Paetongtarn Shinawatra has said sorry to those who were not pleased with her Instagram post, featuring her father, Thaksin, enjoying time with her kids in a pool.
She stated that she simply wished to display Thaksin and his grandchildren's joy, and added “I did not mean to upset anyone with my post. I apologize.” She then stated that she would stop posting.
The post displayed Thaksin, who has been released on parole from a prison sentence he was serving for corruption, in a pool at his Chan Song La residence with Paetongtarn’s children.
Many individuals questioned Thaksin’s actual health condition, as he was paroled due to old age and “serious illness”.
The Corrections Department’s parole rules specify that a prisoner must be over 70 and meet criteria for sickness, including being unable to perform daily tasks without assistance.
A successful candidate for parole must be unable to eat, use the restroom, wash, or walk without help and be incontinent.
The photo shared of Thaksin appears to show an unaffected, healthy 74-year-old man, and it has prompted many to question whether he is unwell enough to warrant parole, or at all.
Many Thai netizens wrote that Paetongtarn’s photo has confirmed that her father has received special treatment from authorities since the moment he set foot back in Thailand, after his self-imposed exile in August last year.
Some said it was because his youngest daughter, Paetongtarn, leads the ruling Pheu Thai party and Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin was the successful Pheu Thai prime ministerial candidate.
