Suwat at 50: Many times bitten but never shy

Published on February 10, 2005

Suwat Liptapanlop – former leader of the now-defunct Chat Pattana Party and now a top-ranking member of Thai Rak Thai –celebrated his 50th birthday at his home yesterday with his political associates.

Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra joined the celebration on Ratvidhi Road to deliver a wish of good luck to Suwat.

Guests included many offi-cials and Thai Rak Thai staff, but conspicuous by his absence was Transport Minister Suriya Jungrungreangkit, who is reportedly unhappy over both the merger with Chat Pattana and Suwat’s arrival as a new Thai Rak Thai member.

However, the smile could not be wiped off Suwat’s face yesterday as he shared the best of his wine cellar with friends, including Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra.

He also shared an in-joke with reporters when he said his favourite dog, “Shu Shu”, had not been bitten this year.

The Shu Shu saga began in 2003 when Suwat’s Chat Pattana Party was kicked out of the Thai Rak Thai-led coalition government without an explanation from Thaksin.

At that time, Suwat was holding Shu Shu during an interview with the media and he compared himself to the dog by saying: “Shu Shu was gang-bitten by neighbouring dogs.”

The Thai Rak Thai headquarters at that time was near Suwat’s home.

Chat Pattana later merged with Thai Rak Thai and Suwat once again became a favoured member of the government.

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