Fugitive former prime ministers Thaksin and Yingluck Shinawatra are reportedly celebrating Chinese New Year in Beijing.
Paetongtarn Shinawatra, Thaksin’s daughter, on Saturday posted a photo online of Thaksin standing with a New Year's sign (see below) and another of him with two traditional child-figures. The post included the message, “I would like to convey a Happy Chinese New Year message in advance to all Thais from Beijing”.
His sister, Yingluck, is also reportedly in Beijing with him.
A photo of Thaksin and Yingluck shopping for fruit in a market said to be in Beijing was widely shared on the internet.
Police spokesman Pol Gen Weerachai Songmetta said the authorities do not have any official information regarding Yingluck’s whereabouts.
He said a warrant for her arrest cannot be sent to Interpol as long as she continues moving frequently, as Interpol requires a confirmed address before it can take action against any individual.
Thaksin has been living in exile since 2008, when he fled Thailand in the middle of his abuse of power trial relating to the Ratchadaphisek land deal. He was sentenced in absentia to two years in prison.
Meanwhile, Yingluck fled the country in August ahead of the Supreme Court’s Criminal Division for Holders of Political Positions’ ruling against her in a negligence of duty case relating to her government’s rice-pledging scheme which incurred hundreds of billion of baht in losses. She was later sentenced in absentia to five years behind bars.
