Latest news on the whereabouts of fugitive former Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra

Former Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra has not yet been granted political asylum in the UK, Thai Foreign Minister Don Pramudwinai said.

Former Thai Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra. Photo: AFP

The Bangkok Post on October 31 quoted Thai Foreign Minister Don Pramudwinai as saying that the British government has not yet recognized former Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra as a political refugee.

The British government has confirmed that if former Prime Minister Yingluck is in the country, she is here under a different form, not as a political refugee, Mr Don said.

Thailand's foreign minister said the country's authorities have not been able to determine exactly where Ms. Yingluck is since she fled Thailand just before her sentencing hearing on August 25.

“It is not clear which country Yingluck is in. There are rumors that she has gone to the UK,” Mr Don added.

On September 27, the Supreme Court of Thailand sentenced former Prime Minister Yingluck in absentia to five years in prison for negligence in supervising the rice subsidy program, causing serious consequences.

The Thai Foreign Ministry revoked all four passports (two diplomatic passports, two ordinary passports) of Ms. Yingluck after the 30-day appeal period ended on October 27.

The Office of the Attorney General (OAG) said Yingluck had not sent legal representatives to file an appeal or request an extension of the appeal period. The OAG, which is considered the plaintiff in the case, has said it has no intention of appealing. As such, the former Thai prime minister’s case will be closed, according to the law, with the sentence imposed a month earlier.

The revocation of Yingluck's passport is part of efforts by Thai police to bring the former prime minister back to serve her sentence. From now on, Yingluck will not be able to use a Thai passport to travel between countries.

This decision has been notified to Thai embassies around the world, however it is not yet clear whether Ms. Yingluck owns a foreign passport or not.

Former Prime Minister Yingluck is believed to have fled Thailand on August 23 to Dubai (UAE), then to London (UK) to seek political asylum.

When asked about the information by the Bangkok Post, British Ambassador to Thailand Brian Davidson said: “I have not received any information about this and have no comment. However, the Thai government has the right to any Thai citizen’s passport.”

Mr. Brian also confirmed that he did not know where Ms. Yingluck was.

Somkid Chuakong, a former Pheu Thai MP in Ubon Ratchathani, said the Thai government's revocation of Yingluck's passport would not affect the Pheu Thai Party, as the former Prime Minister would likely not travel much during this time.

Mr. Somkid believes that Ms. Yingluck will remain hidden and only speak out when the Thai government allows her to resume political activities.

Previously, on October 7, the Nation newspaper quoted the former Thai Prime Minister's legal team as saying that Ms. Yingluck is currently considering applying for asylum in the UK, Germany or France.

The former prime minister's priority is the UK, where she is currently residing on a tourist visa and where her brother Thaksin Shinawtra owns an apartment.

According to the Nation, applying for political asylum in the UK is very difficult. Many asylum applications are rejected by the British government because of the strict and complicated regulations. In 2016, only 28% of asylum applications were approved by the British government.

Legal expert Thanakrit Worathanatchakul said asylum seekers in the UK were forced to prove they could not return to their home country because of concerns related to their race, religion, nationality or political views.

It will take six months for the UK authorities to consider an asylum application. If the application is successful, the asylum seeker can stay in the UK for five years. If after five years the asylum seeker still fears having to return to their home country, they can apply to settle in the UK.

According to TPO