Nui’s nine lives: How Thaksin’s bodyguard rose to national strategy chief

A bodyguard to four Shinawatra-allied prime ministers, Police Colonel Watanyu Witthayapalothai seems to have had nine lives in a decades-long career marked by political storms.

Targeted for punishment or investigation each time his bosses fell from power, Watanyu managed to return as a PM’s minder whenever the Shinawatras staged a political comeback.

His latest political resurrection came on August 5, when the Cabinet appointed him director of the Office for Driving National Reform, Strategy and Reconciliation or Por-Yor-Por – a C-11 post, representing the highest rank in the civil service.

The Por-Yor-Por is a powerful agency tasked with coordinating the country's 20-year national strategy plans. It was created after the 2014 coup that ousted Yingluck Shinawatra’s government, prompting critics to view Watanyu’s appointment as a “slap in the face” to General Prayut Chan-o-cha’s military regime.

Watanyu’s appointment, effective from October 1, was reportedly proposed by the agency and endorsed by Deputy Prime Minister Yodchanan Wongsawat from the Pheu Thai Party.

The Shinawatra-aligned Pheu Thai is the second-largest partner in the ruling coalition led by the Bhumjaithai Party.

His latest promotion, plus his three years left before mandatory retirement at 60, have led to predictions that Watanyu will soon be handed a ministry permanent secretary post – the pinnacle of the civil service.

Serving under 4 PMs

Known in Thai media as “Superintendent Nui”, after his nickname, the 56-year-old has served in the security teams of four former prime ministers: Thaksin Shinawatra, Yingluck Shinawatra, Srettha Thavisin and Paetongtarn Shinawatra.

Born on January 3, 1970, Watanyu graduated from the Police Cadet Academy and launched his career as a Border Patrol Police (BPP) officer in 1996.

Under national police chief Pol General Sant Sarutanond, Watanyu was redeployed to Royal Thai Police headquarters in Bangkok before being appointed to the security team shielding then-prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra. The team was headed by Watanyu’s former BPP supervisor.

After Thaksin was ousted in the 2006 military coup, Watanyu was sent to a police station in the insurgency-plagued southernmost province of Yala.

But his fortunes bounced back a year later after Thaksin’s proxy People Power Party won the general election. Watanyu was transferred to the Special Branch Bureau in Bangkok, tasked with guarding Thaksin’s wife, Khunying Potjaman. The transfer was made at the request of then-deputy police chief Pol General Priewpan Damapong, Potjaman’s brother.

Becoming superintendent

After Thaksin’s sister Yingluck became prime minister in 2011, Watanyu was assigned to lead her security team and promoted to police superintendent.

Said to be a trusted Shinawatra aide, he was seen accompanying Yingluck on both domestic and overseas trips. Critics questioned the nature of his role after images surfaced of him carrying Yingluck’s handbag for her.

As head of Yingluck’s security detail, Watanyu coordinated media interviews with the prime minister, including details such as the location, her standing position, and camera angle. He was quick to cut the interview short if Yingluck appeared uneasy, clearing a path for her through the media scrum.

When Yingluck fled the country to avoid prosecution over her government’s rice pledging programme, Watanyu accompanied her overseas.

In 2019, he was investigated for a “gross disciplinary violation” after being spotted escorting Yingluck at a 2018 World Cup football match in Russia without formally taking leave.

However, he was reinstated in November 2021 and appointed deputy commander for intelligence at the Special Branch Bureau.

After Pheu Thai’s Srettha became prime minister in August 2023, Watanyu was seconded to head his security team. The police colonel continued in the role after Srettha was replaced as PM by Thaksin’s daughter Paetongtarn, then leader of Pheu Thai.

Under Paetongtarn’s tenure, Watanyu was transferred from the Royal Thai Police to the civil service, joining the Office for Driving National Reform, Strategy and Reconciliation, which comes under the Prime Minister’s Office.

He was appointed the agency’s deputy director under the previous Anutin administration in November last year.