Thailand’s Shinawatra era is over, but questions remain about junta’s role in aiding Yingluck’s flight from the law
After rising to power in the shadow of her brother, Yingluck revealed an unexpected resilience as protesters besieged her home and opponents clobbered her with a raft of court cases
Yingluck Shinawatra departed the Thai political scene with a dramatic flourish befitting her roller-coaster six-year journey from political novice to premier – finally falling victim to the army-backed establishment who loathe her family.
On Saturday, the details of her escape and her planned final destination remained the subject of intense speculation.
According to a senior source in her Pheu Thai party, the 50-year-old former premier fled Thailand a few days before the Supreme Court was set to rule whether she was guilty of criminal negligence over a rice subsidy scheme that lavished cash on the Shinawatras’ political base.
Citing an unnamed source,the Bangkok Post reported that state officials were complicit in Yingluck’s flight from justice and may have facilitated her escape via Cambodia, where she was assisted by people of influence en route to Dubai.
“Let’s just say the powers that be gave her the green light to go,” the source told the Bangkok Post. “If she had been convicted or jailed it would have caused more trouble and social unrest, so letting her leave was considered the best option.”
Another junta source, who is well-placed in the security hierarchy, said she took a private jet from Thailand to Singapore and onto Dubai, the base of her brother older, Thaksin Shinawatra, who served as prime minister from 2001-06, before also being ousted.
“Thaksin has long prepared escape plans for his sister ... he would not allow his sister to spend even a single day in prison,” the source added, requesting anonymity.
Thaksin has long prepared escape plans for his sister ... he would not allow his sister to spend even a single day in prison