Thailand | Former PM says she’s innocent, asks for ‘kindness’

Yingluck Shinawatra

Former Thai Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra declared her innocence and asked for “kindness” from a court yesterday during her final statement in a criminal negligence trial that could land her in prison for 10 years if she is convicted.

The case centers around a rice subsidy program that Thailand’s current military government says she grossly mishandled. Yingluck’s bank accounts were frozen after an administrative ruling held her responsible for about USD1 billion of the losses from the subsidy.

The case against Yingluck is widely seen as an effort to put another nail in the coffin of the political machine founded and directed by her brother, former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra, who was ousted in a 2006 coup for alleged corruption and disrespect for the monarchy. The telecommunications mogul has been in self-
imposed exile since 2008 to escape a prison sentence on a conflict of interest conviction. The 2006 coup triggered years of sometimes-violent battles for power in Thailand.

The Shinawatras’ critics describe them as corrupt, profit-seeking politicians, but their supporters have repeatedly voted them and their political allies into power. The supporters say the traditional political establishment opposes Thaksin because his electoral popularity threatens their entrenched privileges.

Thailand’s judiciary has been the target of widespread criticism that it operates with a political bias against Thaksin and his supporters.

“I beg the court for kindness and [to] please dismiss the charge,” Yingluck said in her closing statement to the court, according to prepared remarks. The verdict is to be issued Aug. 25.

Hundreds of Yingluck’s supporters outside the packed court shouted, “Prime minister, fight, fight!”

Yingluck led the last elected government in Thailand before being ousted as prime minister in 2014 when a court ruled that a personnel transfer involved nepotism. The army initiated a coup soon afterward and a military-led government has remained in power since.

After another court appearance late last month, Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-ocha, who led the 2014 coup, warned her supporters to tread carefully. He said the government would not prevent people from gathering, but that “everyone must show restraint” and let the court decide the matter.

“What is being done to her now is not fair,” said Prasong Kaewtongta, 51. “I’m giving her moral support.” Yingluck Shinawatra, AP