Thaksin brothers appear in Singapore

Mr. Thaksin and Ms. Yingluck Shinawatra. Photo: ThaiTribune

Reuters quoted a source as saying that the Shinawatra brothers were seen at a hotel in Singapore today, February 20, chatting with a group of men. The identity of this group is still unknown.

News of the Shinawatra brothers' rare public appearance came a day after lawmakers from Thailand's Pheu Thai Party said they had flown to Hong Kong over the weekend to meet former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra, who has called for party unity ahead of a general election in November.

The Thaksin family is believed to have maintained a certain influence on Thai politics for nearly two decades, even after having to flee abroad and live in exile to avoid impeachment.

Mr Thaksin served as Prime Minister of Thailand from 2001 to 2006 before being overthrown by the military. He then fled abroad and is believed to have settled in Dubai.

His sister, Ms. Yingluck, was elected Prime Minister in 2011 and was ousted in 2014. In August 2017, Ms. Yingluck fled abroad just before her impeachment trial related to her responsibility in the rice subsidy program that cost the Thai government billions of dollars.

Ms Yingluck is believed to have fled to Britain and has recently been seen with her brother in Hong Kong, China and Japan before arriving in Singapore. Thai army chief General Chalermchai Sitthisart is also in Singapore to receive an award from the Singaporean Ministry of Defence. Before leaving Bangkok, General Chalermchai told reporters that he would not meet the Shinawatra brothers while in Singapore.

In a related development, several sources familiar with the matter said that Ms. Yingluck may hold a press conference later this month or early next month while in Asia. This would be her first press conference since fleeing the country.