Thaksin Shinawatra on his way back to Thailand after years-long exile

Former Thai Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra is on his way back to Thailand after nearly 17 years in exile.

Thaksin boarded a private plane in Singapore and was on his way to Bangkok’s Don Mueang airport, his sister Yingluck Shinawatra, also a former prime minister, posted social media on Tuesday. A video she shared on TikTok showed Thaksin, dressed in suit with a red tie, walking up the steps to board the aircraft.

Thaksin, who made his fortune in the telecommunications business, is expected to arrive in Bangkok at about 9am (02:00 GMT) local time. Supporters, dressed in red, began gathering at the airport early on Tuesday to welcome him home. The mood was festive despite reports that the tycoon would be arrested by police on his arrival in the country.

(Aljazeera)