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Published on December 21, 2007

Several members in rival parties were connected with former governor Juthamas Siriwan during the reign of deposed premier Thaksin Shinawatra. Juthamas has quit as a Puea Pandin candidate in the election.

Somsak Thepsuthin, leader of the Matchima faction in the Matchima Thipataya Party, is one of the first influential figures in the Thaksin government that Juthamas dealt with.

After the Thai Rak Thai (TRT) Party won the 2001 election, Somsak was appointed as a PM's Office minister while Juthamas became the TAT chief. Somsak closed a bid to buy the old headquarters of Saha Thanakhan Bank located on Phetchaburi Road and turned it into the new TAT headquarters.

When the Thaksin government imposed bureaucratic reform in 2003, Juthamas worked closely with Sontaya Kunplome minister of Tourism and Sports, in a bid to boost the national revenue. Sonthaya is now a key member of the Chart Thai Party under Banharn Silapa-archa.

Around the same time, Juthamas worked under Somkid Jatusripitak, who was a deputy premier overseeing tourism schemes. Somkid is a key advisor of the Ruam Jai Thai Chart Pattana Party.

Mingkwan Saengsuwan, the People Power Party's economic chief, is another name that is linked to Juthamas.

He served as a TAT board member from 2004 to 2006. At the time, Mingkwan played a key role in TAT, managing major tourism activities including the New Year Countdown and the Chinese New Year Festival.

Shortly before Juthamas stepped down as the TAT governor, it was alleged that several TAT schemes were approved to benefit firms close to Pracha Maleenont, the tourism and sports minister at the time.

Outside of the political arena, Juthamas' daughter recently became engaged to the son of key Chart Thai member Korn Dabbaransi, who was a deputy premier in the Thaksin government.

The Nation