Brunei Awaits Thaksin; Vietnam, Cambodia Deny Entry
Former Thai Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra received permission from the Criminal Court to travel to Brunei for an ASEAN meeting on February 18th and 19th. This is the second time Mr. Shinawatra has been allowed to leave Thailand since posting a 5-million-baht cash surety. The court’s decision follows Mr. Shinawatra’s appointment as an informal advisor on ASEAN affairs to Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim, who currently chairs the 10-nation bloc. Mr. Shinawatra will contribute his expertise to discussions on regional cooperation and diplomacy within the influential Southeast Asian organization.
However, the court simultaneously rejected Mr. Shinawatra’s requests to visit Vietnam and Cambodia during the same period. Unlike the Brunei visit, which was directly related to official ASEAN business, the Vietnam and Cambodia requests lacked formal governmental backing. Mr. Shinawatra’s request to visit Vietnam stemmed from an invitation from business associates, not the Vietnamese government. Similarly, the Cambodia request, while extended by longtime friend and former Prime Minister Hun Sen, did not constitute an official government invitation. This careful consideration underscores the court’s cautious approach to Mr. Shinawatra’s travel requests given his legal situation.
The court’s approval for the Brunei trip mirrors a previous instance where Mr. Shinawatra was permitted to travel to Malaysia on February 2nd and 3rd to consult with Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim, also under a 5-million-baht surety. This consistent requirement of a substantial surety reflects the seriousness of the legal proceedings Mr. Shinawatra faces. He is awaiting trial on lèse-majesté and computer crime charges stemming from a controversial 2015 interview in South Korea. Witness testimony in this case is scheduled for July, further complicating his situation.
Reports indicate that Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim’s formal invitation, submitted through the Malaysian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, was instrumental in securing the court’s approval for the Brunei trip. This diplomatic process mirrored Mr. Shinawatra’s previous trip to Malaysia, highlighting the importance of formal governmental requests for facilitating such international visits. Following established legal protocol, Mr. Shinawatra submitted his travel request on February 13th, leading to a court hearing on Friday. Both Mr. Shinawatra and Foreign Minister Maris Sangiampongsa testified, resulting in the judges' decision to grant the Brunei request while denying the others. As mandated by the court, Mr. Shinawatra must report back within three days of his return to Thailand.
The court’s decision demonstrates a nuanced approach, balancing Mr. Shinawatra’s role as an ASEAN advisor with his ongoing legal proceedings. Allowing him to participate in regional diplomatic efforts while maintaining oversight through bail conditions and travel restrictions reflects a cautious yet pragmatic approach to a complex situation. This delicate balance is likely to remain a defining aspect of Mr. Shinawatra’s international engagements in the foreseeable future.
