New Political Party Ready To Launch

[Plus]

Most Thais just wish the Army wasn't on the rotation list.

Are you sure about that? The coup was warmly welcomed by the public, afterall.

People don't want the army to govern the country, sure, but they also seem to think that the army is the only institution they can trust when everything else fails.

Many people approved the coup post-factum but I doubt that these coup supporters would welcome army's overstay in any form or that the army sponsored parties would fare well in elections, and many politicians would also try to distance themselves from the army.

[hammered]

Has anyone heard any criticism yet from the ex-TRT "left" wing to the idea of having Samak as the leader of their new party? It would be incredible if none had been voiced but to date I havent noticed any. Maybe I havent been paying attention to the news enough.

Oh what fun.

[John K]

Was not Samak just convicted earlier this year of something? I thought he was due to spend at least 2 years doing time. It strikes me as “Old School” trying to reemerge in the “New School”environment.

Also on another note from some other posts. Step back a few steps and you may see this too. The TRT is dissolved and has been told to go away for five years. It seems the ones that did not heed ruling are now slowly finding themselves in jail. The ones that have been quiet and have gone away are out of the news. Meanwhile Thaksin is still pulling strings from a safe distance. If the members of the former TRT are not smart enough to know what to do to stay out of jail, then certainly they are not smart enough to be leaders.

[A_Traveller]

Samak and Dusit get jail for slander

Political veterans and talk-show hosts Samak Sundaravej and Dusit Siriwan were each sentenced to two years' imprisonment yesterday for defaming Deputy Bangkok Governor Samart Ratchapolasit last January.

Samak and Dusit were released on bail of Bt200,000 in cash pending an appellate review, following the sentencing session at the Southern Bangkok Criminal Court.

Thread re conviction

Would have thought this would prohibit him from standing {but has the appeal been heard yet?} given constitutional strictures both new and '97.

Regards

/edit typo//

Edited August 1, 2007 by A_Traveller

[Siripon]

Once again: WHY NOT concentrate on more important issues of what is PRESENT situation and its impact on FUTURE of this country and democratic developments, instead of furiously assaulting Thaksin, TRT, who are banned, dissolved, OUT of politics officially for who knows how long ? at least directly...

I think this is a good read with many good points:

Thai politics beyond 2006 coup

By Pasuk Phongpaichit

(Based on the Supha Sirimanond Memorial Lecture

delivered at the Political Economy Centre,

Chulalongkorn University on July 25)

The 2006 coup

The crucial point for understanding the participation by the ruling elites and army is to realise that 2006 is actually one point in a sequence going back to the coups of 1947, 1957 and 1976.

In all these four events, the army and royalists moved in alliance to eject an elected government on grounds that the elected government was too weak, too strong, too corrupt, too disrespectful of the monarchy, or too something else.

In 2006, ... army also saw an opportunity to gain redemption for the army’s role in 1992, which had reduced their status so dramatically. The military had long wanted to regain some of its former prominence, and the opportunity to overthrow Mr Thaksin gave them the chance...

What next?

The best guide is history. The alignment of social forces around the 2006 coup is similar to that around the coup of 1976. On one side are the ruling elites, army, and urban middle class. On the other is the rest, with a strong rural weightage.

In both 1976 and 2006, the coup was a reaction against a political challenge with its centre of gravity in the countryside. In 1976, Bangkok felt threatened by a Maoist insurgency, a peasant movement, and a student movement which sympathised with rural demands.

In 2006, Bangkok again felt threatened, but this time by a political leader and political party which had built unprecedented support in the rural areas of the North and the Northeast by delivering a range of populist programmes, and promising more.

After 1976, the establishment solution was a formula of ‘‘managed democracy’’ with three main parts: constitutional engineering to produce a system that was democratic in form but insulated against the risk of mass takeover, military oversight of political activity from top to bottom and a public campaign for national unity around the monarchy. All these three parts are seen again in 2006.

The 2007 draft constitution deliberately sets out to weaken the prime minister and the political parties. It installs a semi-appointed senate to serve as a conservative deadweight on the parliament. It aims for a return to the fluid coalition politics of the 1980s and 1990s.

The Internal Security Bill gives massive powers to the army chief to oversee politics from top to bottom. The military has tried desperately to undermine support for Mr Thaksin using old-fashioned methods of disruption and intimidation.

This strategy of ‘‘managed democracy’’ will not be as easy as in the post 1976 period, because of the large changes over the intervening thirty years. Thailand’s globalised economy is incompatible with military rule.

The 1985-95 boom raised income levels, and multiplied the number of interests that are promoted or protected through political actions. Since the early 1980s, elections have become established for parliament and later for local government.

There is a dense pyramid of electoral organisation extending down from MPs through local government heads to village canvassers. Many have benefited from electoral democracy.

The attempt to ‘‘manage democracy’’ might fail completely, unless it is flexible. Many people are unhappy about the 2007 draft constitution, and the attempt to pass the internal security bill. Civil society groups have opposed the current army chief’s ambitions to become the next prime minister. Many in the informal mass feel Mr Thaksin and TRT have been martyred. These resentments can be explosive.

From exclusion to inclusion

Mr Thaksin’s populism, the coup and ‘‘managed democracy’’ are all strategies to exclude opponents from the democratic process. Mr Thaksin hijacked the constitution in order to neutralise opponents to his political ambitions. The coup tore up the constitution in order to undermine Mr Thaksin’s massive electoral support. The 2007 constitution is written with the single-minded aim to prevent the return of Mr Thaksin and the social forces he has come to represent.

Politics will only become stable when the political system reflects and accommodates all the important social forces and political aspirations in the society.

Competitive strategies of exclusion will only add to social division and political tension.

Democracy succeeds in societies where enough of the major social forces come to realise that elections, parliaments and public debate (for all their messy faults) are better ways to resolve the conflicts in society than power, repression, exclusion and violence.

In such societies, everyone agrees to accept a set of rules and institutions, and to play within them, rather than trying to subvert the rules or tear them up at the first opportunity.

The first step towards such a stable system has to be an inclusive procedure for writing the rules. Whatever faults the resulting charter had, the 1997 process at least was an attempt at such an inclusive procedure. The 2007 process was not and as such will inevitably be a false start.

It is time to aim for an inclusive politics. Perhaps the most difficult task in Thai politics now is how to convince the triple alliance behind the coup of 2006 to accept a political system which accommodates everybody fairly.

I think those highlighted lines are more important to discuss than "oh, that evil Thaksin again!"

this opinion by Chula Uni lecturer is similar to what Thammasat Uni guy said few months ago:

'Thaksin's ghost haunts drafters'

Nation, Mon, March 12, 2007

Thammasat University law lecturer Kittisak Prokati is a member of the Constitution Drafting Committee's subcommittee on rights and liberty.

....................

What about an elected or appointed Senate? Are drafters working in fear that ousted prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra will return?

Drafting this time is based on the fear and suspicion of Thaksin's ghost, I agree. It would be better if it was based on research about the future of the country.

However, due to limited time no model has been produced and the problem [of drafting a new charter] is being sorted out in a dictatorial manner.

Not that the problem [of Thaksin] is not legitimate, but the process of drafting is more problem-based and without vision and under time limitations.

....................

The weakness of the 1997 constitution was that it was a charter without any constitutional or theoretical foundation....

Its weaknesses were never discussed beforehand and so the past charter left loopholes for a businessman to exploit. It was a pro-business charter.

This time, the same thing is happening but on the opposite pole. It will become an anti-political, anti-business constitution but will recall [traditional] autocrats. Most drafters come from the ranks of the elite and the high-level bureaucracy. Whether it will solve [national] problems is debatable.

But, we need more [constitutional] theoretical debate.

Otherwise there are bound to be loopholes and it will meet the same fate [as the 1997 charter] but from the opposite extreme.

Power has been transferred from an absolute monarch to bureaucrats, then to the military and to business-political groups and to local administrative bodies, so far.

The real challenge is whether local communities are conscious of the power within them.

I still regard a coup as an act of treason. And its only justification is that if it's not done it will put [the country] in more harm and that such a claim can be proven. I'm still waiting for the Council for National Security to prove its claim.

so, why can't be seen any comments on Unelected PM, appointed Senate and other important matters?

instead only gleeful twits about who joined which party, what funny faces this or that person made on some occasion....

I'm glad to see you've included the part about Thaksin hijacking the constitution, though you've omitted the part about him not being interested in policies for the masses until he realised the numerical numbers could immune him from parliamentary criticism or the corruption issues facing him and TRT.

If TRT really cared about the working class what are they doing running to one of the most right wing politicians in Thailand and asking him to be leader?!

[Plus]

The 2007 constitution is written with the single-minded aim to prevent the return of Mr Thaksin and the social forces he has come to represent.

If those "social forces" run to Samak for guidance, the military has nothing to be afraid of.

Thaksin's electoral base had no idea they were getting involved in a "sequence going back to the coups of 1947, 1957 and 1976" and even if they found out, they would be confused which side they are on.

[hammered]

Samak and Dusit get jail for slander

Political veterans and talk-show hosts Samak Sundaravej and Dusit Siriwan were each sentenced to two years' imprisonment yesterday for defaming Deputy Bangkok Governor Samart Ratchapolasit last January.

Samak and Dusit were released on bail of Bt200,000 in cash pending an appellate review, following the sentencing session at the Southern Bangkok Criminal Court.

Thread re conviction

Would have thought this would prohibit him from standing {but has the appeal been heard yet?} given constitutional strictures both new and '97.

Regards

/edit typo//

It may be in the interests of the country to expedite the hearing quickly so that there is no confusion as to his legal status. Mind you personally I would prefer to see him done for overseeing the worst ever massacre in Bangkok. Not likely to happen unfortunately although it is truely sickening to see so many of the ex-TRT left willing to accept him without a comment. Selling out of the worst possible kind. One can only wonder if they will evr have the gall again to make a comment on human rights and expect anyone to tak it seriously if they end up as colleagues of the ex-interior minister of death. We'll leave the book burning out of it for now.

[A_Traveller]

Considering the safe typing barier method for this, but c/o the Bangkok Post:- Extracts

Thai Rath Comment _ Samak Sundaravej is certainly the right choice as leader of the Thai Rak Thai group of ousted prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra. The former Bangkok governor has what it takes to lead remnants of the now-defunct Thai Rak Thai (TRT) party into the next general election, tentatively set for the latter half of December this year. ... With the Thai Rak Thai group now on the defensive following the dissolution of the party for electoral fraud, Mr Samak's presence can shore up the group's image. Even though he is seen as a right-wing politician, Mr Samak is a staunch supporter of the Monarchy. This will help boost the Thai Rak Thai group's standing among the electorate as well. ... As in previous national elections, the forthcoming general election will see a lot of money changing hands. The former TRT bigwigs are not likely to spend lavishly this time, and that's why Mr Samak is likely to be chosen as their front man in the next political battle.

words, just for once, fail me.

Regards

Link for the next 3 nanoseconds:- Thai Rath editorial

PS The Bangkok Post have their own editorial on this too.

... The chief adviser of the Democrat party, Chuan Leekpai, admitted he was surprised by Mr Samak's decision to join the Palang Prachachon party along with the Thai Rak Thai remnants and possibly to head the party. He wondered aloud how the Thai Rak Thai core leaders, many of whom are former communist cadres, could work together with a former extreme rightist such as Mr Samak. ... Of course, the Thai Rak Thai group is free to choose anyone they think fit to lead their new party, Palang Prachachon. They may still harbour strong hard feelings, mistrust or even hatred against the military junta for the overthrow of the Thaksin administration, the allegedly unfair treatment of the party and Mr Thaksin himself. But their choice of Mr Samak as their new leader seems to be driven by emotion rather than wisdom. There is no doubt that Mr Samak is a highly experienced and shrewd politician. But his confrontational and uncompromising character may not sit well with the current divisive political atmosphere, where reconciliation rather than confrontation is needed. With Mr Samak at the helm, the path towards national reconciliation will be harder to traverse _ if that goal is ever to be achieved at all. ... The country has sustained more than enough political and economic damage over the past two years of political instability characterised by street protests and political polarisation. As such, a ''brutal'' leader as described by a Thai Rak Thai core leader is the last thing that this country wants.

/edit add extract from BP //

Edited August 2, 2007 by A_Traveller

[ColPyat]

words, just for once, fail me.

Not just you.

Welcome to the utter mess of Thai politics.

[slimdog]

Considering the safe typing barier method for this, but c/o the Bangkok Post:- Extracts

Thai Rath Comment _ Samak Sundaravej is certainly the right choice as leader of the Thai Rak Thai group of ousted prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra. The former Bangkok governor has what it takes to lead remnants of the now-defunct Thai Rak Thai (TRT) party into the next general election, tentatively set for the latter half of December this year. ... With the Thai Rak Thai group now on the defensive following the dissolution of the party for electoral fraud, Mr Samak's presence can shore up the group's image. Even though he is seen as a right-wing politician, Mr Samak is a staunch supporter of the Monarchy. This will help boost the Thai Rak Thai group's standing among the electorate as well. ... As in previous national elections, the forthcoming general election will see a lot of money changing hands. The former TRT bigwigs are not likely to spend lavishly this time, and that's why Mr Samak is likely to be chosen as their front man in the next political battle.

words, just for once, fail me.

Today's Thai Rath Cartoon

[Mid]

Samak undecided on heading PPP

Published on August 2, 2007

Veteran politician Samak Sundaravej said yesterday he would hold a press conference on August 14 to talk about his decision to join the People Power Party, which has attracted remnants of the disbanded Thai Rak Thai Party.

"I will hear all of the criticism. However, I have not yet decided to head the party [PPP]. We should wait for the party executive meeting before making any decision," he said.

The former Bangkok governor applied to become a member of the PPP on Tuesday.

snjp

nationmultimedia.com

[sabaijai]

Anyone who understands the sad history related to Thailand and the CPT in the 60s and 70s wouldn't think to joke about this. To many people died for it to be funny....

history has gone!

and do Thailand laws permit launch a new communist party now ? I am severe, not for funny....

veering off tangent a bit, but the CPT only numbered some 5000 members at its peak and its threat was far exagerated by the likes of Thanom so that he could get his hands on more US govt funds. thousands of hill tribe folks and villagers were summarily executed in the confusing campaign against imagined CPT forces. which reminds me, forumers who think thaksin will be punished for the alleged drug killings should really read thai history to see how many mass killings have been swept under the carpet with nothing made of the perpetrators.

CPT peaked at 10,000-14,000 active members, with an estimated one million sympathisers.

[Mid]

Democrat will not form coalition with People Power: Abhisit

August 2, 2007 : Last updated 03:36 pm

Democrat Party leader Abhisit Vejjajiva said Thursday that his party would not form a coalition government with the People Power because it is clear the part belongs to former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra.

"If Thaksin stays with the People Power, we can't work with them," Abhisit said.

Former Thai Rak Thai MPs and members have joined the People Power.

The Nation

[Siripon]

words, just for once, fail me.

Not just you.

Welcome to the utter mess of Thai politics.

There is no mess. TRT, a nationalistic name, was always a vehicle for Thaksin to obtain political power to combine with his financial clout.

I said sometime ago I would not be surprised to see the remnants of TRT, ie Sudarat, Newin, Yongyut,etc team up with Samak.

There's no left wing idealism in these characters.

If any TRT are truly genuine about helping the grass roots then please form a party with that name and policies included, but as any Thai social scientist can tell you the Thai working class fluctuate between the rural and agricultural sectors, changing jobs, their loyalty lies with their local MP or their particular vested interest, be it the price of rice, corn or cattle in various associations and cooperatives.

Unions in the industrial sector are weak due to infighting, frequent turnover of personnel, and threats of withdrawal of investment by the multinationals if labour 'problems' surface.

Thailand is not an industrial country with only 3 or 4 % employed in agriculture, and I doubt it ever will be with its large tracts of land, tropical climate and half the population rural.

Fruits and crops grow all year round, unlike the temperate countries of the north, forced to struggle to survive with inhospitable climates.

It's difficult to persuade the proletariat to storm the barricades when half of them are relaxing in hammocks whilst their cattle graze in the midday sun.

[Plus]

Samak is certainly a clever choice - he is anti-coup, anti-Prem, he has a very strong support base, even in Bangkok where he was elected twice - as a governor and as a senator and is a current record holder in both categories by the number of votes, he makes people listen, he can take on any opponent in a debate - perfect choice for a leader.

Ideology that Thai socialists wrongly ascribed to TRT was never there, so it's not lost.

[ColPyat]

Samak is certainly a clever choice - he is anti-coup, anti-Prem, he has a very strong support base, even in Bangkok where he was elected twice - as a governor and as a senator and is a current record holder in both categories by the number of votes, he makes people listen, he can take on any opponent in a debate - perfect choice for a leader.

Ideology that Thai socialists wrongly ascribed to TRT was never there, so it's not lost.

I have no doubts that he suits your ideas a "perfect choice for a leader".

[ColPyat]

words, just for once, fail me.

Not just you.

Welcome to the utter mess of Thai politics.

There is no mess. TRT, a nationalistic name, was always a vehicle for Thaksin to obtain political power to combine with his financial clout.

I said sometime ago I would not be surprised to see the remnants of TRT, ie Sudarat, Newin, Yongyut,etc team up with Samak.

There's no left wing idealism in these characters.

If any TRT are truly genuine about helping the grass roots then please form a party with that name and policies included, but as any Thai social scientist can tell you the Thai working class fluctuate between the rural and agricultural sectors, changing jobs, their loyalty lies with their local MP or their particular vested interest, be it the price of rice, corn or cattle in various associations and cooperatives.

Unions in the industrial sector are weak due to infighting, frequent turnover of personnel, and threats of withdrawal of investment by the multinationals if labour 'problems' surface.

Thailand is not an industrial country with only 3 or 4 % employed in agriculture, and I doubt it ever will be with its large tracts of land, tropical climate and half the population rural.

Fruits and crops grow all year round, unlike the temperate countries of the north, forced to struggle to survive with inhospitable climates.

It's difficult to persuade the proletariat to storm the barricades when half of them are relaxing in hammocks whilst their cattle graze in the midday sun.

Obviously the names you mentioned are not much of what anybody would consider pro-people. TRT had many October people, and yes, they were not the dominating faction there. But many of the pro-people policies were done by them.

As for them forming their own party - i am realist enough that they will have no chance to get funding, or can make any strong inroads, for the reasons you mentioned, and a few more sinister ones. It ain't all rosy upcountry.

And they know that as well - that is why they try to do things within established political parties, or in NGOs and democracy groups.

But the mess is there, it was there before Thaksin, during Thaksin, and unfortunately will stay with us for a considerable time.

[aaaaaa]

{1}The PM will be an elected PM under the new consty draft, so why comment on a hypothetical situation that Thailand will not face whatever the result of the election.

{2} We could equally say why is nobody debating the difference between 2007 and 1997 consty regarding the basic rights of people?

{3}... it doesnt look like anyone on any side really cares about the people of the country getting a constitution that is the best possible

{4}.... those involved in Thai politics have not changed over the years. We still have the same faces with the same agendas, just in different partes....

Except first point I mostly agree with you. many people are not so sure that PM would be elected. and then, even if he IS elected, this new constitution gives much more power for military to interfere and dismiss him, and then, there is new addition that that elected PM can't act as caretaker IF Parlament dissembled (As Thaksin did a year ago - that is the main cause for this addition). so, even IF PM is elected (not appointed) - there is a big chance AT ANY TIME that army LEGALLY oust him and appoint their own guy. therefore I don't see much ground for your optimism !

about your point {2} - yes, I agree why not to talk about it? - it is much worthy to discuss than endless ranting about Thaksin !

Re points {3} and {4} - sure, that is perhaps the most important matters, what for and about all the events of new charter, Election etc. supposed to be !

and then, if anyway all the parties have same faces who switch from one camp to another, and also since ALL political parties in Thailand are in infancy, and lastly, since according to new charter then won't have much influence in Execute power - there is no point to waste so much time to talk about them anyway !

yeah, if only for fun - but then such discussions would be more suitable for Jokes Forum....

[Plus]

Samak is certainly a clever choice - he is anti-coup, anti-Prem, he has a very strong support base, even in Bangkok where he was elected twice - as a governor and as a senator and is a current record holder in both categories by the number of votes, he makes people listen, he can take on any opponent in a debate - perfect choice for a leader.

Ideology that Thai socialists wrongly ascribed to TRT was never there, so it's not lost.

I have no doubts that he suits your ideas a "perfect choice for a leader".

Clever choice, CLEVER.

Though if these TRT leftist want to eventually march off the political cliff, he is also a perfect choice.

I smell Samak personally strangling some of them and executing the rest. Figuratively speaking, of course - he is uncontrollable.

[ColPyat]

Samak is certainly a clever choice - he is anti-coup, anti-Prem, he has a very strong support base, even in Bangkok where he was elected twice - as a governor and as a senator and is a current record holder in both categories by the number of votes, he makes people listen, he can take on any opponent in a debate - perfect choice for a leader.

Ideology that Thai socialists wrongly ascribed to TRT was never there, so it's not lost.

I have no doubts that he suits your ideas a "perfect choice for a leader".

Clever choice, CLEVER.

Though if these TRT leftist want to eventually march off the political cliff, he is also a perfect choice.

I smell Samak personally strangling some of them and executing the rest. Figuratively speaking, of course - he is uncontrollable.

Your words, not mine...

[Mid]

Former supreme commander joins People Power

August 3, 2007 : Last updated 06:04 pm

Former Supreme Commander Ruangroj Mahasaranont has joined the People Power Party of the Thai Rak Thai Group, a party adviser said Friday.

Karn Thiankaew, the adviser, said the party executive board approved Ruangroj's application as party membership at 11 pm Thursday.

Karn said former Thai Rak Thai MPs invited Ruangroj to join the party and the former MPs submitted his application to the party executive board on Thursday.

Ruangroj was among the coup makers.

Karn said the former MPs asked Ruangroj to bury the past and join the party to help solve the country's problems.

The Nation

[sriracha john]

Another party... another TRT group.... another TRT leader

Saman Chan to give leadership to Suwit Khunkitti

The Saman Chan Group, a breakaway from the Thai Rak Thai Party, plans to make Suwit Khunkitti, a former Thai Rak Thai MP, the leader after the group takes over an existing party.

The group of former Thai Rak Thai MPs from northeastern provinces plans to take over the Social Action Party, a well-informed source from the group said Friday.

The group saw that it would not be able to set up a new party in time, the source said.

The group has resolved to appoint Suwit as the leader of its party.

The group hopes to win about 50 House seats.

- The Nation

[Mid]

People Power more popular than Democrat: survey

Sun, August 5, 2007 : Last updated 20:50 pm

People in Bangkok and nearby provinces have more faith in the People Power Party than in Democrats to solve economic and social problems, a new poll says.

But, Abac Poll Research Centre found seven out of 10 people were not confident either party could make a difference

snip

But, a little more than 80 per cent did not believe in either, Noppadon said.

snip

The Nation

[sriracha john]

As the school teacher is taking attendance of her pupils in her 2007 Election classroom... we now have Chalerm and Chavalit raise their hands and shout "Present"....

Suwat: Three political groups set to emerge

Political divisions will remain after the next general election, which could lead to the emergence of three major political groups, former Thai Rak Thai party executive member Suwat Liptapanlop said yesterday. The three groups will be one loyal to deposed prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra, comprising former members of the now defunct Thai Rak Thai party, an anti-Thaksin group led by the Democrats, and a new group of politicians, he told a seminar held by the National Institute of Development Administration, Post Today and Business Radio.

Mr Suwat currently leads a group which aims to have up to 70 MPs after the election, while former Thai Rak Thai heavyweight Sudarat Keyuraphan has backed former party members in joining the People's Power party. The party will decide on its leader on Aug 14, with former Bangkok governor Samak Sundaravej tipped for the job. Chalerm Yubamrung, who set up the New Alternative party, said he planned to approach former prime minister Chavalit Yongchaiyudh to be leader of his party. Chalerm was deputy leader of the New Aspiration party headed by Gen Chavalit before he abandoned it to join the Thai Rak Thai party with its founder, Mr Thaksin.

Continued here:

http://www.bangkokpost.com/News/06Aug2007_news11.php

[sriracha john]

Samak seen as proxy of Thaksin

Birds of a feather flock together. So it was said.

Thus, it should be no surprise at all that Samak Sundaravej, former Bangkok governor and once a staunch hater of communists, has decided to share the same political destiny with the hardcore Thai Rak Thai remnants, many of them former leftist students and sworn enemies of Mr Samak. The Cold War's political ideologies of the 70s and early 80s which pitted capitalism against communism have no place in today's realpolitik whereby the only thing which matters most is mutual vested interests. Which explained why Mr Samak sneered at his critics' questioning about how a sworn extreme rightist entered into a marriage of convenience with former leftists. Matter-of-factly, both Mr Samak and Thaksin Shinawatra, the dear leader of the Thak Rak Thai remnants, share something in common. Both used to badmouth Gen Prem Tinsulanonda, president of the Privy Council, although Mr Samak said recently he had stopped criticising the privy councillor ever since he ended his political talk show television programme several months back.

Mr Samak fit the Thai Rak Thai hardliners' bill for a strong, daring, combative and outspoken leader who has the guts to stand up against the CNS and other influential forces apart from leading their little-known new party to reclaim their old glory. In other words, the TRT faithful and their exiled paramount leader, Thaksin, have decided to go for broke against their political foes for their choice of Samak rather than a more compromising figure like Gen Chavalit Yongchaiyudh. Any faint hope for national reconciliation in the aftermath of the elections seems to have evaporated the moment they picked Samak as their future leader. Political tension is likely to remain with us and we may not know when it will end. Samak has denied he is a proxy of Thaksin. But this goes against the belief of most political analysts. Although a continent away from home, the exiled former TRT leader is still believed to be very much in control of his lieutenants and still wields the decision-making power together with his wife, Potjaman. After all, it was Thaksin and his wife who picked Mr Samak.

- Commentary by Veera Prateepchaikul, Deputy Editor-in-Chief, Post Publishing continues here:

http://www.bangkokpost.com/News/06Aug2007_news27.php

[hammered]

Former supreme commander joins People Power

August 3, 2007 : Last updated 06:04 pm

Former Supreme Commander Ruangroj Mahasaranont has joined the People Power Party of the Thai Rak Thai Group, a party adviser said Friday.

Karn Thiankaew, the adviser, said the party executive board approved Ruangroj's application as party membership at 11 pm Thursday.

Karn said former Thai Rak Thai MPs invited Ruangroj to join the party and the former MPs submitted his application to the party executive board on Thursday.

Ruangroj was among the coup makers.

Karn said the former MPs asked Ruangroj to bury the past and join the party to help solve the country's problems.

The Nation

So now the TRT successor group becomes the first to welcome the ex-military into its ranks. No doubt they will have no complaints if Panlop and Sonthi decide to run.

I heard a rumour today that Samak may not become supremo of the TRT part two after all. We will see.

[A_Traveller]

... No doubt they will have no complaints if Panlop and Sonthi decide to run.

I heard a rumour today that Samak may not become supremo of the TRT part two after all. We will see.

I thought Pallop had already joined a party and was intending to contest Dusit constituency.

Rumour came my way too.

Reagrds

[sriracha john]

Like Batman and Robin, the Dynamic Duo are setting up the Bat Cave...

Chavalit teams with Chalerm

Former PM Chavalit Yongchaiyudh has rejected an invitation to join the People's Power party and instead favours working with New Alternative leader Chalerm Yubamrung, according to his close aide Sornchai Montriwat. Maj-Gen Sornchai said people from People's Power, which recently took in members of the dissolved Thai Rak Thai party, had approached Gen Chavalit to take the leadership. Chavalit turned down the offer, said Sornchai. The party's viewpoint and working style did not suit him, Sornchai said. Nor had Chavalit committed himself to joining a political group led by former TRT party executive member Suwat Liptapanlop. Pol Cpt Chalerm, on the other hand, had been in regular contact with Chavalit and the two politicians had discussed their political future together, Sornchai said. Chalerm was deputy leader of the New Aspiration party led by Chavalit, who later abandoned it to join TRT. The outcome of the Aug 19 referendum would have a bearing on how Chavalit works with Chalerm, Sornchai said. The Constitution Drafting Committee yesterday agreed to water down a proposed amendment to the Political Party Act which bars former executives of dissolved political parties from engaging in any political activities at all while they serve a five-year political ban. But the stipulation forbidding them from serving as advisers to political parties has been left intact. :D

Continued here:

http://www.bangkokpost.com/News/08Aug2007_news12.php

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The last sentence, IMHO, is desperately needed.

[sriracha john]

Former TRT members get campaign tips from ex-PM

Former members of the defunct Thai Rak Thai Party yesterday made a pledge of allegiance to ex-prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra and watched a video clip on campaign strategy which was recorded by Thaksin in London.

In the 15-minute speech, Thaksin urged his former MPs to unite under the People Power Party banner.

He recommended that they base their campaign re-election bid by highlighting the achievements and economic policies of his former government. He also said the campaign should focus on reconciliation and people's livelihoods rather than confrontation with rival candidates.

Thaksin's former government spokesman Surapong Suebwonglee said the disbanded party would carry on campaigning to defeat the draft charter and its activities would stay within the legal limits allowed by the referendum law.

He said that many newspapers, except Matichon and Post Today, had refused to publish his adverts opposing the charter and many billboard operators had also turned down contracts to display the message to vote "no".

The referendum outcome should represent the majority vote of more than 50 per cent, otherwise the result would be inconclusive, he said.

"If less than 50 per cent of voters cast ballots, then we don't feel this is the charter for the entire population," Surapong said.

The remnants of the Thai Rak Thai party expect to meet at a convention of the People Power Party on August 18. After that they will vote to elect a new leader, highly tipped to be political veteran Samak Sundaravej.

- The Nation

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Could also fit in the hypocritical "Thaksin Calling It Quits" thread, but it highlights the needed point of the just previous post.

[sriracha john]

Seems like 30 million is the new magic number... be it bribing judges or getting an MP to switch parties....

Chat Thai loses over 10 former MPs

The Chat Thai Party has lost more than 10 former MPs after another political party offered Bt30 million for them to contest the upcoming general election under its banner, party leader Banharn Silapa-archa said Wednesday.

"This party is now using a new scheme of 'Bt30 million for the demise of other parties'," deputy leader Somsak Prissanananthakul said.

The members who submitted resignations include those who had represented Chanthaburi - Thawatchai Anampong, Yukol Chanawatpanya and Pongwet Vejjajiva. Others were former Maha Sarakham MP Prayuth Siripanit and a son of former Surin MP Seksan Saenphum.

"There are signs that more will defect especially those from other northeastern provinces," Banharn said, adding that in 2001 when a large party was established, his party was also hit with a mass exodus.

- The Nation

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you'd think the marketing experts would come up with a catch phrase for the new strategy.... like,

One Bribe, One 30 Million Baht