With the court acquitting her of charges linked to a roadshow campaign, the countdown has begun for fugitive ex-prime minister Yingluck Shinawatra to return to Thailand after more than 10 years of self-imposed exile. Paetongtarn Shinawatra, leader of the Pheu Thai Party and Yingluck's niece, said the runaway ex-PM wants to come home but has not yet set a date.
On Monday, the Supreme Court's Criminal Case Division for Holders of Political Positions ruled in favour of Yingluck and five others for malfeasance and collusion in the 240-million-baht campaign to promote her government's 2-trillion-baht infrastructure projects.
The other five parties are: former PM's Office minister Niwatthamrong Boonsongpaisan, Yingluck's then-secretary-general Suranand Vejjajiva, Matichon Plc, Siam Sport Syndicate Plc, and Siam Sport director Ravi Lohtong.
Almost all court cases against the ex-PM have been cleared except for the transfer of then-national security council secretary general Thawil Pliansri to an inactive post in 2011. The latter brought the case to court, alleging Yingluck was guilty of abusing her power. The court ruled on Yingluck's case last December but Mr Thawil appealed.
Yet the main reason for her delayed return related to the five-year prison term handed to her by the court for her role in a controversial rice-pledging scheme. There is wide speculation she may try to follow the same course as her older brother Thaksin, returning and seeking a royal pardon. Some observers have checked possible timelines and the necessary procedures for Yingluck's return.
According to political experts, if Yingluck is to take the same path as Thaksin, she has to show her willingness to come back and face punishment before requesting a royal pardon. Thaksin spent 17 years abroad after fleeing the country in 2007 while on bail. He eventually made a return on Aug 22 last year amid rumours of a "political deal" -- forming ties with the right-wing conservative camp -- following unfavourable election results, as Pheu Thai came second after the progressive Move Forward Party in the May 14 polls.
A royal pardon reduced Thaksin's eight-year prison term to just 12 months. But the de facto Pheu Thai leader, who is over 70 years old, claimed to be sick and avoided prison for the past six months by staying in Police General Hospital instead. He was recently released on parole, in what is seen to be a glaring example of double standards in the Thai judicial system.
Of course, Yingluck wants to end her exile and return home without punishment, but Pheu Thai and other concerned parties must first conceive of a way to make that happen. The party and the Shinawatra family must bear in mind that if she also receives "privileged" treatment, it will not do the government -- which is already struggling for public support -- any good.
It could end up backfiring for Pheu Thai, should the party spend too much time securing Yingluck's return in the upcoming months while the country faces a plethora of problems.
Also, while Yingluck has enjoyed freedom for more than a decade, two ministers in her former cabinet -- Boonsong Teriyapirom and Phum Sarapol -- as well as some high-ranking officials from the Commerce Ministry, have been jailed for years from the rice-pledging scheme. Pheu Thai and the rest of the government will have to weigh their plans carefully regarding the Yingluck case. Unfair privilege comes at a high cost.
