This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-27325898
The article has changed 5 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| Thailand ex-PM Yingluck faces corruption charge | Thailand ex-PM Yingluck faces corruption charge |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| Thailand's anti-graft body has indicted ousted leader Yingluck Shinawatra over a controversial rice subsidy scheme. | Thailand's anti-graft body has indicted ousted leader Yingluck Shinawatra over a controversial rice subsidy scheme. |
| The case will now be voted on at the Senate. If impeached, Ms Yingluck will be barred from politics for five years. | The case will now be voted on at the Senate. If impeached, Ms Yingluck will be barred from politics for five years. |
| On Wednesday, the Thai Constitutional Court ordered Ms Yingluck and several cabinet ministers to step down. | On Wednesday, the Thai Constitutional Court ordered Ms Yingluck and several cabinet ministers to step down. |
| Thailand has been in political turmoil since anti-government protests erupted in November 2013. In February, snap elections were annulled. | Thailand has been in political turmoil since anti-government protests erupted in November 2013. In February, snap elections were annulled. |
| 'Enough evidence' | |
| The National Anti-Corruption Commission had unanimously voted to indict Ms Yingluck, the commission's chief said on Thursday. | |
| "The committee has investigated and there is enough evidence to make a case ... We will now forward it to the Senate," Panthep Klanarong said. | |
| Under the rice subsidy scheme, the government bought rice from Thai farmers at a much higher price than on the global market. | Under the rice subsidy scheme, the government bought rice from Thai farmers 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. |
| On Wednesday, a Thai court ruled that Ms Yingluck acted illegally when she transferred her national security head to another position in 2011. | |
| Ms Yingluck's supporters believe the courts are biased against her. | |
| Ms Yingluck leads the ruling Pheu Thai Party, which won elections in 2011. | |
| It commands strong support from rural voters, especially in Thailand's north and north-east. | |
| However, anti-government protesters, who tend to be urban and middle-class voters, have protested against Ms Yingluck's administration for months, occupying official buildings and disrupting elections in February. | |
| They say ousted former leader Thaksin Shinawatra, who is also Ms Yingluck's brother, is still controlling the government, and that the ruling party has been buying votes with irresponsible spending pledges aimed at its support base. |