Nattawut has a reputation as a stirring orator.[2] Already as a high school student, he successfully participated in debating contests,[1] including an appearance on Thai TV Channel 3. Later, he worked as a speech trainer.[1] Nattawut gained fame on the Thai television programSapa Joke ("Joke Parliament") on iTV, a show that travestied Thai parliament and politics. He "dubbed" Trairong Suwankiri, who was the deputy leader of the Democrat Party.
Nattawut co-organised the mass protests in 2009 and, together with the other UDD heads, led the "Red Shirts" in the fierce protests from March to May 2010 that led to the bloody military crackdowns of April and May.[2] Nattawut, Jatuporn Prompan and other Red-Shirt leaders surrendered themselves to police to prevent further bloodshed during the violent military crackdown on 19 May 2010.[4] Afterwards, Nattawut was prosecuted on terrorism charges.[2] He was released on bail terms on 22 February 2011.[5]
At the 2011 Thai general election Nattawut Saikua was elected Member of Parliament on the winning Pheu Thai Party list.[6] When Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra reshuffled her cabinet on 18 January 2012, Nattawut was named Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Cooperatives.[2][7][8] After the Cabinet reshuffle on 28 October 2012, he changed to the Ministry of Commerce. He lost his government office during the coup d'état on 22 May 2014. After the coup, he was held in military detention for seven days, alongside other "Red Shirt" leaders.[9]
Controversies
In a 2010 speech, Nattawut insinuated that Jarungjit Thikara, a lady-in-waiting of Queen Sirikit, ordered the army to crack down on the 2010 protests on the queen's behalf.[10][11]
On 22 June 2013, a music video surfaced on YouTube featuring Nattawut singing about and promoting local grocery stores. The video received harsh criticism, with some viewers stating it was a waste of government spending.[12]
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