Deposed Thai PM Returns Home

Polarizing figure booted in coup may return from exile

(NEWSER) - Deposed former Thai Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra is poised to return from exile now that the party supporting him won the most seats in parliament in today's elections, according to exit polls. It was unclear, however, whether the pro-Thaksin People Power party gained an absolute majority. If not, opposition parties still have a chance to cobble together a coalition government. More»

(NEWSER) - After failing to appear in a Bangkok court to hear charges that he abused power while in office, Thailand's deposed PM is now a fugitive of justice. The country's Supreme Court has issued a warrant for the arrest of Thaksin Shinawatra, who took refuge with his wife in England last year after he was ousted in a bloodless military coup. More»

Yingluck Shinawatra set to assume power

(AP) - The sister of exiled former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra led Thailand's main opposition party to a landslide victory in elections Sunday, heralding an extraordinary political turnaround five tumultuous years after her fugitive billionaire brother was toppled in an army coup. The vote paves the way for 44-year-old Yingluck Shinawatra, who has never held office, to become this Southeast Asian kingdom's first female prime minister. More»

Protesters mark 7th day of occupation of Thai PM's office

(NEWSER) - A small bomb went off outside a Bangkok police station as anti-government protesters continued their occupation of the Thai prime minister's office for a seventh day. Although nobody was injured in the blast, a senior government source told Reuters that the People's Alliance for Democracy "has launched a guerrilla war with us." The PAD denied responsibility for the explosion. More»

Police post eviction order on 4th day of protest occupation

(NEWSER) - Riot police clashed with protesters in Bangkok as demonstrations against the Thai government continued for a fourth day. Cops posted a court order evicting the People's Alliance for Democracy—a woolly coalition of monarchists, academics, and youth activists—from the lawn of the prime minister's office. Some protesters were detained, but police failed to oust some 4,000 demonstrators. Nine leaders have been charged with insurrection, a crime that carries the death penalty, reports Reuters. More»