Oak, Aim, and Ink brought their children to visit Thaksin at the prison, participating in the "Family Bonding" event. Meanwhile, Thaksin blew out birthday candles and made a birthday card to wish "Nong Thithan" well.
At 09:00 on 11 Jan 2026 at Klong Prem Central Prison on Ngamwongwan Road, Bangkok, the prison held the "Family Bonding Happy Children's Day 69" event. It allowed children to visit their fathers, grandfathers, and great-grandfathers closely with hugs on 11–12 Jan 2026. The prison also organized the "Family Bonding (Discipline Care)" activity for inmates who had violated prison rules and participated in the first training program for developing inmates' potential.
Reporters noted that today the Shinawatra family brought a total of seven grandchildren—the daughters and sons of Panthongtae Shinawatra (Oak), two children; Pinthongta Kunakornwong Shinawatra (Aim), three children; and Paethongtarn Shinawatra (Ink), two children.
Upon arriving at the front of Klong Prem Central Prison, the Shinawatra family arrived together by car. The first car was Ink's family vehicle, carrying Ink, former Prime Minister, holding hands with her eldest daughter Nong Thithan Suksawat and her son Nong Thasin. Next came Aim's car with her twin daughters Nong Emi and Nong Nani, and her youngest son Nong Wakin. The last car was Oak's, carrying him with his twin children, Nong Tony and Nong Tina.
All were dressed in neat casual clothes, some wearing long-sleeved jackets. They got out of the cars smiling brightly, holding hands and embracing as they entered the prison grounds, accompanied by Thaksin's lawyer, Winyat Chatmontri. Only the children and grandchildren of Thaksin, a total of 10 people who had registered, were allowed close visits this time.
Thaksin gave a birthday card to Nong Thithan.
At 11:20, Paethongtarn Shinawatra, former Prime Minister, and the Shinawatra family exited the prison after their close visit with the former Prime Minister. Paethongtarn carried a photo taken with Thaksin and the seven grandchildren inside the prison. Nong Thithan Suksawat held a colorful birthday card given by Thaksin for her birthday. The card featured birthday cake emojis, balloons, and a yellow chick cartoon, along with an old photo of Thaksin with Nong Thithan as a young child. The card read, "HAPPY BIRTHDAY 10 January FROM GRANDPA," since 10 Jan is the birthday of Nong Thithan Suksawat, eldest daughter of Paethongtarn.
Ink revealed that her father blew out the cake for his grandchild.
Paethongtarn told reporters that today, former Prime Minister Thaksin supported the inmate vocational training center by ordering a birthday cake for Nong Thithan's recent 10 Jan birthday. Thaksin also ordered ice cream to treat all inmates in the prison. The atmosphere today was very good. "We were able to hug and talk with Thaksin. He was very happy to see the grandchildren, as it had been a long time since their last meeting. It was a joyful atmosphere. We also shared Nong Thithan's 5th birthday cake together, with Grandpa blowing out the candles," she said.
Reporters added that the "Family Bonding Happy Children's Day 69" event at Klong Prem Central Prison gave children of the nation the chance to visit. It is believed that offenders can reform if given opportunities by family and society, along with proper development focusing on physical and mental growth. The event allowed inmates to have close contact visits with relatives inside the prison without barriers to conversation, sharing meals together, and selling goods to relatives. This fosters good family ties and motivates inmates to behave well. The program scheduled two close-visit sessions daily, each lasting two hours: morning from 09:00–11:00 and afternoon from 13:00–15:00.
Approximately 250 inmates were selected for each close-visit session.
The number of inmates allowed close visits each session was about 250. Relatives eligible to participate had to be children aged 15 or under, born between 2010 and 2025, related by blood as children or grandchildren of inmates. Relatives needed official documents proving the relationship for verification. Adopted children had to present legal adoption registration. If children were too young or unable to visit alone, a guardian or escort named by the inmate could accompany them, limited to 10 people per inmate. If not listed, visitors had to be close family members such as parents, legal spouses, children, grandparents, uncles, aunts, siblings, parents-in-law, siblings-in-law, nieces, or nephews, with proper documents like household registration, marriage certificate, birth certificate, or name change certificates. Up to 10 relatives per inmate could visit at one time, with one additional guardian allowed for young children as appropriate.
