The army-backed establishment in Thailand goes after its enemies
Thaksin Shinawatra’s case is just one of many
IN ONE of a handful of politically charged cases passing through courts in Bangkok on June 18th, Thaksin Shinawatra, a former prime minister who was ousted in an army coup in 2006, was formally indicted for insulting the monarchy. In ordinary circumstances, that ought not to be surprising. The conservative establishment close to the monarchy and the army is notorious for reaching for Thailand’s harsh lèse-majesté law, with sentences of up to 15 years in prison, to hound perceived enemies.
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This article appeared in the Asia section of the print edition under the headline “The king’s men waging lawfare”
From the June 22nd 2024 edition
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