Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin said today that he has been informed that convicted former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra will be released on parole from the Police General Hospital on Sunday, but he does not know at what time.
He said he believes the release is in compliance with the country’s justice process.
Asked when he will meet Thaksin following his release, Srettha said that he will have to wait for the right timing, as he has respect for all former prime ministers and sees no shame in consulting Thaksin on certain issues, adding that he has previously consulted former prime minister Prayut Chan-o-cha.
He also said that he has not thought about appointing Thaksin as an advisor, adding that he is not sure whether he would be willing to accept such a position anyway.
The Police General Hospital remains quiet today, without any reporters or anti-Thaksin activist groups evident.
The deputy national police chief in charge of security, Pol Gen Surachate Hakparn, said that crowd control officers have been put on standby to cope with any unruly incidents tomorrow when Thaksin is due to be released.
A lawyer for the anti-Thaksin activist group, Puangtip Boonsanong, said that the group will decide today whether they will rally in front of the hospital tomorrow.
The group earlier demanded to see Thaksin, to confirm whether he is still on the 14th floor of the hospital, and offered to replace the malfunctioning surveillance cameras at the hospital. Their demanded and offer were rejected by the hospital.
The prime minister, Tourism and Sports Minister Sudawan Wangsuphakijkosol, PM’s Office Secretary-General Prommin Lertsuridej and Chai Wacharonke, the government spokesman are scheduled to be visiting Nakhon Phanom, Sakhon Nakhon and Udon Thani today until Monday.
In Nakhon Phanom, the prime minister and his team will visit the Thai-Vietnamese friendship village, the monument to the late Vietnamese leader Ho Chi Minh, the One Stop Service export centre and the third Thai-Lao friendship bridge. The team will also hold talks on promoting relations and tourism between Thailand and Vietnam and meet people in Sakhon Nakhon province.
