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Business Times
2 days ago
- Politics
- Business Times
Thaksin confident that Thai court will clear daughter's suspension as PM in ethics case
[BANGKOK] Thaksin Shinawatra, the de facto leader of Thailand's ruling party, expects a court to ultimately clear allegations of ethical misconduct against his daughter, Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra, who was suspended from office last month. 'I'm confident in my daughter's good intentions, and I trust the court will consider the facts with reason,' Thaksin told local broadcaster Nation TV when asked about the allegations against Paetongtarn. 'Everything can be explained.' Paetongtarn is the youngest of Thaksin's three children and the third member of the influential Shinawatra clan to become Thailand's prime minister. She was suspended from office by the country's Constitutional Court until it ruled on a petition by a group of senators; they alleged that she had violated ethical standards by blaming the Thai army for escalating a border dispute in a leaked phone call with former Cambodian leader Hun Sen. The premier's suspension was meant to cool the political temperature, Thaksin said, adding that her government had adequate support in parliament to carry on business as usual. In the event that Paetongtarn gets ousted by the court, Thaksin's family-backed Pheu Thai Party will either nominate its last prime minister candidate Chaikasem Nitisiri for the top job, or dissolve the parliament to call an early election, he said. The uproar over Paetongtarn's leaked phone call pushed her government to the brink, with the departure of a key coalition partner leaving the ruling coalition with a narrow parliamentary majority. The political turmoil has raised concerns about government stability and added to investor jitters, while trade-reliant Thailand is in talks to avert a punitive 36 per cent US tariff on its exports. Thaksin has wielded significant influence over the Thai government since his return to Thailand in 2023 after 15 years of self-imposed exile. The 75-year-old has shuttled from stage to stage, sharing views on how to fix the country's economy and pitching ideas that would later become government policies. Thaksin said he was 'not worried at all' about the outcome of a royal defamation case that he is currently on trial for. If convicted, he could potentially be jailed for a maximum of 15 years, over comments he made in 2015 shortly after a military coup against his sister Yingluck Shinawatra's government. Thaksin has denied the charges. Separately, a court is investigating whether Thaksin had actually served his royally commuted one-year jail sentence for corruption at a police hospital after returning to the country. BLOOMBERG
Mint
2 days ago
- Business
- Mint
Thaksin Joins Thai Ministers in Fine-tuning Response to Trump Tariff Threat
Thaksin Shinawatra, the de facto leader of Thailand's ruling party, is taking a more proactive role in shaping the country's response to deal with the fallout of President Donald Trump's threat to impose a steep 36% tariff on its exports to the US. Thaksin, father of suspended Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra, participated in a high-level meeting in Bangkok on Friday that included senior economic advisers and the ministers of finance and commerce. The agenda included finalizing additional concessions to offer Washington in a bid to reduce the proposed tariff and formulating measures to shield domestic industries and farmers from the potential economic impact, according to local media reports. Finance Minister Pichai Chunhavajira, who heads the task force negotiating with the US, said after the meeting the government plans to make slight adjustments to its proposal framework in hopes of securing a more 'competitive' tariff rate compared to neighboring nations. Pichai said he's ready to travel to the US for talks if needed. Read: Humbled Thai Billionaire Is a Warning to Trump-Era Populists Thai officials remain optimistic about reaching a deal before the Aug. 31 deadline set by Trump. Their current offer includes eliminating import taxes on 90% of US goods and removing various non-tariff barriers. Thailand has also pledged to increase bilateral trade and slash its $46 billion trade surplus with the US by 70% within five years. Thaksin's direct involvement underscores the seriousness with which the Pheu Thai Party-led government is approaching the tariff challenge, particularly its potential effects on small businesses and farmers. Following Paetongtarn's suspension last month over an alleged ethics violation, Deputy Prime Minister Phumtham Wechayachai has taken over the leadership of the administration. Since returning to Thailand in 2023 after 15 years in self-imposed exile, Thaksin has remained a dominant figure in Thai politics. He has frequently voiced his views on economic strategy and has promoted policies that have since been adopted by the government. Read: Thaksin Confident Thai Court Will Clear Premier in Ethics Case In an interview with Nation TV on Wednesday, Thaksin said Thailand could still secure a better deal from the Trump administration if it negotiates wisely. He warned that the country must also have an 'exit strategy' and be cautious of any US demands involving China in exchange for tariff relief. 'If we rush and give-in to everything — essentially stripping ourselves naked — we'd just get exploited,' the billionaire politician said. 'If granting them everything brings war to our soil, then no — we won't do it.' The US was Thailand's largest export market in 2024, accounting for about 18% of total shipments. Thai exports have risen approximately 15% in the first five months of this year, fueled by accelerated ordering in anticipation of the proposed tariff. This article was generated from an automated news agency feed without modifications to text.
The Star
2 days ago
- Politics
- The Star
Thaksin reveals backstory of leaked audio clip
Former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra (pic) shared his insights during an exclusive interview at the 55 Years Nation Exclusive Talk: Breaking Through Thailand's Crisis Chapter 1 event. The discussion focused on various pressing issues, including the leaked audio clip of a June 15 call between Cambodian Senate President Hun Sen and Thai Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra. The incident could significantly affect the standing of Paetongtarn, who is Thaksin's daughter. Thaksin referred to the secret recording of their private phone conversation and its subsequent public release by Hun Sen on his Facebook page on June 18. 'The situation started when my daughter mentioned that she planned to speak with Hun Sen through Khliang Huot (a close aide of Hun Sen who also acted as an interpreter) and arrange a call with him,' Thaksin shared. 'She invited Defence Minister Phumtham (Wechayachai), Foreign Minister Maris (Sangiampongsa) and Secretary to the Prime Minister, Dr Prommin Lertsuridej, to join her, as she wasn't going alone. They waited for three hours, but Hun Sen said he was asleep and even sent a photo to prove it. 'I told my daughter to return, and everyone disbanded. But later, Hun Sen personally called my daughter's phone. That was really painful. Originally, we had intended to resolve matters through dialogue,' he said. Reflecting on the deteriorating relationship, Thaksin said: 'When things end, they end. I questioned what went wrong. 'I reviewed everything from Thursday night to Friday morning, and Nation TV reported on troop movements along the border. 'I was furious. I called Huot and asked, 'Are we about to go to war?' I demanded they pull back the troops and settle things through the JBC (Joint Boundary Committee) mechanism. 'Even though Cambodian troops were withdrawn on Sunday, by Monday, we closed the border, which angered him (Hun Sen),' he said. 'When Paetongtarn later posted that his actions were unprofessional, Hun Sen became angry. But I want to emphasise that we have not yet reached the point of declaring war, as we can still resolve this through the JBC talks. 'Today, I don't know what to say any more. I only sent one message to Hun Sen: 'What you are doing today is damaging both sides. We were once very close, but I never expected it to turn out like this.'' — The Nation/ANN
The Star
3 days ago
- Politics
- The Star
Thaksin pushes for entertainment complex, legalisation of online gambling
BANGKOK: Former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra addressed the ongoing debate surrounding the government's Entertainment Complex policy during a special broadcast of "Breaking Through Thailand's Deadlock," aired live on Nation TV on Wednesday (July 9). The show was hosted by three senior editors from the Nation Group. Thaksin responded to comments made by Anutin Charnvirakul, leader of the Bhumjaithai Party, who claimed that the decline in Chinese tourism to Thailand—down by 70-90%—was primarily due to the Thai government's Entertainment Complex policy. Anutin suggested that the Chinese government had previously issued multiple warnings about the policy. Thaksin responded by stating that the reality was that the issue coincidentally aligned with the Bhumjaithai Party's policy of opposing the Entertainment Complex, which is why it became such a major news story. Thaksin clarified that the policy had not yet been implemented and therefore had no impact on the tourism sector. He pointed out that the actual issue was related to safety concerns, which were being addressed through the government's push for Smart City development. Thaksin stated that once Smart Cities are established, they would enhance safety and ensure greater protection for tourists. Additionally, Thaksin emphasized that the installation of AI-powered cameras across the country would significantly increase safety, further alleviating concerns over tourist security. When asked whether changing the Interior Minister would improve safety, Thaksin replied that it should indeed enhance safety, particularly regarding call centres and fraud. He also pointed out that some Chinese nationals running call centres in Thailand frequently travel through Myanmar, residing in apartments worth billions. Thaksin clarified that people viewed the entertainment complex as a casino, but in reality, it was an investment in tourism. He compared it to a country investing in a ski resort, which would rely on additional revenue streams, such as concerts, to make it financially viable. The Entertainment Complex would offer a variety of entertainment, including a casino, which would take up no more than 10% of the space. He stressed that not everyone could access the casino, as there would be a strict Know Your Customer (KYC) system in place to ensure that only those with legitimate income could participate. Thaksin himself, as a politician, was not allowed to enter casinos in Thailand. He added, 'It's not like anyone can just walk in without any income or tax records. These people have learned from the casinos in Cambodia; it's completely different.' When asked whether the government, with its slim majority and lack of stability, should continue pushing this policy, Thaksin responded, 'We can't afford to wait. We need to take action. If the government doesn't make it, then there will be another election. We do what we can and do our best.' He said he told his daughter, Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra, 'Our duty is to work for the country, to give it our all. Whatever comes of it, that's what we'll get. We can't afford to say 'wait.' We must act now.' He also stated that Thailand's economy is losing a tremendous opportunity due to underground activities, especially online gambling, which involves a massive annual turnover of 150 billion baht. Each online gambling session generates 2.5 to 4 million baht, but the money flows out of the country without contributing to the domestic economy. This does not include the money lost through licensed gaming content that Thai people play, which amounts to over 50 billion baht, nor the 70-80 billion baht lost due to scams like call centre fraud. Combined, these figures total more than 280 billion baht, not to mention the money involved in drugs and other illegal activities circulating outside the system. All of this represents the underground economy, which is estimated to be worth around 300 billion baht annually, causing Thailand to miss out on potential revenue or the chance to bring this off-the-books economy into the formal system. Another important point he raised was that legalising online gambling could allow Thailand to control and address the impacts on affected groups, especially the youth. Thaksin proposed that if online gambling were brought into the open with strict regulations, such as using Digital ID for identity verification before playing, setting an age limit to prevent those under 20 from participating, and implementing a real-time monitoring system via a dashboard, it would allow the government to manage it effectively. He explained, 'Today, we know exactly who is playing and which network they're using—whether it's True, AIS, NT, or 3BB—but we can't do anything because it's all underground. If we bring it into the open, we can control it better, collect taxes, and protect children from being exploited. If someone develops a serious addiction, we can immediately intervene and offer treatment.' Thaksin emphasised that the underground economy must be addressed, stating, 'We need to be bold enough to talk about it and take action, because today, it's becoming 'half of the country's GDP' that isn't accounted for in the system. If we continue to ignore it, we'll miss out on a huge opportunity.' - The Nation/ANN
The Star
3 days ago
- Politics
- The Star
Thaksin reveals the scandalous audio clip of Paetongtarn and Hun Sen
BANGKOK: Thaksin Shinawatra, former Prime Minister of Thailand, shared his insights during an exclusive interview at the 55 Years Nation Exclusive Talk: Breaking Through Thailand's Crisis Chapter 1 event, aired live on Nation TV on Wednesday (July 9). The discussion, moderated by three editors-in-chief of Nation Group, focused on various pressing issues, including the controversial audio clip involving Cambodian Senate President Hun Sen and Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra, which has become a major political issue. The incident could significantly affect the moral standing of the current Prime Minister. Addressing the situation, Thaksin explained his past relationship with Hun Sen, describing them as once being like brothers. However, he expressed shock and disappointment upon learning of what Hun Sen had done to his daughter. Thaksin referred to the secret recording of their private phone conversation and its subsequent public release. "The situation started when my daughter mentioned that she planned to speak with Hun Sen through Khliang Huot (a close aide of Hun Sen who also acted as a interpreter) and arrange a call with him. She invited Defence Minister Phumtham (Wechayachai), Foreign Minister Maris (Sangiampongsa), and Secretary to the Prime Minister Dr Phrommin Lertsuriyadet to join her, as she wasn't going alone. They waited for three hours, but Hun Sen said he was asleep and even sent a photo to prove it," Thaksin shared. He continued, "I told my daughter to return, and everyone disbanded. However, later, Hun Sen personally called my daughter's phone. That was really painful. Originally, we had intended to resolve matters through dialogue." Reflecting on the deteriorating relationship, Thaksin said, "When things end, they end. I questioned what went wrong. I reviewed everything from Thursday night to Friday morning, and Nation TV reported on troop movements along the border. I was furious. I called Huot and asked, 'Are we about to go to war?' I demanded they pull back the troops and settle things through the JBC (Joint Boundary Commission) mechanism." Thaksin continued, explaining that while Hun Sen withdrew the troops on Sunday, the Thai military had planned to close the border. "Even though Cambodian troops were withdrawn on Sunday, by Monday, we closed the border, which angered him. When Paetongtarn later posted that his actions were unprofessional, Hun Sen became angry. But I want to emphasise that we have not yet reached the point of declaring war, as we can still resolve this through the JBC talks," Thaksin said. Thaksin also recalled a similar incident in 2003, when there was a claim that Thai actress Kob Suwanant had said Siem Reap belonged to Thailand, which she never said. This led to the burning of the Thai embassy in Cambodia. "I immediately instructed them to protect the embassy and Thai nationals. I also ordered the military commander to ensure security. If things weren't under control by dawn, I would have sent commandos and the HTMS Chakri Naruebet to assist. That was my approach," he said. "Today, I don't know what to say anymore. I only sent one message to Hun Sen: 'What you are doing today is damaging both sides. We were once very close, but I never expected it to turn out like this.'" Thaksin clarified, "The negotiations that day were with Hun Sen, not with the Prime Minister. But given the situation, I owe the public an apology. I made a mistake in dealing with someone like him (Hun Sen)." "Today, there's no need to worry. There won't be any war. There's no fighting. Right now, it's just a matter of each side trying to outdo the other. Whoever dives better wins." Thaksin emphasised that he did not want a third country to mediate, adding, "As I said, if we no longer talk, then what can we do? " Thaksin also revealed details about Cambodia's underground businesses, stating, "I don't know the specifics, but I know there are financial connections from Thailand involving labour going to Cambodia's labour advisers. Some of the funds are transferred back and forth, amounting to over a hundred million. I know there are financial links involving Mr. K and Cambodia's labour advisers, but whether he is close to Hun Sen or not, I'm not sure." - The Nation/ANN
