Thai PM Suspended Over Ethics Case
Thailand PM Suspended as Court Investigates Ethics Case
Thailand’s politics have long been divided between two sides:
One side supports the military and the king.
The other side supports the Shinawatra family, who some believe are a threat to the country’s traditional system.
On the same day that former leader Thaksin Shinawatra appeared in court for allegedly insulting the monarchy, his daughter, Paetongtarn Shinawatra, also faced a major political setback.
What happened to Paetongtarn?
She became Thailand’s Prime Minister less than a year ago.
Now, she has been suspended while the Constitutional Court checks if she broke government rules during a recent dispute with Cambodia.
The Cambodia Dispute:
In May, Thailand and Cambodia had a border clash, and a Cambodian soldier died.
Paetongtarn called Cambodia’s former leader, Hun Sen, to calm tensions.
She reportedly called Hun Sen “uncle” and described a Thai military commander as her “opponent.”
This upset many people, especially conservatives, who said she was disrespecting Thailand’s military and being too friendly with Cambodia.
Because of this, she is accused of breaking rules that say ministers must act with high ethics and honesty.
The Constitutional Court voted 7-2 to suspend her from being Prime Minister starting July 1, while they decide if she broke the rules.
Political Consequences:
Her party, Pheu Thai, has lost support from an important conservative partner.
Over the weekend, thousands of people protested against her in Bangkok.
Despite this, the king approved her new cabinet. Paetongtarn had appointed herself as culture minister, but it is unclear if she can take this role while under investigation.
Thaksin’s Legal Case:
Her father, Thaksin Shinawatra, went to criminal court on Tuesday.
He is accused of insulting the monarchy during a 2015 interview he gave to South Korean media.
If found guilty, he could go to jail for up to 15 years.
The court case has started and could last for weeks, but the media are not allowed inside.
His lawyer said Thaksin appeared calm in court.
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