“I WILL STAY STRONG”: THAKSIN
Thaksin said that he accepted the court’s decision.
“Today, I may no longer have freedom, but have freedom of thought to create benefit for the country and people,” Thaksin said in a statement on Facebook.
“I will stay strong physically and mentally, spend time to serve the king, country and Thai people.”
Speaking to reporters outside the court, his daughter Paetongtarn Shinawatra decried the ruling, adding that Thaksin was the first Thai prime minister to go to prison despite the “good he has done for the country”.
She also expressed concern for his health given the new circumstances and thanked the king for previously commuting her father’s sentence.
“I’m worried about my father, but I’m also proud that he has created so many historic moments for the country,” she said. “It’s quite tough, but of course we are still in a good spirit, both my father and our family.”
A political ally of Thaksin who was in the courtroom said he took the decision well.
“He still has the fighting spirit, he told me he came back (from overseas) and was ready to face any situation, whether it’s good or bad,” Kokaew Pikulthong, a lawmaker for the Pheu Thai party, told reporters.
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