Military allow ousted Thai PM to travel abroad

Thailand’s military leaders have given ousted PM Yingluck Shinawatra permission to travel abroad for the first time since the coup.

A military spokesman said the request had been approved because Ms Yingluck had “kept a low profile” since her government was overthrown on 22 May. Reports suggest she will travel to France for the birthday of her brother, Thaksin Shinawatra.

The military seized power after months of antigovernment protests in Bangkok. Mr Thaksin, who turns 65 on 26 July, was ousted in a coup in 2006.

He was removed by the military, kicking off a cycle of political instability in Thailand. Convicted of corruption by a Thai court, he has been living in self-imposed exile overseas.

Ms Yingluck had asked to travel to Europe from 20 July to 10 August, the military said.

They agreed because she had not “violated any orders of the NCPO [military junta] or any agreements, being the ban from politics or the ban on overseas travels,” spokesman Col. Winthai Suvaree told a press conference.

Ms Yingluck herself was ousted ahead of the coup by a Constitutional Court ruling that said she had illegally transferred her national security head.

She is currently facing charges linked to a controversial government rice subsidy scheme. The military, meanwhile, say no elections will be held before October 2015.