Thaksin Shinawatra is a Thai politician, businessman and visiting professor. He served in Thai police from 1973 to 1983 and later served as Prime Minister in Thailand from 2001 to 2006.
He was the founder of Advanced Info Service (mobile phone operator) as well as Shin Corporation in 1987. At some point he was one of the richest people of Thailand.
He was the founder of Thai Rak Thai Party (TRT) in 1998. He became Prime Minister in 2001 after a landslide victory. He was re-elected in 2005. He launched a war against poverty, drugs and religious extremism.
People launched protests accusing him of corruption, autocratic tendencies and abuse of power.
He was overthrown in a coup on Sep 18 2006. Thaksin moved to self-exile to avoid being jailed in Thailand. His younger sister was the Prime Minister from 2011 to 2014.
Thaksin was born in San Kamphaeng and is a Theravada Buddhist. He studied at Montfort College and at 16 he helped run one of his father’s cinemas. Thaksin earned as PhD in criminology at Sam Houston State University located in Texas. In 1979 he lectured at Mahidol University.
He also earned a Master’s in criminal Justice from Eastern Kentucky University in USA in 1975.
Business career
Thaksin has engaged in a number of businesses. He once owned a silk shop, a cinema, apartment building while still in the Thai Royal Police.
He was indicted for failing to disclose his wealth to a tune of $56 million. The Constitution of Thailand prohibits politicians from holding private company shares. Therefore, Thaksin transferred his shares to nominees such as his domestic staff.
While serving as Prime Minister of Thailand, Thaksin initiated numerous policies which affected education, social order, economy, international relations and drug suppression.
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