Nattawut Saikuar: The loyal red-shirt leader wrongfooted by Thaksin and Pheu Thai

[snoop1130]

 

Former red-shirt leader Nattawut Saikuar quit the Pheu Thai Party last week in protest against its move to form a coalition government with military-backed parties linked with the 2014 coup.

 

The politician said that he opposed Pheu Thai’s decision to “share power with the military” and “cannot go along with the party”.

 

Nattawut, 48, previously served as director of the Pheu Thai Family – a post apparently created especially for him after he rejoined the party in June last year. He also helped with Pheu Thai’s campaign for the May 14 election.

 

Full Story: https://www.thaipbsworld.com/nattawut-saikuar-the-loyal-red-shirt-leader-wrongfooted-by-thaksin-and-pheu-thai/

 

-- Thai PBS 2023-08-31

 

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[mark131v]

His break with the party came just a day before Parliament voted to elect Pheu Thai’s Srettha Thavisin as Thailand’s next prime minister. Nattawut explained he was quitting because he had promised party supporters before the election that Pheu Thai would not work with Palang Pracharath or United Thai Nation parties.

 

Gobsmacked, that mean's there are 2 politicians in Thailand who will stand by their principles and do the right thing, if only there was a few more....

[hotchilli]

Pheu Thai did the unthinkable to get into power... 

[kennw]

2 hours ago, hotchilli said:

Pheu Thai did the unthinkable to get into power... 

The main objectives for PT were, get into power allow Taksin back no jail.  Democracy ?  what a joke.

[mfd101]

Progressivism is moving inexorably into the MFP camp. Orange + red = victory at the next elections (even if 'MFP' has by then a new designation forced on it).

[spidermike007]

Nattawut, like Pita appears to have some principals, unlike the rest of the PT. What they did was a shameful power grab. I suspect many of their supporters have also lost faith in them. They are a morally bankrupt party, it would appear. Nobody with a shred of decency joins a coalition with the army involved. Especially after the sabotage and oppression of the past 9 years.

[Scouse123]

And now the second part of the plan comes to the front. Thaksin applies for a Royal pardon which has already been received by the Justice minister.

 

A normal prisoner requesting this would take years just to reach his desk.

 

Anyway, I can't see a coalition government with so many parties involved lasting more than 6 months.

[Lancelot01]

1 hour ago, Scouse123 said:

And now the second part of the plan comes to the front. Thaksin applies for a Royal pardon which has already been received by the Justice minister.

 

A normal prisoner requesting this would take years just to reach his desk.

 

Anyway, I can't see a coalition government with so many parties involved lasting more than 6 months.

They do not need to last any longer than that. their chief objective has almost been completed. 

[kimamey]

8 hours ago, hotchilli said:

Pheu Thai did the unthinkable to get into power... 

I'm not sure it was that unthinkable to anyone who's been paying attention, but I know what you mean. Perhaps now more people will start voting based on the actions of a party rather than who's leading the party.

 

It's not the first time Thaksin has broken a promise and sided with the military for his own purposes.