Gen Sonthi 'won't Run In Election'

[jbowman1993]

Gen Sonthi 'won't run in election'

WASSANA NANUAM & PRADIT RUANGDIT

FROM LEFT TO RIGHT Veteran politician Vattana Asavahame, Matchima leader Somsak Thepsuthin, Pracharaj party leader Sanoh Thienthong, former deputy prime minister Surakiart Sathirathai, and Reconciliation group member Suvit Khunkitti demonstrate their unity at the Queen Sirikit National Convention Centre yesterday after officially announcing their membership of the newly-formed Puea Pandin party.

Gen Sonthi Boonyaratkalin will not run in the forthcoming general election after he retires as army commander-in-chief at the end of this month, an army source close to him said yesterday.

However, Gen Sonthi, who will remain chairman of the Council for National Security after his retirement, will keep himself available for a cabinet post in the new government, the source added.

The source said Gen Sonthi had dropped plans to set up a political party or become a political party leader, preferring to watch political developments from the sidelines at least for the time being.

However, Gen Sonthi will be ready to join the new government as a deputy prime minister or defence minister upon request, the source said.

The general will try to prove himself in the political arena before contesting future elections to vie for the prime ministership. "Gen Sonthi is trying to take measured steps on the political path," the source said.

But Gen Sonthi has voiced support for Supachai Panitchpakdi, secretary-general of the United Nations Conference for Trade and Development, to head the Puea Pandin party, which officially unveiled its key members and stance yesterday.

However, Puea Pandin has yet to register as a political party with the Election Commission.

It has brought together several factions, including the Matchima group, the Pracharaj party, some members of the Reconciliation group, the Paknam faction, and former members of the disbanded Thai Rak Thai party.

Mr Supachai is seen as the best choice to lead the new party because of his impressive track record and positive image in the international community.

The new party is expected to rival the People's Power party, which is seen as a potent force in the general election.

However, Nakarin Mektrairat, dean of Thammasat University's political science faculty, said that in the present circumstances most political parties and groups are unlikely to campaign for votes by portraying their leaders as contenders for the premiership. They would rather concentrate on jockeying for opportunities to get into the new government.

"Their main objective is to join a coalition government. They do not intend to woo voters using their leaders as a selling point. They just want to survive the crisis facing them," Mr Nakarin said.

Meanwhile, Sanoh Thienthong said yesterday he is ready to resign as leader of the Pracharaj party on Sept 20 prior to joining Puea Pandin.

"I do not intend to prolong my hold on the party leadership, either. I am ready to support a good and capable man to be the next leader,"' Mr Sanoh said.

Assadang Panikkabutr, a political science lecturer at Ramkhamhaeng University, said the Puea Pandin alliance is a far cry from being "a new alternative" for the public. Many of its members are likely to take advantage of the occasion to clean up their poor image, he said.

Meanwhile, leaders of the Chart Thai, Democrat and Mahachon parties met to discuss their political cooperation over lunch yesterday.

Democrat leader Abhisit Vejjajiva said the three parties do not mind working with other parties as long as their policies and working styles are compatible with those of the three-party alliance.

He welcomed the Puea Pandin alliance but also warned that the existence of too many parties could confuse people.

Chart Thai leader Banharn Silpa-archa said he earlier approached Mr Sanoh to become an ally of the Chart Thai- Democrat-Mahachon alliance.

However, after learning that Mr Sanoh supports the setting up of Puea Pandin as a political party, Mr Banharn said he will wait and see what position the new party will take before deciding whether to work as its political ally.

In a related development, former prime minister Chavalit Yongchaiyudh voiced support for the political platform of the Ruam Jai Thai group, which has the backing of former deputy prime minister Somkid Jatusripitak.

He was speaking after meeting Ruam Jai Thai executive member Pradit Phataraprasit yesterday.

Gen Chavalit said Ruam Jai Thai will register as a political party tomorrow and after that Mr Pradit will invite him to join the new party.

So, this must be a bad thing right?