Thaksin drops bombshell on fallout with Prawit

Former Thai Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra has finally broken his silence on the real reason behind his dramatic fallout with General Prawit Wongsuwan, the ex-military strongman and current leader of the embattled Palang Pracharath Party.

During a question-and-answer session following his keynote speech on Thailand’s future at an event hosted by The Nation media group last night, Thaksin spilled the beans on the tensions that severed his relationship with Prawit. The 75 year old former premier recalled that the cracks began to show when Prawit, then set to retire as army chief in 2005, sought Thaksin’s backing to head Thailand’s top anti-corruption agency.

Thaksin, in a tone laced with condescension, reminisced about how Prawit owed his rise through the military ranks to him.

“It was me who appointed him as commander of the First Army Region.”

Thaksin referred to the powerful unit notorious for its involvement in past coups. Prawit eventually climbed to the top of the military hierarchy, becoming army commander-in-chief and playing a pivotal role in the 2006 coup that ousted Thaksin’s government.

The breaking point, according to Thaksin, came when Prawit requested to be made chairman of the National Anti-Corruption Commission after retiring.

“‘What? A general in charge of an anti-corruption agency? What does he know about all the laws involved?’”

This remark, Thaksin revealed, was somehow conveyed to Prawit, marking the end of their camaraderie.

Since his return from self-exile last August, Thaksin admits he hasn’t been in contact with Prawit.

“Why would I want to talk to him?”

Meanwhile, Prawit’s Palang Pracharath Party is facing internal turmoil, with MPs rebelling against his leadership as they seek to continue their alliance with Pheu Thai on their terms, reported Thai PBS World.

In related news, Thaksin firmly stated yesterday that no political arrangement was crafted with his conservative adversaries to facilitate his return from a 15-year exile last year. The former Thai premier made the statement during an on-stage interview at a forum organised by a local media group.