BANGKOK — Former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra is experiencing significant stress while detained at Bangkok’s Klong Prem Central Prison, his daughter Paetongtarn Shinawatra revealed following a visit on Thursday.
Speaking to reporters after the November 20 visit, Paetongtarn said that while her father’s physical health remains stable, “his mental health may be under quite a lot of stress.”
The former prime minister’s daughter noted that the prison commander had invited Thaksin to participate in the “Dharma Numwang” program, which he appeared willing to join. She said her father was doing “okay” overall during this period of changing weather conditions.
When asked about the Attorney-General’s recent decision to appeal a previous order not to prosecute Thaksin on charges under Section 112 (lèse-majesté), Paetongtarn offered only a slight smile and remained silent, declining to answer the question.
Pressed on whether she viewed the legal proceedings as a political maneuver to prevent Thaksin from emerging before the 2026 elections, Paetongtarn said she has largely stepped back from politics.
“If we’re talking about now, I myself have withdrawn from politics very much already — almost completely,” she said. “I’ve let the party move forward on its own. I probably need to take care of my father’s mental well-being.”
The Attorney-General’s appeal marks a reversal from an earlier decision not to pursue lèse-majesté charges against the former prime minister, raising questions about the political implications as Thailand heads toward its next general election.
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