5 pollution and forest fires. He also had a scheduled meeting with Thaksin. His itinerary includes a visit to Payao province on Monday, followed by hosting a mobile Cabinet meeting the next day.
Interestingly, the 62-year-old Prime Minister’s political journey intersects with Thaksin’s, as he ran as a candidate under the Pheu Thai banner, a party co-founded by Thaksin. This dinner marked their second face-to-face encounter, following their recent meeting at Thaksin’s residence in Bangkok after his parole release.
Joining this eclectic mix is Somchai Wongsawat, who held the prime ministerial position from September to December 2008. Somchai, married to Thaksin’s sister Yaowapa, faced a tumultuous term marred by the infamous Yellow Shirts protests orchestrated by the People’s Alliance for Democracy (PAD), as reported by Thai PBS World. Somchai’s tenure was abruptly cut short when the Constitutional Court dissolved the ruling People Power Party (PPP) and its coalition allies due to electoral misconduct, resulting in his removal from office.
A significant event unfolded in Chiang Mai, Thailand’s northern city, as former Thai Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra made a long-awaited return to his hometown. Accompanied by his daughter, Paetongtarn Shinawatra, who also leads the Pheu Thai party, as well as other family members, Thaksin arrived via private jet precisely at 9:28 am on March 14.
Upon his arrival, Deputy National Police Chief Surachet Hakparn extended a warm welcome to Thaksin. His visit coincided with a series of events and engagements involving prominent politicians such as Thammanat Prompao, the Minister of Agriculture and Cooperatives, and Nirat Pongsitthaworn, the Governor of Chiang Mai.
Thaksin’s day was filled with activities according to his planned itinerary. He began by releasing 30,000 fish into their natural habitat, proceeded to plant a tree, and later inspected water management at the Mae Sa. These events, widely covered by the national media, symbolized Thaksin’s commitment to environmental conservation.
Returning to Chiang Mai after 17 years of living abroad as a fugitive, Thaksin received a warm reception from locals and a group of Redshirts. Despite wearing a soft cervical collar and having nurses at his disposal, a reminder of his recent health challenges, the former prime minister displayed a cheerful demeanor. When questioned by the media about his health, the 74-year-old former Thai PM responded succinctly, stating that he was on the path to recovery. This follows a prolonged illness that had previously exempted him from serving traditional jail time.
Instead of serving his sentence in a conventional prison, Thaksin controversially spent his time in a special suite within a hospital. This arrangement garnered criticism from certain quarters, but Thaksin is currently on parole, as reported by The Pattaya News.
