The decision was Chuan's, but an angry Supachai concluded it was at Tarrin's behest.
Subdued Commerce Minister Supachai Panitchpakdi stood down because of his bid to head the World Trade Organization.
But a sizeable minority favour Thailand's Supachai Panitchpakdi, who is stubbornly refusing to pull out of the race.
South-East Asia will doubtless rally behind Thailand's commerce minister, Supachai Panitchpakdi, who is also campaigning hard in Latin America.
Right now, the avuncular Supachai, 52, is losing out to the diminutive, flinty Tarrin, who is a year older.
Tarrin, however, secured a deal to report directly to Chuan and bypass Supachai.
The two candidates remaining are a former New Zealand prime minister, Mike Moore, and Thailand's deputy prime minister, Supachai Panitchpakdi.
Worse was to follow when - following the postponement of the ill-fated March 15 meeting - Supachai leaked his memo.
Supachai even spoke glowingly of how the economy was about to turn the corner with the coming sale of three banks.
Given the gravity of the situation, Supachai - though uneasy with Tarrin's moves - kept quiet and focused on boosting exports.
The latest flare-up began March 14 when Supachai was in Chiangmai in the north preparing for a meeting of economic officials.
Tarrin remained in the driving seat and Supachai's attention shifted elsewhere - namely to his campaign to head the World Trade Organization.
The duo are Finance Minister Tarrin Nimmanhaeminda and Commerce Minister Supachai Panitchpakdi.
There were no major departures in policy, but Thai Deputy Prime Minister Supachai Panitchpakdi said the package was more than adequate if enacted.
Two years later, when the interim regimes had proved their ineptness and Chuan was returned to power, he proudly brought back Tarrin and Supachai.
Together with Deputy Prime Minister Supachai Panitchpakdi, he made up the economic "dream team" that was expected to lift Thailand out of its financial crisis.
Supachai really feels he should know more of what's going on.
Chuan, though, has a big asset in his economic team, in which Tarrin Nimmanhaeminda returns as finance minister and former deputy PM Supachai Panichpakdi gets commerce.
Their longstanding feud burst into the open when Supachai learned that an economic conclave at which he was to make a major presentation had been postponed.
Big, balding Supachai invariably looks as if he has just stepped off a longhaul flight - weary and ruffled, but delighted to be where he is.
He would rather listen and then put his response in writing and say 'comment or improve or disagree' - instead of going on and on preaching like Supachai.
By the middle of last year, Supachai was known to favor a relaxation of Tarrin's stern fiscal policies in order to try to kickstart the so-called real economy.
But his rival, Thailand's Supachai Panichpakdi, would not admit defeat.
Supachai sympathizers fumed and Boonchu berated Tarrin for his aloofness.
Fortunately for Chuan, 59, he is backed by a strong cast, not least the experienced economic team led by Deputy Prime Minister Supachai Panichpakdi and Finance Minister Tarrin Nimmanhaeminda.
His rival, Thailand's Supachai Panitchpakdi, is worthy enough.
Supachai's basic differences with Tarrin became widely known.
Thailand's Minister of Commerce, Supachai Panitchpakdi, who takes over as WTO chief in 2002, warned that if Clinton insisted on the issue, developing countries could "walk away from any agreement on a new round" of talks.
CNN: ASIANOW - TIME Asia | Business: Rage Against The Machine
Top politicians are also attending, among them the boss of the World Trade Organisation, Supachai Panitchpakdi, presidents Vicente Fox of Mexico and Johannes Rau of Germany, King Abdullah II of Jordan and Malaysian Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad.
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