02.28.08
Thaksin returns to Thailand after 17 months of exile
Ousted Thai Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra waves to his supporters as he leaves the supreme court in Bangkok. Thaksin Shinawatra made an emotional return from exile today, swearing to stay out of politics despite a widespread belief he would run the country from behind the scenes. Deposed Thai Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra returned today from 17 months in exile to face corruption charges, receiving a hero’s welcome from supporters and vowing to restore his reputation following his ouster in a coup.Thaksin was born into a well-off Chinese-Thai business family in the northern city of Chiang Mai. He joined the police upon graduation from high school and later earned scholarships to American universities for graduate degrees in criminology. He became the first civilian prime minister to serve out a full four-year term.
Police briefly took the 58-year-old billionaire into custody after he arrived at Bangkok’s international airport on a Thai Airways flight from Hong Kong, and brought him before a top court where he was immediately released on bail.
While he could face up to 15 years behind prison bars, Thaksin’s return was a triumphant re-entry to center stage of Thai politics despite nearly two years when the country’s most powerful institutions, including the military, tried to eradicate his legacy and keep him at bay.