Newin Chidchob reports himself to the junta on September 21, 2006 -- two days after the coup. He had been detained for 10 days.

It has been a week since Newin Chidchob broke his silence since falling from grace. But his effort to win sympathy hasn’t paid off.

By coming clean with the naked truth about what had happened during ten days of detention, Newin though he could cash in on quick political brownie points with his support base – the people of Buriram.

Newin spilled his heart out about how the junta had their goon stripped him down to his underwear on the 10th day of his detention. He wondered out loud as to why they waited on the last day to harass him in such a way.

Besides there were no reports of Yongyuth Tiyapairat or Dr Promin Lertsuridej having to go through the same harassment. So why me, he asked.

Junta chief General Sonthi Boonyaratglin shot back, asking “Who would want to see him (Newin) naked?”

But judging from Newin’s turbulence political past, it’s going to take more than the junta to take him down.

A decade ago his canvassers were busted with Bt100 and Bt20 banknotes clipped to the campaign brochure of the three MPs of which Newin was part. But all eyes fell on Newin.

And then there was an explosion that went off in front of his home in Buriram. His brush with death was greeted with scepticism. Poor guy. Nobody believed him. And whoever said the truth will set you free – naked or what have you?