THAILAND:Thai prosecutors have decided not to pursue Thaksin Shinawatra, the ousted prime minister, for the crime of offending the country's revered king, further undermining the military's rationale for September's coup d'état.
Although Thai police recommended that Mr Thaksin be prosecuted for three counts of lèse-majesté, the attorney-general's office yesterday said the cases did not merit formal legal action.
Sermkiat Woradit, director of criminal prosecution, said some of Mr Thaksin's public statements about King Bhumibol Adulyadej were "inappropriate", but could not be constituted as defamatory in legal terms.
Lèse-majesté, or offending the dignity of the royal family, is a serious crime in Thailand, punishable by up to 15 years' imprisonment.
The decision not to prosecute Mr Thaksin is a setback for the credibility of the military leaders, who cited the then-premier's alleged disrespect of the monarch as one of four reasons for seizing power in the coup.
Thitinan Pongsudhirak, a Chulalongkorn University political science professor, said of the case: "If they can't get [ Mr Thaksin] on lèse-majesté, they will have a hard time getting him on other charges. If anyone talks about his return or comeback, his exoneration on this charge makes it much more viable."
Noppadol Pattama, a legal adviser to Mr Thaksin now in exile in London, welcomed the decision, saying: "Justice has been done."
Somchai Phagaphasvivat, a Thammasat University political science professor, said prosecutors could have been influenced by concern over small but growing anti-coup protests, targeting Gen Prem Tinsulanonda, president of the king's privy council, for his alleged role in fomenting the coup.
The controversy over Gen Prem has clearly alarmed military leaders, who have sought to quash the debate over his involvement, apparently out of concern for repercussions on the palace.
- (Financial Times service)