Thailand considers revoking former PM Yingluck’s passports

Thai police have asked the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to revoke former Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra’s passports, the foreign ministry announced on September 30.
Thailand considers revoking former PM Yingluck’s passports ảnh 1Thai police have asked the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to revoke former Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra’s passports. (Photo: AFP/VNA)

Bangkok (VNA) – Thai police have asked the Ministry of ForeignAffairs to revoke former Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra’s passports, the foreignministry announced on September 30.

Busadee Santipitaks, spokesperson of the ministry, said that she knew media newsreporting that Yingluck arrived in Britain to seek political asylum but did notcomment on the issue. Earlier, Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha was informed bythe ministry that Yingluck was in Dubai.

Meanwhile, government spokesperson Sansern Kawekhamnerd said that the ForeignMinistry had been aware that Yingluck would head for Britain. Thailand has the extraditiontreaty with the UK but not with the UAE.

Police have also asked Interpol to issue an international alert, known as aBlue Notice, to its 190 member countries to locate Yingluck.

According to a new legislation on criminal lawsuits against politicians,Yingluck stands no chance to appeal against her five-year jail sentence. Thenew law, which takes effect from September 29, also ends her political career,said Meechai Ruchupan, head of the Constitution Drafting Committee (CDC).

Yingluck failed to appear for her verdict on August 25, prompting the SupremeCourt to issue an arrest warrant.

She was accused of abusing power in May, 2014. Her dereliction of the ricesubsidy scheme supervision led to severe loss to the country. If found guilty,she will be subject to a jail term of 10 years and face the seizure of assetsworth 35 billion baht (nearly 1 billion USD) over the loss.

The rice scheme was a flagship policy of Yingluck’s election campaign with thePheu Thai party, which helped her win the 2011 general election. The schemeoffered to buy rice from farmers at a double of market price then keep in storehouses nationwide.-VNA
VNA

See more

At the 13th Mekong - RoK Foreign Ministers' Meeting in Kuala Lumpur (Photo: Ministry of Foreign Affairs)

Mekong, RoK chart course for digital-era cooperation

In the new development phase, the Mekong-Korea Cooperation should focus on innovation as the key driving force, placing people at the centre of development while ensuring water-food-energy security and developing cultural industries, said Vietnamese Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Bui Thanh Son.

India, ASEAN adopt new plan of action for next five years at the ASEAN-India Foreign Ministers' Meet. (Photo: aninews)

India, ASEAN adopt new 5-year action plan at AMM-58

In a post on X, Indian Minister of State for External Affairs Pabitra Margherita who co-chaired the meeting, noted that the ASEAN-India Plan of Action for 2026-2030 aims to expand cooperation further and give impetus to the comprehensive strategic partnership between India and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN).

Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim (sixth from left) poses for a photo with foreign ministers of ASEAN countries, Timor Leste and ASEAN Secretary-General Dr. Kao Kim Hourn at the opening ceremony of the AMM-58 on July 9. (Photo: VNA)

AMM-58, related meetings open in Kuala Lumpur

AMM-58 is the largest gathering of ASEAN foreign ministers and senior diplomats from around the world to discuss pressing global and regional issues, promote cooperation, and advance the security and sustainability agenda in ASEAN.

(Photo: nationthailand.com)

Thailand hopes to conclude US trade talks before new deadline

The Southeast Asian country has offered to cut import duties on most US goods to zero, expand access for US agricultural and industrial products, and increase purchases of energy and Boeing jets. It also pledged to reduce its 46 billion USD trade surplus with the US by 70% within five years.

A resident buys vegetables at a Bangkok supermarket. (Photo: bangkokpost.com)

Thailand’s CPI falls for 3rd straight month in June

Thailand’s consumer price index (CPI) declined for a third consecutive month in June, attributed to lower energy and food prices, though there are no signs of deflation, according to the country’s Commerce Ministry.

Jirayu Huangsap, Spokesperson for the Prime Minister’s Office (Photo: The nation)

Thai cabinet approves withdrawal of entertainment complex bill

The bill, which had previously been proposed by the Ministry of Finance, outlined mechanisms for regulating entertainment businesses through a two-level committee system: the Comprehensive Entertainment Policy Committee and the Entertainment Business Control Board. The goal is to establish standards and regulatory measures for the industry.