Pheu Thai in tug-of-war with DSI

Their tug-of-war over the wife and mother of a key "terrorist" suspect, who was arrested last week, has boiled over and put both parties in dangerous positions politically. Pheu Thai is risking everything by helping Surachai Tewarat and his family and implying they were victims of a government set-up. The DSI, on the other hand, is being accused of being politicised and biased.

Who's living more dangerously? If Pheu Thai wins back political power in the next election, Tarit can be certain he will lose his job. And just being sacked will be a blessing, as Jatuporn yesterday issued a no-nonsense threat that the DSI chief will one day be in shackles "like what they did to [another red leader] Nuttawut Saikua".

But as long as Tarit remains DSI chief, Pheu Thai must be the more worried party. The opposition camp has put a lot of stake into a terrorist suspect and his family, although the party had distanced itself from two other terror suspects without even waiting to see what kind of evidence the DSI had against them. Why so?

One likely explanation is that someone is afraid. Surachai was described as the right-hand man of the late Maj-General Khattiya Sawasdiphol, proclaimed leader of the "men in black", the alleged armed element of the red shirts. DSI insiders claim Surachai was on the verge of making significant confessions when Pheu Thai stepped in and blocked a plan to make his wife and mother state witnesses.

Another possible reason is that Pheu Thai simply cannot stand being a punching bag as it goes into this Sunday's Bangkok by-election in Constituency 6.

The arrests of many suspects in connection with the Bhum Jai Thai Party bomb attack were a blow Pheu Thai could only respond to by saying they were not "real reds". Surachai's case warranted a stronger response politically, because he was accused directly of being the main man in red-shirt-related incidents since April.

Decrying Surachai's arrest and potential charges against his mother and wife as a set-up, the opposition party has been trying to drive an impression the red shirts are at the receiving end of some dubious justice. Pheu Thai is bitter about the DSI's conspicuous conclusion in TPI's alleged money-siphoning case - upon which the dissolution case against the Democrats was built - but now may feel thankful for the DSI's bad timing. At least the "not guilty" decision on TPI can be used to strengthen Pheu Thai's claims about political prejudice, no matter what evidence the DSI may hold against Surachai.

After Thai Rak Thai was dissolved in 2007 and the People Power Party disbanded the following year, Pheu Thai has been able to steer largely clear of legal trouble. Until recently, that is. The alleged connection between the red shirts and the men in black was bad enough for a party whose members showed up on the red stage and some banned leaders are being investigated for allegedly providing financial support for anti-government activities. To try to help Surachai could be taking it another step too far.

Perhaps Pheu Thai thinks it has little to lose. A party dissolution case can always be forged against it with or without Surachai. Jatuporn is its MP, to begin with, and he is facing the worst possible charges. As far as Pheu Thai is concerned, damage could be worse if it does nothing.

Video Talk : From the Newsroom on Pheu Thai - DSI Tug of War