Former red-shirt leader Nattawut Saikuar, who quit the ruling Pheu Thai Party last year to protest its formation of a coalition government with military-backed parties, has made an unexpected return to politics as a prime ministerial adviser.
PM Paetongtarn Shinawatra appointed Nattawut on October 4 to “provide advice and offer opinions or suggestions to the prime minister”.
However, it is widely believed that his core mission is to help the government handle the growing threat of street protests.
Two leaders from opposite sides of the political divide – former yellow shirt Sondhi Limthongkul and ex-red shirt Jatuporn Prompan – recently issued separate ultimatums to the Pheu Thai-led administration, demanding action on certain issues.
Nattawut and Jatuporn were co-leaders of the United Front for Democracy Against Dictatorship (UDD), better known as the red shirts.
Both were loyal lieutenants of former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra and led street protests against the Democrat-led government of Abhisit Vejjajiva in 2009 and 2010.
The political conflict erupted when the Democrats formed a coalition government with the help of MPs who defected from Thaksin’s proxy People Power Party (PPP) after its disbandment in December 2008.
The protests ended in a crackdown by security forces that left more than 90 dead in Bangkok.
Red-shirt leaders faced multiple criminal charges for their roles in the anti-government rallies. Jatuporn ended up serving several years in prison while Nattawut was appointed to the Cabinet in the subsequent Pheu Thai-led government.
Jatuporn has since become a staunch critic of Pheu Thai and its patriarch Thaksin, who is regarded as de facto leader of the ruling party, a post officially held by his daughter, Paetongtarn.
Once “brothers-in-arms”, the friendship between Jatuporn and Nattawut ended when the latter remained loyal to Thaksin and the Shinawatras.
‘Concern for PM’
Nattawut, 49, said he decided to accept the job out of concern for Paetongtarn following the short-lived tenure of her predecessor, Srettha Thavisin, who was ousted by a court order after only a year.
“I will work with the team [of advisers] to assess the political situation and offer opinions to the prime minister and the public. Many team members have deep experience,” Nattawut said.
However, Somkid Chueakong, deputy secretary-general to the PM, said he expected Nattawut to talk with protest leaders and calm them down.
“It will be beneficial if he can help negotiate with protesters. As a former protest leader, Nattawut is an expert. We need him to talk with protesters,” he said.
Somkid denied speculation that Nattawut's appointment would pit him against Jatuporn. “They can talk with each other. They are friends.”
Resigning in protest
Nattawut joined Pheu Thai in 2008 but quit the party last year in August, saying he opposed its decision to “share power with the military”.
At the time of his resignation, he was director of the Pheu Thai Family – a post apparently created especially for him after he rejoined the party in June 2022. He also campaigned for Pheu Thai at last year’s general election.
Born on June 4, 1975, in Nakhon Si Thammarat, Nattawut received a bachelor’s degree in communication arts from Dhurakij Pundit University and a master’s in public and private management from the National Institute of Development Administration (NIDA).
His first foray into politics was at the 2001 general election, contesting under the Chart Pattana Party banner in his home province but failing to win the seat.
Marred by coups
He later switched to Thaksin’s Thai Rak Thai Party, winning an MP seat at the ill-fated general election in 2006. The military coup in September 2006 ruined the start of Nattawut’s political career as it toppled not only Thaksin’s government but also the elected House of Representatives.
In response, Nattawut joined other Thai Rak Thai politicians including Jatuporn and Veera Musikapong in forming the Democratic Alliance Against Dictatorship (DAAD), whose red-shirted followers rallied against the coup-makers and the junta led by General
Surayud Chulanont. DAAD was the precursor to the UDD.
After Thaksin’s proxy PPP regained power following its 2007 election victory, Nattawut was appointed as deputy spokesman for Samak Sundaravej’s government.
He also served briefly as spokesman for the short-lived Somchai Wongsawat government.
Nattawut was elected as a Pheu Thai list MP in the 2011 general election. In the resulting Pheu Thai-led government of Yingluck Shinawatra, he served as deputy agriculture minister and deputy commerce minister.
In June 2020, the Supreme Court sentenced Nattawut and four fellow red-shirt leaders to two years and eight months in prison each for leading a violent protest in July 2007 at the residence of General Prem Tinsulanonda, who was then president of the Privy Council, or chief adviser to King Rama IX.
The top court found the defendants guilty of illegal assembly and using violence to resist police orders, upholding convictions by lower courts.
