Thai court rejects 'royal insult' case against former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra

A criminal court in Thailand ruled today, Friday, to acquit former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra of the charge of insulting the monarchy, after deeming the evidence insufficient to prove any wrongdoing.

The case dates back to an interview Thaksin conducted with the South Korean newspaper Chosun Ilbo in 2015, which some of his opponents considered insulting to the monarchy, while he has repeatedly emphasized his loyalty to the royal family. Shinawatra left the court smiling, wearing a yellow tie – a traditional symbol of allegiance to the monarchy – asserting that the decision vindicated him.

Thailand is known for having some of the strictest laws in the world protecting the monarchy, with the penalty for 'insulting the king' reaching up to 15 years in prison. Since 2020, more than 280 individuals have been charged under this law, including political speeches, clothing deemed 'provocative', and even satirical cartoons.

Despite this legal victory, the Shinawatra family continues to face escalating legal challenges, as the Constitutional Court will consider next week a case involving Thaksin's daughter, Paetongtarn Shinawatra – the suspended Prime Minister – regarding a leaked call discussing a border dispute with Cambodia.

It is worth noting that Thaksin, the billionaire businessman and former owner of Manchester City, won the 2001 elections by a wide margin, based on social programs and economic policies that bolstered his influence in rural areas, but later faced corruption charges and controversial human rights issues, culminating in a coup that ousted him in 2006, followed by another coup that removed his sister Yingluck in 2014.