Bhumjaithai leader Anutin Charnvirakul today admitted that he brokered a meeting between two political rivals, namely ex-PM Thaksin Shinawatra and a core member of his party, Newin Chidchob.
The meeting took place on October 6 at Thaksin’s Chan Song La residence in the Bang Phlat district of Bangkok.
“To celebrate Newin’s 66th birthday on October 4, I persuaded him to have dinner at Khun Thaksin’s residence,” he said.
He declined to reveal the details of the discussion, however, stating that they were personal and internal.
Thaksin gave Newin a jacket as a gift, Anutin said, emphasising that the two have no personal conflict.
The political feud between Thaksin and Newin began in December 2008, when the People’s Power Party (PPP) was dissolved, leading to then-Prime Minister Somchai Wongsawat and executive board members vacating their positions at the order of the Constitutional Court.
Pheu Thai was then established, replacing the PPP.
Pheu Thai and the then-opposition Democrat Party, competed to form a new coalition government.
Pheu Thai’s attempt ended with Newin, at the time banned from politics for five years but with about 30 MPs under his control, joining hands with the Democrats, which resulted in Abhisit Vejjajiva taking the premiership.
A photo showing Newin, previously known as a close aide of Thaksin, hugging Abhisit after a meeting went viral at the time.
During the ensuing political chaos, led by red-shirt protesters, Newin was branded as ungrateful and as an enemy of the protesters.
When Thaksin was about to return home in August last year, however, Newin was seen at the airport’s VIP building on the day before his arrival, reportedly preparing it for Thaksin’s return after a prolonged self-imposed exile abroad.
