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Yingluck Shinawatra: Ousted Thai PM to appear in court | Yingluck Shinawatra: Ousted Thai PM to appear in court |
(about 1 hour later) | |
Thailand's ousted Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra is due to face an impeachment hearing in the legislature. | |
Ms Yingluck was removed from office for abuse of power in May, days before the army seized power saying it needed to restore order after months of unrest. | Ms Yingluck was removed from office for abuse of power in May, days before the army seized power saying it needed to restore order after months of unrest. |
She is accused of dereliction of duty over a controversial rice subsidy scheme which critics say cost billions of dollars. | She is accused of dereliction of duty over a controversial rice subsidy scheme which critics say cost billions of dollars. |
Her supporters say the court action is a ruse to remove her from politics. | Her supporters say the court action is a ruse to remove her from politics. |
If found guilty she could be banned from political activity for five years. | If found guilty she could be banned from political activity for five years. |
There are fears a conviction could re-ignite the street protests which have repeatedly paralysed the capital, Bangkok, in recent years. | There are fears a conviction could re-ignite the street protests which have repeatedly paralysed the capital, Bangkok, in recent years. |
Prawit Wongsuwan, deputy prime minister in the military junta that now runs Thailand, urged her supporters to stay at home. | Prawit Wongsuwan, deputy prime minister in the military junta that now runs Thailand, urged her supporters to stay at home. |
"If you want to give her encouragement you can do so from home or over the telephone," Reuters quoted him as saying. | "If you want to give her encouragement you can do so from home or over the telephone," Reuters quoted him as saying. |
Ms Yingluck is the sister of another ousted prime minister, Thaksin Shinawatra, who was removed from office in 2006. | Ms Yingluck is the sister of another ousted prime minister, Thaksin Shinawatra, who was removed from office in 2006. |
Both remain hugely popular among Thailand's rural poor, but are hated by an urban and middle-class elite who accuse them of corruption and abuse of power. | Both remain hugely popular among Thailand's rural poor, but are hated by an urban and middle-class elite who accuse them of corruption and abuse of power. |
Scheme 'corrupt' | Scheme 'corrupt' |
Ms Yingluck was removed from office in early May after the Constitutional Court ruled she had acted illegally when she transferred her national security head. | Ms Yingluck was removed from office in early May after the Constitutional Court ruled she had acted illegally when she transferred her national security head. |
The ruling followed months of political deadlock. Anti-government protesters had been trying to oust Ms Yingluck since November 2013. | The ruling followed months of political deadlock. Anti-government protesters had been trying to oust Ms Yingluck since November 2013. |
Under the rice subsidy scheme, the government bought rice from Thai farmers - the Shinawatra support base - at a much higher price than on the global market. | Under the rice subsidy scheme, the government bought rice from Thai farmers - the Shinawatra support base - at a much higher price than on the global market. |
However, it resulted in the accumulation of huge stockpiles of rice and hit Thailand's rice exports hard. | However, it resulted in the accumulation of huge stockpiles of rice and hit Thailand's rice exports hard. |
Critics said the scheme was too expensive and vulnerable to corruption. | Critics said the scheme was too expensive and vulnerable to corruption. |
Ms Yingluck has always maintained that she did not have direct control of the rice subsidy scheme and that abuses were not her responsibility. | Ms Yingluck has always maintained that she did not have direct control of the rice subsidy scheme and that abuses were not her responsibility. |
Her supporters say only a sitting prime minister can face impeachment, and that she is being tried under the old constitution, which was thrown out when the army took power. | Her supporters say only a sitting prime minister can face impeachment, and that she is being tried under the old constitution, which was thrown out when the army took power. |