Thailand's fugitive ex-PM Thaksin Shinawatra returns to jail from years in self-exile
Thaksin Shinawatra on Tuesday set foot on home soil for the first time since 2008, returning from self-exile to a Bangkok jail just hours before his allies attempt to form a government after weeks of political deadlock.
Thaksin, the billionaire figurehead of the populist juggernaut Pheu Thai Party, fled abroad 15 years ago before he was jailed in absentia for abuse of power, two years after the military overthrew him and accused him of corruption and disloyalty to the powerful monarchy, which he denied.
Thaksin appeared briefly with family members at a private jet terminal at Bangkok's Don Mueang airport, smiling and waving to hundreds of ecstatic supporters, before he was escorted by police to the Supreme Court, then to a prison to serve a term of eight years.
As he emerged from the airport wearing a black suit, red tie and yellow lapel pin bearing a royal insignia, Thaksin bowed to the crowd in a traditional «wai» greeting before kneeling to pay respects before a portrait of the king and queen.
«For the past 17 years, you felt isolated, lonely, troubled and missing home but you persevered,» said Thaksin's sister Yingluck, whose three-year stint as prime minister also ended in a coup, a criminal conviction and self-exile.
«I will be strong and persevere.
I will look after myself even in a foreign land alone,» she posted on Facebook before his departure from Singapore, together with pictures of her hugging him on the plane.
#ThaksinReturnsThailand was the top trending hashtag on the social media platform, X, formerly known as Twitter, with 347,000 users.
Under heavy security, Thaksin was taken to a Bangkok Remand Prison, where officials said his health would be monitored closely due to existing issues with his spine,
