Most people believe former prime minister Yingluck Shinawatra will not return to Thailand by Aug 10 as she has promised, and most are certain she will attend elder brother Thaksin’s birthday party in France on July 26, a poll by the National Institute of Development Administration (Nida) has revealed.
The Nida Poll showed that Thais agreed by 52-40% with the decision to allow Ms Yingluck to leave, but predict by a narrow 41-39% margin that she won't come back in the allotted three weeks. Image from nidapoll.nida.ac.th.
Respondents were asked what they thought of the permission granted by the National Council for Peace and Order (NCPO) for Ms Yingluck and her son to travel abroad until Aug 10.
According to the initial schedule, she will depart Thailand at 1am, July 23. Her destinations reportedly are Germany, Belgium, France, United Kingdom and the United States.
The poll surveyed 1,247 people nationwide on Friday and Saturday.
The coup-makers granted Ms Yingluck permission to travel aboard despite the fact the National Anti-Corruption Commission (NACC) has ruled there are sufficient grounds to pursue a dereliction-of-duty case against her in relation to the former government’s rice-pledging scheme.
About 52.1% of respondents said they agreed with the NCPO’s decision, saying she had the right to travel, and had cooperated with the NCPO.
Almost 40% disagreed with the decision, arguing the NACC has recommended Ms Yingluck be indicted and she could flee legal proceedings, just as her brother Thaksin did. The remaining 7.9% made no comment.
Asked whether they think Ms Yingluck will return to Thailand by Aug 10, 41% said they believe she would not return by that date; 39% thought she would return as promised; and 19% gave no comment.
Noppadon Pattama, a Pheu Thai executive, said he believed that Ms Yingluck would return to Thailand as promised.
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Ms Yingluck would return to fight the dereliction of duty allegations and prove her innocence, he said.
And a reminder:
