By Thai Newsroom Reporters
DE FACTO PHEU THAI BOSS-cum-convict on parole Thaksin Shinawatra has definitely not been as seriously ill as falsely claimed, concluded an opposition lawmaker today (Mar 28).
During today’s interpellation in the House of Representatives, Move Forward MP Rangsiman Rome charged that the deposed prime minister had not fallen “seriously ill” as the authorities had repeatedly claimed since he looked quite normal and had enough stamina to engage in daily activities immediately after being released on parole from Police Hospital and was evidently seen going places and mingling with people during a recent visit to his home province of Chiang Mai.
Neither had Thaksin’s extended stay in a private ward at the hospital justified tight security measures in the face of purported threats of assassination as earlier claimed by the authorities though attempted bomb attacks on his life had reportedly occurred over the last decade and a half until he fled the country in the face of the 2006 coup, according to the Move Forward MP.
Rangsiman was engaged in the House interpellation with Justice Minister Thavi Sodsong over Thaksin’s clinical health conditions which, the Move Forward MP said, obviously contradicted the earlier claims by Corrections Department and Police Hospital officials of his having been “critically ill” throughout a six-month period at the hospital until he was released on parole last month.
“Given activities in which he has engaged since he was released on parole, the former prime minister looked so healthy and strong, it was very plain to see that he has not been seriously ill at all,” the Move Forward MP said.
Thavi maintained that Corrections Department officials had not compromised the existing rules governing their handling of “critically sick” convicts such as the de facto Pheu Thai boss since he returned from self-exile abroad last August.
During the heated interpellation, House Speaker Wan Muhammad Nor Matha told Rangsiman to refrain from mentioning the de facto Pheu Thai boss by name.
Neither was the Move Forward MP allowed to mention the de facto Pheu Thai boss by calling him Tony Woodsome – the pseudonym which Thaksin had used during his live podcasts from abroad over the last few years.
A few Pheu Thai MPs took turns to stage floor protests against Rangsiman for mentioning their de facto party boss by name or trying to have a clip of Thaksin projected on screen in the House chamber.
At one instance, Nor Matha resolutely insisted that Rangsiman proceed without any clips featuring Thaksin’s health conditions or personal activity anywhere or else, the House speaker said, the opposition MP would be forcibly ushered out of the House chamber.
The de facto Pheu Thai boss’s critics have invariably charged that he had merely feigned “illnesses” since he returned from abroad to not have to literally spend a single day behind bars at Bangkok Remand Prison and be instead allegedly given double-standard privileges at Police Hospital until he was released on parole.
CAPTIONS:
Top: Move Forward MP Rangsiman Rome, left, and House Speaker Wan Muhammad Nor Matha, right. Photo: Naewna
Insert: Justice Minister Thavi Sodsong. Photo: Thai Rath
Front Page: Move Forward MP Rangsiman Rome at the House of Representatives today, March 28, 2024. Photo: Thai Rath
Also read: More former Red Shirt activists tipped to return from self-exile
Debris falling from Yellow Line train hits two vehicles, service halted
PM urged to take action against Police Chief over alleged money-extortion, laundering scams
Hotelier urges govt to hike minimum wage at high season
Chinese buying trends still strongly boost residential market: Savills Thailand
Thai, Chinese gangs in scary road chase
