thaksin shinawatra granted

Thaksin Shinawatra Granted Parole, Set for Release on May 11

ByJustpaste.in

BANGKOK — Former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra has been approved for parole without the requirement to wear an electronic monitoring device, with his release scheduled for May 11 following a meeting of a Ministry of Justice parole committee that reviewed more than 500 eligible inmates nationwide.

Thaksin Shinawatra Set to Walk Free on Parole in May

The decision was reached on Wednesday after a meeting chaired by Tharinee Saengsawang, the ministry’s deputy permanent secretary. The session lasted more than three hours and included representatives from multiple agencies, including the Department of Corrections, the Department of Probation, the Department of Rights and Liberties Protection, the Office of the Attorney-General, the Royal Thai Police and others.

The committee agreed that Thaksin, currently held at Klong Prem Central Prison, qualified for parole and would not be required to wear an EM ankle bracelet. The exemption was granted on the grounds that he is over 70 years old and has underlying medical conditions that make continuous monitoring impractical or unnecessarily burdensome.

Thaksin, 76, has been behind bars since September 9 last year, when the Supreme Court ordered him to serve a one-year sentence for abuse of authority and conflict of interest while serving as prime minister prior to the 2006 military coup that ousted him from power. The court notably ruled that it did not recognise Thaksin’s prolonged stay in a VIP ward at the Police General Hospital during 2023 and 2024 as qualifying for prison time, a decision that reset the clock on his incarceration.

As of May 11, Thaksin will have served two-thirds of his one-year sentence, the minimum threshold required for parole eligibility under Thai regulations. Corrections officials said the resolution would be submitted to the commander of Klong Prem Central Prison and probation officials to prepare for Thaksin’s release on that date. He will then remain under probation supervision for the remaining four months of his term.

Under standard probation conditions, parolees are required to report regularly to probation officers, reside at an approved address, comply with the law and refrain from activities that could lead to reoffending. Movement outside designated areas requires prior approval, and violations may result in parole revocation. However, given Thaksin’s age, health status and political stature, it remains to be seen how strictly these conditions will be enforced.

The decision to grant parole without electronic monitoring is likely to be controversial, given Thaksin’s high profile and the widespread expectation that he would at minimum be required to wear an ankle bracelet. His supporters will see the decision as a just recognition of his age and health; his opponents will view it as yet another example of preferential treatment for the powerful.

Supreme Court Orders Thaksin to Pay 17.6 Billion Baht Tax Bill for 2006 Shin Corp Share Transfer

Thaksin’s release on May 11 will mark the end of his formal incarceration, though he will remain subject to probation conditions for four additional months. The former prime minister, who has lived in self-exile for much of the past two decades, has been a polarising figure in Thai politics since his ouster in 2006. His return to Thailand last year and subsequent imprisonment were seen as a gamble: a calculation that the political winds had shifted enough to allow him to come home without immediate arrest. He was arrested, convicted and imprisoned, but less than a year later, he is walking free again—without even an electronic tag to mark his movements. For Thaksin, the gamble paid off. For his critics, the outcome was never really in doubt.

-Thailand News (TN)

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    DI Khan church still guards colonial memories

    ByJustpaste.in

    There are some places we pass every day without realising how much history they hold. They remain untapped until some visitors put their eyes on them. During summer vacations, I travelled to Dera Ismail Khan, a district situated in southern Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. It takes six hours from Lahore to arrive in this historic city. During my stay there, I came across one such place that immediately captured my attention, and I thought to write about it. It was St Thomas Church, sacred place of worship for Christian community. A large cross standing at the entrance, old rusty walls, and an ambience of spiritualism. But the Church showcased more than that. Its walls contain historical accounts of colonial past, the military campaigns led by British soldiers in this area and a grave of one Lieutenant Governor of Punjab.   St Thomas Church was built in 1856 during British rule in the Indian subcontinent. It is one of the oldest churches in present-day Pakistan. It has survived political changes, the Partition of 1947, and the passing of time. Even today it stands as a symbol of the rich and diverse heritage of Dera Ismail Khan. The church is not only a place of worship but also a reminder that different faiths and communities have long been part of the history of this region. As we walked inside, we met the old priest and caretaker of the church named Chand. He welcomed us warmly and narrated the remarkable history of this place. There are memorials of British soldiers who lost their lives in this region during military campaigns. The priest stood in front of each tablet inscribed on the church wall and briefed about it. One memorial narrates the names, ranks and units of one hundred and 69 British military officers and other ranks who were killed or died due to injuries or disease in Waziristan military campaigns launched between 1919 to 1921.     Another memorial lists details of sixty-eight officers and other ranks who met a similar fate during the 1936-1938 Waziristan military campaigns. Similarly, one tablet erected by friends and fellow officers mourns the death of Herbert Walter Gee, ICS, deputy commissioner of Dera Ismail Khan, who died in 1901. There are other memorials as well, erected by colleagues in memory of the fallen officers. I thought that these names contain historical accounts year by year about what happened in this part of the world at that time. Every sentence of the Priest carried a new story, such as how the church has witnessed a lot of happenings through generations and that it still serves the small Christian community living in Dera Ismail Khan. As we stepped outside, believing our visit had come to an end, the priest said, “Wait. I have to show you one more thing.” He took me to the back of the building, where I saw a large white grave standing quietly among the dusty bushes. Here rests Lieutenant General Sir Henry Marion Durand (1812-1871). Durdand – a quite familiar name for the people of Pakistan and Afghanistan. Sir Durand was a career British military officer, diplomat, and administrator. He served in the East India Company Army, took part in several military campaigns, and later became the Lieutenant Governor of Punjab from 1870 to 1871. His son Sir Mortimer Durand is the one who drew the contours of the border between British India and Afghanistan in 1893. A man who once held such an important position now lies in silence behind an old church, while many people living nearby are unaware that his grave even exists. Henry Marion Durand died in 1871 at the age of 58 from a tragic accident. He was visiting Nawab of Tank Shahnawaz Khan along with his daughter when he fell from an elephant. The elephant was passing through the gateway by the town of Tank with the Nawab on the same elephant and an official (Chaprassy). The gate was too low to cross an elephant with howdah. The howdah struck the walls of crossing and the elephant got frightened resulting in the fall of Durand. He remained unconscious for a few days and never recovered. He was buried beside St. Thomas’ Church in Dera Ismail Khan. The British suspected some conspiracy into this incident. One of descendent of Nawab Shahnawaz Khan says that The British launched an enquiry into it. But the daughter of Durand gave testimony in favour of the Nawab that it was just an accident and there was no fault on his part. However, as a punishment, the British authorities stripped the powers of Nawab Shahnawaz Khan in 1875 and sent him to Lahore under strict watch. He passed away in 1881 while under surveillance. Standing beside the grave of Sir Henry Durand, I felt as if I had stepped into a forgotten chapter of history. The name engraved on the stone reminded me that many important events and personalities of the past remain connected to places that we often overlook. How easily history can fade from people’s memories, even when it is standing right in front of us. As I left St Thomas Church, I felt that I had walked through a chapter of history that few people ever get to read. Sir Henry Durand ruled Punjab from this soil, and his son later sat across a table in Kabul and drew the line that still separates Afghanistan and Pakistan today. That line appears in newspapers and political debates all the time. Yet the grave of the man whose name it carries lies quietly behind a church in Dera Ismail Khan.

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    AJK polling enters third phase amid tight security

    ByJustpaste.in

    MUZAFFARABAD: Voting in the third phase of the Azad Jammu and Kashmir general elections began on Monday in four constituencies of Bagh and Haveli districts. Polling started at 8am and will continue until 5pm. Security has been tightened across the constituencies due to concerns over possible clashes and disturbances. Authorities have declared most of the 803 polling stations sensitive or highly sensitive. A large security contingent has been deployed to maintain law and order. Around 10,300 additional security personnel have been sent to Bagh and Haveli. Officials said the deployment was aimed at providing a safe environment for voters and election staff. The third phase was originally planned for all 11 constituencies of Poonch Division. However, voting was restricted to Bagh and Haveli after authorities reviewed the security situation. The remaining seven constituencies are expected to be polled later this month. Election officials have indicated that voting could take place on August 20 or 21, depending on the security situation. The current phase has attracted considerable political attention. Several prominent leaders are contesting the four seats. AJK Prime Minister Faisal Mumtaz Rathore is seeking to retain his constituency. Two former prime ministers, Sardar Tanveer Ilyas and Sardar Attique Ahmed Khan, are also in the electoral race. A total of 460,371 voters are eligible to cast their ballots. They include 238,664 men and 221,707 women. The election is being held at 803 polling stations. These stations have 1,254 polling booths. As many as 82 candidates are competing in the four constituencies. LA-14 Dhirkot has the highest number of candidates. Thirty candidates are contesting the seat. LA-17 Haveli has nine candidates, the lowest number among the four constituencies. In LA-17 Haveli, Prime Minister Rathore is facing PML-N candidate Engineer Mohsin Aziz and independent contender Khawaja Tariq Saeed. Rathore and Saeed were previously political allies. They had reportedly agreed to contest the seat alternately. Their political relationship changed after Rathore became prime minister. Rathore sought Saeed’s withdrawal from the contest. Saeed refused to step aside. The two former allies are now competing against each other. Mohsin Aziz is also running an active campaign. His father, Chaudhry Mohammad Aziz, had won the constituency several times in the past. The PML-N candidate is expected to receive support from sections of the Gujjar community. Saeed is believed to have support among parts of the Kashmiri community and several smaller clans. Rathore has expressed confidence about retaining the seat. He has highlighted the performance of his government during his tenure. The constituency has also witnessed allegations of electoral irregularities. Claims circulated on social media about alleged manipulation by two presiding officers. Election officials rejected the allegations as presented on social media. However, they confirmed receiving complaints against the two officials. Both were subsequently removed from election duties. In LA-15 Wasti Bagh, former prime minister Sardar Tanveer Ilyas is facing several strong contenders. The candidates include PML-N nominee and former minister Mushtaq Ahmed Minhas. PPP candidate and sitting minister Sardar Ziaul Qamar is also contesting. Jamaat-i-Islami candidate retired Brigadier Dr Mohammad Khan is another key contender. Ilyas had initially announced a boycott of the third phase. He later reversed the decision and returned to the election campaign. He has described the contest as important for his political future. He has also linked his campaign to the possibility of securing a senior constitutional position after the election. Ilyas and Ziaul Qamar belong to the same Madiyal tribe. Brigadier Khan belongs to the Narma clan. He is backed by several influential Jamaat-i-Islami figures and local supporters. Mushtaq Minhas is benefiting from the PML-N’s position as the leading party in the elections held so far. The party has secured the largest number of seats in the previous phases and is expected to play a major role in forming the next government. In LA-16 Sharqi Bagh, former ministers Sardar Mir Akbar and Sardar Qamar Zaman are among the main contenders. Mir Akbar is contesting on the PML-N ticket. Qamar is representing the PPP. The LA-14 Dhirkot contest has also emerged as one of the closely watched races. Sardar Attique Ahmed Khan, head of the Muslim Conference, is seeking another victory from the constituency. He has represented the seat for several years and previously served as AJK prime minister. He is facing a strong challenge from Sajid Iqbal Abbasi of the Awam Dast-o-Bazu Party. Abbasi is a contractor and philanthropist. He has reportedly spent substantial personal resources on welfare and development projects in the constituency. His supporters believe his community work has helped him build a strong voter base. The contest has become more interesting because Attique and Abbasi belong to the same tribe. PML-N candidate Raja Faisal Azad and PPP nominee Raja Mubashar Ejaz are also contesting Dhirkot. However, the main competition is expected to remain between Attique and Abbasi. The results of the third phase could influence the political balance in AJK. The PML-N has already emerged as the strongest party in the earlier phases. The PPP and other political groups will now seek to strengthen their position in the remaining contests.

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    The dual catalyst of changing climate and human

    ByJustpaste.in

    France is confronting unprecedented environmental devastation as wildfires swept across the nation’s forests and countryside. The fire burned over 300,000 acres. A level of destruction not witnessed in the country since the aftermath of the Second World War. The communities assess ruined homes, scorched ecosystems and degraded air quality. The French public and authorities are left with an urgent question: what is driving these catastrophic blazes? A Perfect Storm of Climate Conditions At the root of the crisis is a changing global climate driven by greenhouse gas emissions. Rising regional temperatures, combined with prolonged dry spells, have transformed expansive tracts of woodland into dry tinderbox environments. In these prolonged heatwaves, humidity drops sharply, rendering vegetation prone to rapid ignition. Under such extreme drought, even a minor spark can ignite an uncontrollable inferno within minutes. Environmental scientists emphasize that while climate conditions establish the background vulnerability, they do not act alone. Heat and drought create the ideal environment for fires to spread, but the vast majority require an initial ignition source. The Human Factor: Negligence, Accidents and Arson Official records in France reveal a shocking pattern. Approximately nine out of every ten wildfires originate from human activity.  Public concern often focuses on intentional acts of arson. However, investigators note that deliberate fire-setting accounts for only a fraction of total blazes. The overwhelming majority stem from everyday human negligence or accidents. Common accidental triggers include: Discarded Cigarettes: Unextinguished butts tossed from vehicles or thrown onto dry brush. Fire investigators refer to the rule of 30 conditions where ambient temperatures exceed 30°C (86°F), humidity drops below 30%, wind speeds stay below 30 km/h. A remaining cigarette segment retains at least 30% of its length. Under severe drought, these thresholds lower drastically, making ignition almost immediate. Infrastructure and Equipment: Sparks generated by heavy machinery, ongoing construction projects, or faulty electrical equipment operating near dry grass. Recreational Fires: Unattended outdoor barbecues and small campfires in or around forested boundaries. In response to the scale of destruction, the French Interior Ministry has taken aggressive legal action, detaining over 400 individuals suspected of initiating blazes either through reckless behavior or intentional acts. Among those apprehended are scores of minors, as well as individuals facing immediate judicial sentencing for setting fires in protected woodland zones. Mental health professionals and legal experts point out that intentional fire-starters typically fall into distinct categories, including careless individuals, opportunistic actors seeking financial gain (such as insurance payouts), pyromaniacs, or individuals seeking recognition during emergency responses. Looking Ahead: Reconstruction and Forest Adaptation The unprecedented severity of the blazes has sparked intense public debate over state readiness and resource allocation. Critics question whether preventive measures and response mechanisms were adequate for a summer marked by continuous heatwaves. Addressing the national crisis, French President Emmanuel Macron emphasized the necessity of adapting national forestry policy to match evolving climate realities. Rebuilding efforts will require replanting woodlands with more fire-resistant tree species rather than simply restoring vulnerable pine monocultures. As emergency crews continue to monitor remaining hotspots and brace for subsequent heatwaves, France faces a long-term strategy shift: balancing immediate enforcement against negligence with broad ecological adaptation.

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    AJK election commission revises third-phase pollin…

    ByJustpaste.in

    The Azad Jammu and Kashmir Election Commission has revised the schedule for the third phase of the Legislative Assembly elections. Polling in Poonch and Sudhanoti districts has been postponed. The election commission has now decided to hold the third phase in Bagh and Haveli districts. Under the earlier schedule, polling was planned for August 10. Voting was expected to take place across 11 seats in four districts of the Poonch division. The election authorities have now changed the plan. The new schedule will cover constituencies in Bagh and Haveli. The first two phases of the AJK elections have already been completed. The first phase was held on July 27 in the Mirpur Division. The second phase took place on August 2 in the Muzaffarabad Division. The elections are being closely watched because of the political contest between the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz and the Pakistan Peoples Party. The PML-N has emerged as the leading party in the first two phases. Its leaders have claimed that the party has secured enough support to form the next AJK government. In the second phase, voting was held in 21 constituencies. Nine seats were located in the Muzaffarabad Division. Twelve seats were reserved for Kashmiri refugees settled in different parts of Pakistan. According to unofficial and provisional results, the PML-N won 15 of the 21 seats. The PPP secured the remaining six seats. The PML-N had also performed strongly during the first phase. Unofficial results showed the party winning nine constituencies. The PPP won four seats. The election process has also been accompanied by allegations of irregularities and violence. The PPP has questioned the fairness of the elections and accused the authorities of failing to ensure a transparent process. PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari has strongly criticised the election process. He described the polls as unfair and alleged that violence and irregularities affected the voting. Bilawal also said the PPP would continue its political struggle despite the party’s performance in the elections. He claimed that the federal government would face political challenges in the future. The PML-N has rejected the allegations. PML-N leader and Prime Minister’s Adviser on Political Affairs Rana Sanaullah challenged the PPP to present evidence of electoral irregularities before the election commission. He said accusations should be supported by evidence. He also accused the PPP of promoting allegations of rigging from the beginning of the election process. The revised schedule has now shifted attention towards Bagh and Haveli. The election authorities are expected to provide further details about polling arrangements and the dates for voting in the postponed constituencies.

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    Court extends Gul Plaza probe till Aug 9

    ByJustpaste.in

    KARACHI: A judicial magistrate in Karachi has granted investigators additional time to complete the investigation into the Gul Plaza tragedy case. The court extended the deadline until August 9 and directed the investigating officer to submit a complete report at the next hearing. During the proceedings, the investigating officer informed the court that the inquiry was still in progress and requested more time to finalize the investigation. He said responses from several government departments had been collected, but information from some key institutions was still awaited. The court was told that six government departments had already submitted their replies to investigators. However, responses from the Sindh Building Control Authority (SBCA) and the Water Corporation had not yet been received, preventing the investigation from being completed. The investigating officer requested that the court allow additional time so that all pending replies could be included in the final investigation report. The court accepted the request and granted an extension until August 9. The magistrate directed the investigating officer to complete all remaining inquiries before the next hearing and submit a comprehensive report covering all aspects of the case. The court stressed the importance of ensuring that the investigation is thorough and based on complete information from all relevant departments. The Gul Plaza tragedy case has remained under investigation as authorities continue collecting evidence and official records from various institutions. Investigators are examining the role of different departments and reviewing all available documents before reaching their final conclusions.

  • Cambodia Initiates UN Conciliation Process Over Maritime Dispute With Thailand

    ByJustpaste.in

    BANGKOK, Thailand — Cambodia has formally notified the United Nations and Thailand of its decision to initiate a compulsory conciliation process under international law to resolve a longstanding maritime boundary dispute in the Gulf of Thailand. The diplomatic move follows Thailand’s recent unilateral termination of a 2001 bilateral agreement that had previously provided a framework […]

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