Newin Hopes For Thaksin's Forgiveness

[Lite Beer]

BURNING ISSUE

Newin hopes for Thaksin's forgiveness

Piyanart Srivalo

The Nation

BANGKOK:-- Now that the 111 former Thai Rak Thai executives are coming close to the end of their five-year political ban, Bhum Jai Thai Party's de facto leader Newin Chidchob is looking to make manoeuvres that will ensure his party's survival.

Newin has already tried several times to have his 34-MP Bhum Jai Thai accepted as a coalition partner, but the big boss former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra has not given it a green light.

Obviously, Newin realises that he betrayed Thaksin and will never be forgiven, which is why he has decided not to become leader of his party. In fact, he is so worried about his party's future that he initially planned to put former Thai Rak Thai executive, Anuthin Charnweerakul, in the party leader's seat so Thaksin would agree to take Bhum Jai Thai into the coalition fold.

Besides, Newin has complete trust in Anuthin because he is a key financier of the party and has always stood by the Chidchob family in times of political difficulties.

However, the plan to make Anuthin Bhum Jai Thai's leader had to be dropped, after Thaksin refused to give the plan his blessing. Anuthin reportedly met Thaksin in South Korea and Hong Kong several times to discuss the plan of bringing Bhum Jai Thai into the coalition, but to no avail.

According to a source, Thaksin was heard telling Anuthin: "It's fine that we are neighbours."

So, Newin ended up having to seek help from Somsak Thepsutin, another former Thai Rak Thai executive who leads the six-MP Matchima faction in Bhum Jai Thai.

Actually, even if he didn't have Newin's support, Somsak was planning to have his faction become part of the coalition. However, if Somsak becomes Bhum Jai Thai's leader once his political ban is lifted later this month, Som-sak will have a better chance of winning at least a Cabinet seat for himself.

And even though Newin does not trust Somsak as much as Anuthin, he has no choice but to use his service.

Somsak is believed to have good ties with Thaksin and his Pheu Thai Party through the former PM's sister, Yaowapa Wongsawat. When both Somsak and Yaowapa were members of the now-defunct Thai Rak Thai Party, Somsak's Wang Nam Yom faction was an ally of Yaowapa's Wang Bua Ban faction.

Some inside sources have said that Somsak had previously approached Newin, asking if he could borrow some Bhum Jai Thai MPs to count as members of his Matchima faction to negotiate for a Cabinet seat. At the time, Somsak was also considering joining coalition partner Mahachon Party and becoming its leader. Then he could add the Matchima faction MPs to bargain for a Cabinet seat.

Newin had initially turned down Somsak's request, saying the entire party had to become part of the coalition, not just certain parts of it. Also at that time, Newin was eyeing Anuthin as his party's leader, so he could afford to turn down Somsak's request.

However, now that Anuthin has failed to win a green light from the big boss, Newin is likely to turn to Somsak.

This is probably why, when Somsak turned up at a special football event held for former Thai Rak Thai executives on Monday, his presence raised eyebrows among political observers. They brought to notice the political significance that Somsak's presence at the football match had.

Many believed that he was there to lobby for Bhum Jai Thai to be made part of the coalition.

However, the final decision would still have to be made by the big boss and obviously, Newin is keeping his fingers crossed

-- The Nation 2012-05-03

[Nickymaster]

How does Piyanart Srivalo know all of this? Or is he just speculating or even writing a script?

[bigbamboo]

I think Newin has more chance of cleaning up Thai football than being forgiven by BB.

[Buchholz]

Newin has already tried several times to have his 34-MP Bhum Jai Thai accepted as a coalition partner, but the big boss former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra has not given it a green light.

I wonder if Thaksin told Newin, "It's over."

It’s Over, Boss

3 September 2010

Almost two years ago, Newin Chidchob, who was then a loyal Thaksin's underling, made a phone call to Thaksin and said “it’s over, boss”.

http://www.thailandoutlook.tv/toc/ViewData.aspx?DataID=1034332

[Moruya]

big don, little don

Mafioso

[pimay11]

Maybe he should "assume the position".

[sparebox2]

I think Newin has more chance of cleaning up Thai football than being forgiven by BB.

Newin fb team can beat Manchester blue. any time, any place.

[LuckyLew]

Me thinks someone wants back on the money train

[cardholder]

Could this maneuvering by Chidchob be a clear indication of the definite return of his former boss ?

[OZEMADE]

The Power Thaksin has over these people must be huge, he still runs the country from other countries, he still has people wanting forgivness for what they did to him. Is this the start of him becoming really close to coming home and they are all hedging for positions. I think so.

[ratcatcher]

Newin Hopes For Thaksin's Forgiveness

"Over my dead body!!"

[TAWP]

Constant reminders that politics here isn't about ideology but power.

[noitom]

The writer has all this inside information but it appears to be tripe and speculation. Without a quote, the writer makes all these claims of trust and deep knowledge of being inside Newin's and other's heads. It is abominable journalism. Tripe.

[thaicbr]

Constant reminders that politics here isn't about ideology but power.

And money!

Call it old school Thai politics.

Posted with Thaivisa App http://apps.thaivisa.com

[geriatrickid]

The Power Thaksin has over these people must be huge, he still runs the country from other countries, he still has people wanting forgivness for what they did to him. Is this the start of him becoming really close to coming home and they are all hedging for positions. I think so.

It is rather fascinating how much influence Mr. Thaksin has. It cannot just be about money as all of these people could make just as much if they threw their lot in with the Democrats and the army.

I think those protests in Bangkok really scared the sh*t of some people as they started to think about the demographic shifts in population and the change that is coming in the next 5 years.

[GarryP]

The last I heard was that Newin said he would not return to politics and would stick with football. He was quoted as saying this by Matichon. However, some of those who will return to the playing field after serving their 5 year ban have mentioned that they are interested in moving to Bhumjai Thai. Perhaps, Newin will stay in the role of manager, but increase the number of available players in his team, changing and substituting as appropriate to gain the advantage and a share of the spoils. In the meantime Thunder Castle may not do too badly either.