May, Modi, Merkel, Macron: Past and present world leaders with impeccable fashion sense

<p>A Thai court on Wednesday sentenced 14 political leaders to jail, including three incumbent cabinet ministers, after finding them guilty of insurrection during anti-government protests that culminated in a 2014 military coup.</p>

<p>The court found 26 of 39 defendants guilty, a lawyer for the group said, for actions that included obstructing elections and invading government property, which took place during seven months of demonstrations against the government of Yingluck Shinawatra.</p>

<p>Digital Minister Puttipong Punnakanta, Education Minister Nataphol Teepsuwan and Deputy Transport Minister Thaworn Senneam received jail terms ranging from five years to seven years and four months. According to the country's constitution, they will be required to vacate their posts.</p>

<p>A government spokesman declined to give comment on jailed ministers, while the court could not be reached.</p>

<p>The ministers are all in the cabinet of Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-ocha, who led a coup that overthrew Yingluck in 2014, an intervention the military said was necessary to prevent bloodshed as protests against her intensified.</p>

<p>"They pleaded not guilty to all the charges and will appeal," said Sawat Charoenpon, a lawyer representing the People's Democratic Reform Committee (PDRC), as the group is known.</p>

<p>PDRC leader and former deputy prime minister Suthep Thaugsuban was jailed for five years. Of those found guilty, 12 were given suspended sentences and six were released on bail.</p>

<p>"We the leaders of the PDRC have been convicted to many years in jail yet all of us still maintain our ideals of serving the nation, religion and king," Suthep posted on Facebook after the verdict.</p>

<p>The PDRC protests in 2013 and 2014 play a pivotal role in uniting royalist and nationalist forces against a government they said was controlled by fugitive tycoon and ousted former premier Thaksin Shinawatra, Yingluck's exiled brother. Both Shinawatras won elections by landslides.</p>

<p>Prayuth stayed on as prime minister after the coup and retained the post after a 2019 election, which he insists was free and fair, despite opposition allegations of foul play.</p>

<p>The former general endured months of street protests himself last year by a youth-led movement demanding his resignation, a new constitution and reforms to the monarchy.</p>


A Thai court on Wednesday sentenced 14 political leaders to jail, including three incumbent cabinet ministers, after finding them guilty of insurrection during anti-government protests that culminated in a 2014 military coup.

A Thai court on Wednesday sentenced 14 political leaders to jail, including three incumbent cabinet ministers, after finding them guilty of insurrection during anti-government protests that culminated in a 2014 military coup. The court found 26 of 39 defendants guilty, a lawyer for the group said, for actions that included obstructing elections and invading government property, which took place during seven months of demonstrations against the government of Yingluck Shinawatra. Digital Minister Puttipong Punnakanta, Education Minister Nataphol Teepsuwan and Deputy Transport Minister Thaworn Senneam received jail terms ranging from five years to seven years and four months. According to the country's constitution, they will be required to vacate their posts. A government spokesman declined to give comment on jailed ministers, while the court could not be reached. The ministers are all in the cabinet of Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-ocha, who led a coup that overthrew Yingluck in 2014, an intervention the military said was necessary to prevent bloodshed as protests against her intensified. "They pleaded not guilty to all the charges and will appeal," said Sawat Charoenpon, a lawyer representing the People's Democratic Reform Committee (PDRC), as the group is known. PDRC leader and former deputy prime minister Suthep Thaugsuban was jailed for five years. Of those found guilty, 12 were given suspended sentences and six were released on bail. "We the leaders of the PDRC have been convicted to many years in jail yet all of us still maintain our ideals of serving the nation, religion and king," Suthep posted on Facebook after the verdict. The PDRC protests in 2013 and 2014 play a pivotal role in uniting royalist and nationalist forces against a government they said was controlled by fugitive tycoon and ousted former premier Thaksin Shinawatra, Yingluck's exiled brother. Both Shinawatras won elections by landslides. Prayuth stayed on as prime minister after the coup and retained the post after a 2019 election, which he insists was free and fair, despite opposition allegations of foul play. The former general endured months of street protests himself last year by a youth-led movement demanding his resignation, a new constitution and reforms to the monarchy.

Thai ministers jailed as court finds 26 guilty of insurrection

<div>A stridently anti-military Thai party was dissolved Friday and its key members banned from politics for a decade over a $6 million loan by its billionaire founder, a withering blow to the kingdom's pro-democracy movement.</div>

<div>&nbsp;</div>

<div>The <a href="The Future Forward Party (FFP), fronted by the charismatic auto-parts scion Thanathorn Juangroongruangkit, emerged from nowhere in March last year to become Thailand's third biggest party in the first elections since a 2014 coup.">Future Forward Party</a> (FFP), fronted by the charismatic auto-parts scion <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/thousands-join-biggest-protest-for-years-in-thai-capital-268301">Thanathorn Juangroongruangkit</a>, emerged from nowhere in March last year to become Thailand's third biggest party in the first elections since a 2014 coup.</div>

<div>
<p><strong>Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/thailands-future-forward-party-leader-charged-with-sedition-208296">Thailand's Future Forward Party leader charged with sedition</a></strong></p>

<p>The party's radical agenda calling for full democracy, an end to conscription and the removal of the army from politics and business pitched it against the powerful, conservative military.</p>
</div>

<div>But since their strong poll showing, <a href="The Future Forward Party (FFP), fronted by the charismatic auto-parts scion Thanathorn Juangroongruangkit, emerged from nowhere in March last year to become Thailand's third biggest party in the first elections since a 2014 coup.">Thanathorn </a>and his 76 lawmakers have faced relentless rounds of legal cases in Thailand's courts.</div>

<div>&nbsp;</div>

<div>On Friday the nine-member constitutional court dissolved FFP, ruling a $6 million loan by <a href="The Future Forward Party (FFP), fronted by the charismatic auto-parts scion Thanathorn Juangroongruangkit, emerged from nowhere in March last year to become Thailand's third biggest party in the first elections since a 2014 coup.">Thanathorn </a>breached the law governing political parties.</div>

<div>&nbsp;</div>

<div>The loan exceeded the $315,000 limit on donations to parties by an individual, one judge said.</div>

<div>
<p><strong>Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/thousands-join-biggest-protest-for-years-in-thai-capital-268301">Thousands join biggest protest for years in Thai capital</a></strong></p>

<p>Panya Udchachon told the court that "party executives must have known that a loan of that amount would give influence (to Thanathorn) and he could gain advantage over the party."</p>
</div>

<div>Sixteen party executives, including founder Thanathorn, were also "banned for running for political office for 10 years," judge Nakarin Mektriarat added.</div>

<div>&nbsp;</div>

<div>The ruling appears to end the political aspirations of Thanathorn, whose emergence on the Thai political stage has wowed millennials but frightened the country's conservative establishment.</div>

<div>&nbsp;</div>

<div>Thanathorn has been a fierce critic of military involvement in politics in a country whose history is peppered with coups.</div>

<div>&nbsp;</div>

<div>Thailand's current prime minister led the the 2014 coup against the elected government of Yingluck Shinawatra.</div>


A stridently anti-military Thai party was dissolved Friday and its key members banned from politics for a decade over a $6 million loan by its billionaire founder, a withering blow to the kingdom's pro-democracy movement.

A stridently anti-military Thai party was dissolved Friday and its key members banned from politics for a decade over a $6 million loan by its billionaire founder, a withering blow to the kingdom's pro-democracy movement. The Future Forward Party (FFP), fronted by the charismatic auto-parts scion Thanathorn Juangroongruangkit, emerged from nowhere in March last year to become Thailand's third biggest party in the first elections since a 2014 coup. Also read: Thailand's Future Forward Party leader charged with sedition The party's radical agenda calling for full democracy, an end to conscription and the removal of the army from politics and business pitched it against the powerful, conservative military. But since their strong poll showing, Thanathorn and his 76 lawmakers have faced relentless rounds of legal cases in Thailand's courts. On Friday the nine-member constitutional court dissolved FFP, ruling a $6 million loan by Thanathorn breached the law governing political parties. The loan exceeded the $315,000 limit on donations to parties by an individual, one judge said. Also read: Thousands join biggest protest for years in Thai capital Panya Udchachon told the court that "party executives must have known that a loan of that amount would give influence (to Thanathorn) and he could gain advantage over the party." Sixteen party executives, including founder Thanathorn, were also "banned for running for political office for 10 years," judge Nakarin Mektriarat added. The ruling appears to end the political aspirations of Thanathorn, whose emergence on the Thai political stage has wowed millennials but frightened the country's conservative establishment. Thanathorn has been a fierce critic of military involvement in politics in a country whose history is peppered with coups. Thailand's current prime minister led the the 2014 coup against the elected government of Yingluck Shinawatra.

Thai court dissolves key pro-democracy party

<p><a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/move-to-make-princess-pm-inappropriate-and-unconstitutional-thai-king-196119">A Thai political party</a> will obey a command from the king blocking the candidacy of a princess for prime minister, it said in a statement Saturday, in a dramatic reversal only a day after putting her forward for the position.&nbsp;</p>

<p>"Thai Raksa Chart party complies with the royal command", it said in a LINE message to reporters.</p>

<p>The statement added that the party is ready to do its duty with respect to the "tradition and royal customs" under Thailand's constitutional monarchy.</p>

<p>The announcement effectively invalidates <a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/after-storied-life-thai-princess-turned-populist-aims-to-be-pm-196141">Princess Ubolratana's unprecedented bid for prime minister </a>in March elections and comes after an extraordinary rebuke of her candidacy by her younger brother Thai King Maha Vajiralongkorn.</p>

<p>Thai Raksa Chart announced the <a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/legal-doubts-raised-after-thai-kings-sister-confirms-pm-bid-196103">princess as their candidate</a> Friday morning in a move that looked to rattle the status quo and threaten the ambitions of the junta that has ruled Thailand since it toppled the administration of Yingluck Shinawatra in a 2014 coup.</p>

<p>But the Thai king torpedoed the bid in a sharply worded statement later the same day that said bringing senior royal family members into politics is against tradition, national culture and "highly inappropriate."</p>

<p>Thailand has some of the most severe lese majeste laws in the world and the king's word is considered final.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Analysts had already forewarned that the palace statement had scuttled the princess' chances.</p>

<p>"The palace disapproval invalidates her candidacy," said Puangthong Pawakapan, professor of political science at Chulalongkorn University, before the Thai Raksa Chart announcement.</p>

<p>Thailand is a constitutional monarchy and has not had a royal run for frontline office since 1932.</p>

<p>The 67-year-old princess did not address the royal rebuke head-on Saturday morning when she thanked supporters on her widely followed the Instagram account and said vaguely that she wanted Thailand to "move forward".</p>

<p>Junta chief Prayut Chan-O-Cha, the leader of the coup that toppled the administration of Yingluck Shinawatra, also said he would stand for the top post-Friday.</p>

<p>Ubolratana's move briefly threw his fortunes into disarray but the palace action made it clear it does not endorse her run.</p>

<p>The king did not criticise the princess directly and seemed to focus blame on political party members who brought her on board.</p>

<p>Thai Raksa Chart is aligned with Yingluck and her brother Thaksin, who was ousted by the army in 2006.</p>

<p>Analysts assumed Thaksin and the party would not make such a move without royal approval.</p>


A Thai political party will obey a command from the king blocking the candidacy of a princess for prime minister, it said in a statement Saturday, in a dramatic reversal only a day after putting her forward for the position.

A Thai political party will obey a command from the king blocking the candidacy of a princess for prime minister, it said in a statement Saturday, in a dramatic reversal only a day after putting her forward for the position. "Thai Raksa Chart party complies with the royal command", it said in a LINE message to reporters. The statement added that the party is ready to do its duty with respect to the "tradition and royal customs" under Thailand's constitutional monarchy. The announcement effectively invalidates Princess Ubolratana's unprecedented bid for prime minister in March elections and comes after an extraordinary rebuke of her candidacy by her younger brother Thai King Maha Vajiralongkorn. Thai Raksa Chart announced the princess as their candidate Friday morning in a move that looked to rattle the status quo and threaten the ambitions of the junta that has ruled Thailand since it toppled the administration of Yingluck Shinawatra in a 2014 coup. But the Thai king torpedoed the bid in a sharply worded statement later the same day that said bringing senior royal family members into politics is against tradition, national culture and "highly inappropriate." Thailand has some of the most severe lese majeste laws in the world and the king's word is considered final. Analysts had already forewarned that the palace statement had scuttled the princess' chances. "The palace disapproval invalidates her candidacy," said Puangthong Pawakapan, professor of political science at Chulalongkorn University, before the Thai Raksa Chart announcement. Thailand is a constitutional monarchy and has not had a royal run for frontline office since 1932. The 67-year-old princess did not address the royal rebuke head-on Saturday morning when she thanked supporters on her widely followed the Instagram account and said vaguely that she wanted Thailand to "move forward". Junta chief Prayut Chan-O-Cha, the leader of the coup that toppled the administration of Yingluck Shinawatra, also said he would stand for the top post-Friday. Ubolratana's move briefly threw his fortunes into disarray but the palace action made it clear it does not endorse her run. The king did not criticise the princess directly and seemed to focus blame on political party members who brought her on board. Thai Raksa Chart is aligned with Yingluck and her brother Thaksin, who was ousted by the army in 2006. Analysts assumed Thaksin and the party would not make such a move without royal approval.

Thailand: Will comply with royal order against princess PM candidacy, says Raksa Chart party

<p>Anti-government&nbsp;protesters&nbsp;began marching in Bangkok on Tuesday from a university in the&nbsp;Thai&nbsp;capital to Government House to demand that the military government hold a general election by November.</p>

<p>Government House and surrounding streets have been declared a no-go zone by police for the opposition march marking four years since a May 22, 2014, coup and have warned&nbsp;protesters&nbsp;not to defy a junta ban on public gatherings.</p>

<p>Police set up barriers along some roads near the university and carried out security checks on Tuesday.</p>

<p>More than 100 demonstrators walked in a line behind a truck with loudspeakers as police looked on, according to&nbsp;reporters at the scene.</p>

<p>One of the protest organisers, Sirawith Seritiwat, also known as Ja New, said&nbsp;protesters&nbsp;planned to march peacefully.</p>

<p>"I hope they will let us walk out. We have no intention to prolong today's activities. I think they will try to stop us ... we will not use violence," Sirawith told.</p>

<p>Police said around 200&nbsp;protesters&nbsp;had gathered.</p>

<p><img alt="Untitled design (38).jpg" data-entity-type="" data-entity-uuid="" height="430" src="http://images.wionews.com/iniline-images/Untitled%20design%20(38).jpg" width="770" /></p>

<p>"Authorities will use the law 100 percent. If they walk out we will use the law immediately. We have put forces all around Government House ... if they come into these areas there will be a prison sentence of up to 6 months," deputy national police chief Srivara Ransibrahmanakul told reporters.</p>

<p>"Police have no weapons. They are carrying only batons," he said.</p>

<p>Activists complained of a military crackdown ahead of the gathering.</p>

<p>On Monday, Sunai Phasuk,&nbsp;Thai&nbsp;researcher at the New York-based Human Rights Watch group, said two activists had been held incommunicado at a secret detention centre.</p>

<p>"Their alleged 'crime' is providing loudspeakers for anti-junta rally," Sunai wrote on Twitter.</p>

<p>They were later released.</p>

<p>The junta, known as the National Council for Peace and Order, is facing a public perception crisis, according to international and domestic polls that say corruption is as endemic as ever.</p>

<p>The government has also repeatedly delayed the general election, which was first tentatively set for 2015, with the latest date now February 2019.</p>

<p>Some fear the date could be pushed back again.</p>

<p>Deputy Prime Minister Prawit Wongsuwan told reporters gathered at Government House the protesters&nbsp;were welcome to send a representative to the prime minister's office.</p>

<p>"The prime minister works hard ... the NCPO these four years has worked every day... All NCPO members have worked hard," Prawit said.</p>

<p>Suchada Saebae, 55, a market vendor, disagreed.</p>

<p>"I came since 6 a.m. this morning because I think the NCPO has done a rubbish job these past four years," Suchada said.</p>

<p>Some&nbsp;protesters&nbsp;held&nbsp;Thai&nbsp;flags and others held signs with cartoons of Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-Ocha as Pinocchio.</p>

<p>Protests against military rule have taken place intermittently in Bangkok since the start of the year.</p>

<p>Some of them have been led by young activists. Others have been attended by former "red shirts", or supporters of ousted former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra, who was toppled in 2006 and fled abroad.</p>

<p>His sister, Yingluck Shinawatra, was ousted in the 2014 coup and also fled abroad before being convicted in absentia of corruption.</p>

<p>Thailand has been rocked by pro- and anti-government street protests for more than a decade, some of them deadly.</p>

<p>The military says it carried out the 2014 coup to end the cycle of violence.</p>


Police said around 200 protesters had gathered

Anti-government protesters began marching in Bangkok on Tuesday from a university in the Thai capital to Government House to demand that the military government hold a general election by November. Government House and surrounding streets have been declared a no-go zone by police for the opposition march marking four years since a May 22, 2014, coup and have warned protesters not to defy a junta ban on public gatherings. Police set up barriers along some roads near the university and carried out security checks on Tuesday. More than 100 demonstrators walked in a line behind a truck with loudspeakers as police looked on, according to reporters at the scene. One of the protest organisers, Sirawith Seritiwat, also known as Ja New, said protesters planned to march peacefully. "I hope they will let us walk out. We have no intention to prolong today's activities. I think they will try to stop us ... we will not use violence," Sirawith told. Police said around 200 protesters had gathered. "Authorities will use the law 100 percent. If they walk out we will use the law immediately. We have put forces all around Government House ... if they come into these areas there will be a prison sentence of up to 6 months," deputy national police chief Srivara Ransibrahmanakul told reporters. "Police have no weapons. They are carrying only batons," he said. Activists complained of a military crackdown ahead of the gathering. On Monday, Sunai Phasuk, Thai researcher at the New York-based Human Rights Watch group, said two activists had been held incommunicado at a secret detention centre. "Their alleged 'crime' is providing loudspeakers for anti-junta rally," Sunai wrote on Twitter. They were later released. The junta, known as the National Council for Peace and Order, is facing a public perception crisis, according to international and domestic polls that say corruption is as endemic as ever. The government has also repeatedly delayed the general election, which was first tentatively set for 2015, with the latest date now February 2019. Some fear the date could be pushed back again. Deputy Prime Minister Prawit Wongsuwan told reporters gathered at Government House the protesters were welcome to send a representative to the prime minister's office. "The prime minister works hard ... the NCPO these four years has worked every day... All NCPO members have worked hard," Prawit said. Suchada Saebae, 55, a market vendor, disagreed. "I came since 6 a.m. this morning because I think the NCPO has done a rubbish job these past four years," Suchada said. Some protesters held Thai flags and others held signs with cartoons of Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-Ocha as Pinocchio. Protests against military rule have taken place intermittently in Bangkok since the start of the year. Some of them have been led by young activists. Others have been attended by former "red shirts", or supporters of ousted former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra, who was toppled in 2006 and fled abroad. His sister, Yingluck Shinawatra, was ousted in the 2014 coup and also fled abroad before being convicted in absentia of corruption. Thailand has been rocked by pro- and anti-government street protests for more than a decade, some of them deadly. The military says it carried out the 2014 coup to end the cycle of violence.

Thailand: Around 200 protesters gather during anti-government protests, police set up barriers

<p>Ousted Thai prime minister Yingluck Shinawatra has fled the country ahead of a verdict against her in a negligence trial brought by the junta that overthrew her, sources close to the Shinawatra family said on Friday.<br />
<br />
Yingluck, 50, whose family has dominated Thai politics for more than 15 years, failed to show up at court for judgment in a case centred on the multi-billion dollar losses incurred by a rice subsidy scheme for farmers.<br />
<br />
Overthrown in 2014, Yingluck had faced up to 10 years in prison if found guilty.<br />
<br />
&quot;She has definitely left Thailand,&quot; said one source, who is also a member of the Shinawatra`s Puea Thai Party. The sources did not say where she was now.<br />
<br />
The Supreme Court issued an arrest warrant after saying it did not believe her excuse that she could not attend the court hearing because of an ear problem, but there was no sign of police showing up at her house.<br />
<br />
&quot;It is possible that she has fled already,&quot; Deputy Prime Minister Prawit Wongsuwan told reporters.<br />
<br />
Yingluck&#39;s lawyer, Norrawit Lalaeng, said her team had told him on Friday morning she had an &quot;ear fluid imbalance&quot; and could not attend court. He said he was unaware whether she was still in the country. Her spokeswoman declined to comment.<br />
<br />
Yingluck&#39;s brother Thaksin Shinawatra, who heads the political clan, was overthrown in a 2006 coup and fled into exile to escape corruption charges that he said were aimed at demolishing the populist movement he founded.<br />
<br />
The struggle between that movement and a Bangkok-centered royalist and pro-military elite has been at the heart of years of turmoil in Thailand.<br />
<br />
The verdict against Yingluck was widely seen as having the potential to reignite tensions, though the junta has largely snuffed out open opposition. The Supreme Court said the verdict would now be delivered on September&nbsp;27.<br />
<br />
Yingluck last commented on social media on Thursday, saying on her Facebook page that she would not be able to meet supporters at court because of the security measures.<br />
<br />
She had been banned from travelling abroad at the start of the trial in 2015 and has attended previous hearings.<br />
<br />
<strong>Supporters gather</strong></p>

<p>Hundreds of Yingluck supporters had gathered outside the court on Friday where around 4,000 police had been deployed. Some held roses while others wore white gloves with the word &quot;love&quot; on them.<br />
<br />
If Yingluck fled it would disappoint her supporters and make her opponents feel vindicated, said Thitinan Pongsudhirak, director of the Institute of Security and International Studies at Chulalongkorn University.<br />
<br />
&quot;It does not help with Thailand&rsquo;s division and polarization,&quot; he said.<br />
<br />
Under the rice subsidy programme, Yingluck&#39;s administration paid rice farmers up to 50 percent more than market prices. It left Thailand with huge rice stockpiles and caused $8 billion in losses.<br />
<br />
Yingluck has said she was only in charge of coming up with the policy but not the day-to-day management of the scheme.</p>

<p>In a related case on Friday, the Supreme Court sentenced Yingluck`s former commerce minister Boonsong Teriyapirom to 42 years in jail after finding him guilty of falsifying government-to-government rice deals between Thailand and China in 2013.</p>

<p>Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-ocha, who led the coup against Yingluck`s government in the name of ending political turmoil, has promised that an election will be held next year.</p>

<p>Yingluck had been banned from politics for five years in 2015 by the junta`s legislature for alleged graft in the rice-purchasing programme.</p>


Ousted Thai prime minister Yingluck Shinawatra has fled the country ahead of a verdict against her in a negligence trial brought by the junta that overthrew her, sources close to the Shinawatra family said

Ousted Thai prime minister Yingluck Shinawatra has fled the country ahead of a verdict against her in a negligence trial brought by the junta that overthrew her, sources close to the Shinawatra family said on Friday. Yingluck, 50, whose family has dominated Thai politics for more than 15 years, failed to show up at court for judgment in a case centred on the multi-billion dollar losses incurred by a rice subsidy scheme for farmers. Overthrown in 2014, Yingluck had faced up to 10 years in prison if found guilty. "She has definitely left Thailand," said one source, who is also a member of the Shinawatra`s Puea Thai Party. The sources did not say where she was now. The Supreme Court issued an arrest warrant after saying it did not believe her excuse that she could not attend the court hearing because of an ear problem, but there was no sign of police showing up at her house. "It is possible that she has fled already," Deputy Prime Minister Prawit Wongsuwan told reporters. Yingluck's lawyer, Norrawit Lalaeng, said her team had told him on Friday morning she had an "ear fluid imbalance" and could not attend court. He said he was unaware whether she was still in the country. Her spokeswoman declined to comment. Yingluck's brother Thaksin Shinawatra, who heads the political clan, was overthrown in a 2006 coup and fled into exile to escape corruption charges that he said were aimed at demolishing the populist movement he founded. The struggle between that movement and a Bangkok-centered royalist and pro-military elite has been at the heart of years of turmoil in Thailand. The verdict against Yingluck was widely seen as having the potential to reignite tensions, though the junta has largely snuffed out open opposition. The Supreme Court said the verdict would now be delivered on September 27. Yingluck last commented on social media on Thursday, saying on her Facebook page that she would not be able to meet supporters at court because of the security measures. She had been banned from travelling abroad at the start of the trial in 2015 and has attended previous hearings. Supporters gather Hundreds of Yingluck supporters had gathered outside the court on Friday where around 4,000 police had been deployed. Some held roses while others wore white gloves with the word "love" on them. If Yingluck fled it would disappoint her supporters and make her opponents feel vindicated, said Thitinan Pongsudhirak, director of the Institute of Security and International Studies at Chulalongkorn University. "It does not help with Thailand’s division and polarization," he said. Under the rice subsidy programme, Yingluck's administration paid rice farmers up to 50 percent more than market prices. It left Thailand with huge rice stockpiles and caused $8 billion in losses. Yingluck has said she was only in charge of coming up with the policy but not the day-to-day management of the scheme. In a related case on Friday, the Supreme Court sentenced Yingluck`s former commerce minister Boonsong Teriyapirom to 42 years in jail after finding him guilty of falsifying government-to-government rice deals between Thailand and China in 2013. Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-ocha, who led the coup against Yingluck`s government in the name of ending political turmoil, has promised that an election will be held next year. Yingluck had been banned from politics for five years in 2015 by the junta`s legislature for alleged graft in the rice-purchasing programme.

Thailand's ousted PM Yingluck has fled abroad: Sources