Puea Thai Party May Face Dissolution

[Pierrot]

Activists Welcome New Thai Government's Policy Stance on Burma

http://www.voanews.com/english/2009-01-16-voa38.cfm

We'll have to wait n see if the Bhum Jai Thai and the unholy Newin 'trojan-horse alliance' doesn't wag the dog tho (or sabotage it/kill it for a re-emergence/throw-back to Dr Thaksin;)

1/ What Abhisit says ... Thai have a good saying for that, playing violin to a water buffalo. The army is in charge. The only person who can stand in front of the army is gone. Don't be too optimistic.

2/ Newin /Abhisit : If you exclude people in the shadow, Newin is the more powerful politician today, just don't forget what is daddy' position. Abhisit is just a puppet, a good looking one, but just a puppet.

[ballpoint]

Activists Welcome New Thai Government's Policy Stance on Burma

http://www.voanews.com/english/2009-01-16-voa38.cfm

We'll have to wait n see if the Bhum Jai Thai and the unholy Newin 'trojan-horse alliance' doesn't wag the dog tho (or sabotage it/kill it for a re-emergence/throw-back to Dr Thaksin;)

1/ What Abhisit says ... Thai have a good saying for that, playing violin to a water buffalo. The army is in charge. The only person who can stand in front of the army is gone. Don't be too optimistic.

2/ Newin /Abhisit : If you exclude people in the shadow, Newin is the more powerful politician today, just don't forget what is daddy' position. Abhisit is just a puppet, a good looking one, but just a puppet.

I'm curious as to who this only person who can stand in front of the army could be? Surely not Thaksin? He stood in front of the army, and that's why he's gone.

[hammered]

Actually, when you think about it. Abhisit is the George W Bush of Thailand. Only with better English.

How do you reckon? I don't see any similarity. Not saying Abhisit is great, just don't see the connection.

Front man for neo-cons who have only their self interest in mind and very little respect for human rights.

Guantanamo bay , Donald Duck bay, same same, no ?

Actually it was Thaksin who was darling of the anglo-saxon free trade, globalisation and entertainment project. The Dems and Abhisit certainly arent in the same category of favour there.

[Pierrot]

Activists Welcome New Thai Government's Policy Stance on Burma

http://www.voanews.com/english/2009-01-16-voa38.cfm

We'll have to wait n see if the Bhum Jai Thai and the unholy Newin 'trojan-horse alliance' doesn't wag the dog tho (or sabotage it/kill it for a re-emergence/throw-back to Dr Thaksin;)

1/ What Abhisit says ... Thai have a good saying for that, playing violin to a water buffalo. The army is in charge. The only person who can stand in front of the army is gone. Don't be too optimistic.

2/ Newin /Abhisit : If you exclude people in the shadow, Newin is the more powerful politician today, just don't forget what is daddy' position. Abhisit is just a puppet, a good looking one, but just a puppet.

I'm curious as to who this only person who can stand in front of the army could be? Surely not Thaksin? He stood in front of the army, and that's why he's gone.

Definitively my point.

[ballpoint]

Activists Welcome New Thai Government's Policy Stance on Burma

http://www.voanews.com/english/2009-01-16-voa38.cfm

We'll have to wait n see if the Bhum Jai Thai and the unholy Newin 'trojan-horse alliance' doesn't wag the dog tho (or sabotage it/kill it for a re-emergence/throw-back to Dr Thaksin;)

1/ What Abhisit says ... Thai have a good saying for that, playing violin to a water buffalo. The army is in charge. The only person who can stand in front of the army is gone. Don't be too optimistic.

2/ Newin /Abhisit : If you exclude people in the shadow, Newin is the more powerful politician today, just don't forget what is daddy' position. Abhisit is just a puppet, a good looking one, but just a puppet.

I'm curious as to who this only person who can stand in front of the army could be? Surely not Thaksin? He stood in front of the army, and that's why he's gone.

Definitively my point.

Not much of a point then. People who successfully stand in front of armies generally come out on top. Any fool can stand in front of an army and get thrown aside, or trampled to death. You could well argue that the only current political player who successfully stood in front of an army is Chamlong who prevented the rise of Suchinda back in '92.

[Pierrot]

Actually, when you think about it. Abhisit is the George W Bush of Thailand. Only with better English.

How do you reckon? I don't see any similarity. Not saying Abhisit is great, just don't see the connection.

Front man for neo-cons who have only their self interest in mind and very little respect for human rights.

Guantanamo bay , Donald Duck bay, same same, no ?

Actually it was Thaksin who was darling of the anglo-saxon free trade, globalisation and entertainment project. The Dems and Abhisit certainly arent in the same category of favour there.

We are not talking about free trade, globalisation and entertainment project, but of the couple of hundreds of refugees that have died since the current government is in charge. And as far as I'm concerned, the "anglo-saxon world" do not promote the slaughter of refugees !

[TAWP]

We are not talking about free trade, globalisation and entertainment project, but of the couple of hundreds of refugees that have died since the current government is in charge. And as far as I'm concerned, the "anglo-saxon world" do not promote the slaughter of refugees !

You do realize that most reports are not from the last weeks?

Where was your outburst one year ago?

[Pierrot]

You could well argue that the only current political player who successfully stood in front of an army is Chamlong who prevented the rise of Suchinda back in '92.

And then in 2008 corrected his mistake by bringing the military back to power.

Anyway Chamlong is a very controversial individual, a very conservative religious person, no need to say more ...

[Pierrot]

We are not talking about free trade, globalisation and entertainment project, but of the couple of hundreds of refugees that have died since the current government is in charge. And as far as I'm concerned, the "anglo-saxon world" do not promote the slaughter of refugees !

You do realize that most reports are not from the last weeks?

Where was your outburst one year ago?

What are you talking about ? The all stuff hit the headlines a few days ago when a HongKong resident sent pictures to the SCMP, a HK paper.

Anyway, yesterday, yesteryear, it doesn't matter. You're ready to sweep a few hundred dead under the carpet because it suits your political agenda? And people wonder why I never get along with democrats.

[TAWP]

We are not talking about free trade, globalisation and entertainment project, but of the couple of hundreds of refugees that have died since the current government is in charge. And as far as I'm concerned, the "anglo-saxon world" do not promote the slaughter of refugees !

You do realize that most reports are not from the last weeks?

Where was your outburst one year ago?

What are you talking about ? The all stuff hit the headlines a few days ago when a HongKong resident sent pictures to the SCMP, a HK paper.

Anyway, yesterday, yesteryear, it doesn't matter. You're ready to sweep a few hundred dead under the carpet because it suits your political agenda? And people wonder why I never get along with democrats.

You seem to be confused again. That is alright.

It is YOU who continuously sweep things under the carpet when it suits you. Unlike you I want the Navy, you know - the ones responsible, to take the full brute of responsibility of these unsanctioned actions. You however are more interested in turning this into a partisan topic than anything else.

Do tell, do you think the PM issued a 'abuse refugees and send them back into the ocean to die'-policy when he came to power a few weeks ago?

[mhatami]

To me it is political suicide to appoint Thaskin as an advisor with today political atmosphere

But Otherstuff may be right, he just wants to cause as much trouble as he can and make this party a bunch of scape goats and ruin the country most of us loblove

The more unstable Thailand is, the better Thaksin's chances of getting back into power are. Why do you think he chose an old Fascist dinosaur like Samak to be PM? Why did he pick Somchai to be PM? Why is a <snip> like Chalerm being pushed to be Party Leader an future PM? All of these men are controversial and their appointments server to further destabilize and polarize Thailand.

If he can start a civil war, he will.

Who was it who said

IF Ican't have it, no one will

I agree, Yellow shirt are in charge and they will use any excuse to reduce the red shirt power and I am sure they will be successful, and civil war is not a possiblity any more

[somluck]

You could well argue that the only current political player who successfully stood in front of an army is Chamlong who prevented the rise of Suchinda back in '92.

And then in 2008 corrected his mistake by bringing the military back to power.

Anyway Chamlong is a very controversial individual, a very conservative religious person, no need to say more ...

Very controversial indeed

In 76 He was a mass murderer himself but in 92 stood up against similar mass murderers. Prem was his mentor and he in turn was Thaksin's mentor

[somluck]

Actually, when you think about it. Abhisit is the George W Bush of Thailand. Only with better English.

How do you reckon? I don't see any similarity. Not saying Abhisit is great, just don't see the connection.

Both were 'voted' into power under controversial circumstances

[jdinasia]

We are not talking about free trade, globalisation and entertainment project, but of the couple of hundreds of refugees that have died since the current government is in charge. And as far as I'm concerned, the "anglo-saxon world" do not promote the slaughter of refugees !

You do realize that most reports are not from the last weeks?

Where was your outburst one year ago?

What are you talking about ? The all stuff hit the headlines a few days ago when a HongKong resident sent pictures to the SCMP, a HK paper.

Anyway, yesterday, yesteryear, it doesn't matter. You're ready to sweep a few hundred dead under the carpet because it suits your political agenda? And people wonder why I never get along with democrats.

Way off topic and there is a thread about the 'refugee' thing already (and you seem to have info the rest of the world is missing)

[Pierrot]

you seem to have info the rest of the world is missing

The only info I have is democrats are crooks. It's not that people don't have this information, it's just they don't want to hear it.

[jdinasia]

you seem to have info the rest of the world is missing

The only info I have is democrats are crooks. It's not that people don't have this information, it's just they don't want to hear it.

LOL .. again way off topic. This thread is about the Puea Thai Party. You seem to have info on 'refugee' deaths please feel to put that in the proper thread

The Demos seem to be far cleaner than most parties but I do not doubt that there are issues!

[samgrowth]

Whats wrong with Thaksin ,the democrats enlisted Newin ,i thought he is also banned , they must be really scared of Thaksin ,wonder why ,

No, democrats didn't enlist Newin. Don't reply if you don't know anything about the topic.

Yes. Mustn't use the word "enlist", so let's flame this poster and imply doesn't know anything.

Mustn't discuss Newin (founder of the Red shirts, and banned from politics) , Friends of Newin and the fact that his group jumped ship and now supports the "democrats" (misnomer if ever there was one).

Keep it up TAWP - you're going to find it even tougher as time goes by and your beloved PM and his party are revealed to be just as bad as all the rest.

There is a clear distinction between people from different groups helping eachother and people from one group hiring/enlisting/joining another group.

But no, let's muddle the water and pretend others have done the same to make poor old Thaksin and his cronies look only 'equally' bad.

TIT. You could go to jail for not standing up in a cinema.

TIT. You shut down the airports of Thailand (Swampy, DM, Phuket, Krabi, Hat Yai), and nobody say a thing.

Edited January 18, 2009 by samgrowth

[sriracha john]

---------------

EDITORIAL

Puea Thai Party battling for survival

It has been a very bad week for the Puea Thai Party. The Bangkok Governor and by-election blows were swiftly followed by the emergence of a third political force that threatens to exacerbate the opposition party's misfortunes. Of course, the Bhum Jai Thai Party, a new magnet attracting influential local politicians and power brokers from left and right, will also worry the ruling Democrats, but the threat is more immediate for the opposition camp.

PTP senior members have admitted privately that they are fighting a rearguard action. One of them compared the Party's situation to that of a temple that was run by monks, who were replaced by novices, then replaced in turn by mere temple boys.

Thaksin Shinawatra's once omnipresent political organisation has been rocked really hard by two party dissolution verdicts and political bans imposed on its senior members.

From an institution with strong connections stretching across the country's borders, it is left with limited financial means and a reluctant leader who wants out.

Things have changed so quickly. PTP's agenda, in a matter of weeks, has gone from retaining state power to regaining it, and now, to simply trying to move on - amid talks of more defections.

A censure offensive will be launched in two weeks on schedule, but, unless the Party has an ace up its sleeve that the media don't know about, the showdown will likely be a mismatch.

Since this government is new with few, if any, administrative scars as yet, Puea Thai Party will have to focus its attack on "legitimacy", an issue requiring a mixture of parliamentary expertise and legal eloquence, something the "temple boys" may not be best known for.

The Puea Thai Party mechanism has recently set up DTV, a satellite TV station aimed at carrying on with the message from the "Truth Today" show that was doomed because of its association with Thaksin.

DTV's founders, while denying links with the ousted leader, have made no secret about their wish to have it function as a political vehicle similar to the anti-Thaksin ASTV.

On the surface, it's a good idea to have a TV station that can enhance civil society's role in political checks and balances. There are similar TV stations elsewhere even in the most advanced democracies, and DTV can do a great public service in monitoring the government, military, judiciary, legislature, as well as all constitutional bodies.

As long as it can do that without the shadow of Thaksin, that is. Which brings us to the most crucial point: PTP is at the point where it must decide whether to keep on trying to fight for one man, for better or worse, or shake him off and reinvent itself.

It's a cruel dilemma, but the decision has to be made all the same. Thaksin had dominated the People Power Party's agenda and its obsession with helping him doomed it. PTP, in an even weaker state than the PPP and just a very pale shadow of the original TRT when it comes to political strength, is simply not equipped to bear his flag and let all the enemies know where to shoot.

As things look at the moment, however, it's more likely that PTP will have even thicker Thaksin blood, albeit with fewer means. DTV will be dominated by the same old faces who were willing to die for him, with the interesting addition of popular monk Phra Phayom Kallayano, who will be given some airtime.

PTP may have made its decision after all. It may have already resolved to do what the PPP did, to its own detriment, but understandably this new Thaksin vehicle will adopt a more cautious and patient approach, as underlined by the setting up of DTV.

To cut loose from Thaksin is easier said than done, obviously. The main source of funding is still him. The money is coming through his siblings who are now the ones pulling the strings, and the other powerful camp in the Party, the so-called "October" group that is driving PTP forward ideologically, is also close to the ousted leader.

Despite the distance between the "temple boys" and Thaksin Shinawatra, PTP remains pretty much the political fugitive's political party, and it's likely to keep on fighting tooth and nail for the real master come what may.

- The Nation / 2009-01-19

[Journalist]

If the Establishment is continuously squeezing, squeezing, squeezing any attempt by the TRT rump to participate politically, eventually they will give up.

But then they will shed the expensive political payroll and devote their attention 100% to extra-parliamentary tactics. For example civil disobedience. A tactic which has worked well for their opposition.

And they will sing from the same hymn sheet..."we don't want to be a political party"

[sriracha john]

The PTP still haven't named an official Opposition Leader, AFAIK.

Chalerm was the selected "PTP Head of By-Elections"... don't imagine their abysmal performance yesterday will raise the stock in his portfolio for the Leadership position.

Puea Thai Party Leader Yongyut Vichaidit

Puea Thai Party to single out new Leader this week

Puea Thai Party Leader cited the Party’s not being prepared and its core leaders banned from politics as main causes for the Party's winning only five seats in the MPs' by-election on Sunday (January 11), adding he was prepared to step down for the Party's new Leader to be Opposition Leader in the House of Representatives.

Puea Thai Party Leader Yongyut Vichaidit today attributed his Party's winning a mere five MPs from Sunday's by-election, from a total 19 politicians fielded to contest the election, which was short of its target to the Party's being unprepared because of its being a new political party, candidates being disqualified of being the Party's members for at least 90 days before election day, and Party's core leaders banned from politics.

The Party was formed to replace now defunct People Power Party, which was dissolved by the Constitution Court on December 2, 2008 on grounds of election fraud. Chart Thai and Matchima Tippataya Parties were also disbanded on the same grounds. The three parties' executives were also disbanded from politics for five years.

Yongyut said, however, that the Party has been prepared to be opposition party to fully probe the government's works. He was also willing to step aside and let a new Leader to take up the Opposition Leader in the lower House of Representatives, citing his lack of political skill as the main reason.

The Party would host a meeting on Tuesday for the matter. The new Leader was expected by this week.

- ThaiNews / 2009-01-12

ex-Leader of Ruamjai Thai Chart Pattana Party General Chetta Thanajaro, perpetrator of the ridiculously fraudulent and infamous scam involving a Deep South ceasefire:

http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/Southern-Ins...28.html&hl=

Southern Insurgents Announce Ceasefire, Chetta claims insurgents will end operations

gets set to take a leadership role of the PTP...

Puea Thai Party to single out new Leader Tuesday

Opposition Puea Thai Party (PTP) would host a meeting on Tuesday afternoon (January 13) to the Party's MPs to be the new Leader, while ex-Leader of Ruamjai Thai Chart Pattana Party General Chetta Thanajaro was approached to be advisor to the party.

PTP core leaders, led by its leader Yongyut Wichaidit, visited Gen Chetta at his house in Muaeng Thong Thani today to invite him to be party's advisor.

Meanwhile, the party's MPs would hold a meeting on Tuesday afternoon to discuss the party structure’s management restructuring. Its new Leader would also be appointed in order to be Leader of opposition parties in the House of Representatives.

- ThaiNews / 2009-01-13

=============================

*late edit.... and now he has...

Chettha to become Chief Adviser of Pheu Thai Party

Former Party Leader Chettha Thanajaro on Tuesday accepted the invitation to become the Chief Adviser of Pheu Thai Party following his departure from Ruam Jai Thai Chart Pattana Party.

Chettha resigned his party leadership last month after refusing to vote the party line in endorsing the premiership of Abhisit Vejjajiva.

Pheu Thai Party Leader Yongyuth Wichaidit called on Chettha at his home to deliver the party's invitation.

- The Nation / 2009-01-13

Would have thought they could have found someone better than this. The southern ceasefire scam ended any credibility he had ages ago. He was also basically forced out of his own party a few weeks ago and certain PPP MPs at one point had him down as a spy in the government camp. He seems to be one of these elitists who everyone must to listen what they say because he is elite confused by a tad of look at me mentality.

Edited to add: OK so it is only party adviser. Wonder if it carries a good salary? Have to reward the dude for ignoring the decision of the party he led to vote for Abhisit.

*Mild cautionary note: Take care not to confuse the two different Yongyuth's mentioned in this article.*

Puea Thai Party chief wants to step down

Yongyuth says not being an MP hinders him from functioning as Opposition Leader

Puea Thai Party Leader Yongyuth Wichaidit plans to step down so that his party could be revamped and better prepared to fight back against the government.

In an exclusive interview to The Nation, Yongyuth admitted his Party now needs to be completely overhauled to prevent it from sinking further.

The most important aspect of the restructuring should be to change the executive board, Yongyuth said, adding he had made preparations to submit his resignation.

However, Yongyuth cannot resign yet because his leadership has not been endorsed by the Election Commission. After Yongyuth and the new executive board were elected on December 7, the EC has not yet endorsed the party election results. As a result, Yongyuth is simply working as the caretaker Leader, replacing Suchart Thadathamrongvech, who has resigned.

Yongyuth decided to step down after calls by certain PTP MPs asking him and Party Secretary-General Sunee Luengwichit to resign because both of them were not MPs.

Yongyuth is a close aide of former Thai Rak Thai Party executive Sudarat Keyuraphan. He once worked as an adviser to Sudarat , who was then the Public Heath Minister.

Sunee is a close aide of former Thai Rak Thai executive Pongsak Raktapongpaisal.

Yongyuth admitted that he is not qualified to lead the PTP now that it is the main opposition party. He said the Party Leader needs to be an MP so that he can perform as the Opposition Leader. He added that the Party Leader needs to have enough political influence, which he also lacks.

"I've tried to resign three times already, but I was asked to hang on because of legal technicalities. After the EC endorses the new board, I'll definitely resign. I plan to resign not because I've given up but because I know that I am not suitable for the post in the current situation," Yongyuth said.

He said a key reason that prompted the Party to elect him and other non-MP members as Party executives was because the Party was then the coalition government leader and the Party executive would only manage general affairs of the Party. Moreover, the Party did not have many choices after the People Power Party was disbanded and its executives were banned from politics.

"At that time, we were lost and did not know where to begin. It's like we built a temple and we had an abbot. Then, our temple was abolished and we built a new temple and we had to have a novice serve as the abbot. And our temple was dissolved again so all the monks and novices were gone. This time, we need to have a layman serve as the abbot," Yongyuth said.

Since the Party has become the opposition, the Party's executive board needs to be changed so that the Party Leader could become the Opposition Leader and could lead the censure debate against the government, he said.

A PTP executive, who did not want to be named, said the Party was now like a headless body.

"If we lack other organs, we can still live. But without the head, how could we survive? So, we need a new Party Leader who can lead the party to perfectly perform the opposition's duty in Parliament," the source said.

However, reports had it that Yaowapa Wongsawat, a sister of former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra, did not agree with calls to change the Party Leader now. Yaowapa is known to be the main driving force behind the Party. Her stand was reported to contradict that of Yongyuth Tiyapairat, a banned executive of the former People Power Party. Yongyuth wants to have the Party Leader replaced by a new one as soon as possible.

But the source admitted that once a new leader is appointed, the party will immediately see rifts.

The source said that although Chalerm Yoobamrung, Chairman of the PTP MPs' working committee, has been saying that he did not want to be Party Leader, he actually wants the post. However, several PTP MPs disagree with the choice of Chalerm because he has joined the party recently. The MPs want Chief Opposition Whip Witthaya Buranasiri, a several-time MP from Ayutthaya, to become the Party Leader.

Meanwhile, Witthaya said yesterday that the Party still had unity and he had not heard that a group of MPs close to Yongyuth Tiyapairat wanted the party leadership to be changed.

He said he thought the Party Leader should not be changed now because it would be too soon to have the third leader.

However, the source said although the PTP appears in bad shape, leading members were still fighting for the Party from behind the scenes in two groups - outside and inside Parliament.

Outside Parliament, the leaders have set up a new satellite TV station, DTV. And inside Parliament, the PTP leaders have made preparations to file a censure debate against the government and censure would focus on allegations that the Democrat had unlawfully received donations, the source said.

The source added that Yaowapa and Yingluck Shinawatra, another sister of Thaksin, took part in the Party board meetings every Monday.

Another PTP source noted that it was impossible to end political divisiveness in society unless the PTP and Democrats joined the same coalition government.

- The Nation / 2009-01-19

=======================================================================

Chief Opposition Whip and PTP MP Witthaya Buranasiri

Edited January 19, 2009 by sriracha john

[hammered]

The PTP still haven't named an official Opposition Leader, AFAIK.

Chalerm was the selected "PTP Head of By-Elections"... don't imagine their abysmal performance yesterday will raise the stock in his portfolio for the Leadership position.

Puea Thai Party Leader Yongyut Vichaidit

Puea Thai Party to single out new Leader this week

Puea Thai Party Leader cited the Party’s not being prepared and its core leaders banned from politics as main causes for the Party's winning only five seats in the MPs' by-election on Sunday (January 11), adding he was prepared to step down for the Party's new Leader to be Opposition Leader in the House of Representatives.

Puea Thai Party Leader Yongyut Vichaidit today attributed his Party's winning a mere five MPs from Sunday's by-election, from a total 19 politicians fielded to contest the election, which was short of its target to the Party's being unprepared because of its being a new political party, candidates being disqualified of being the Party's members for at least 90 days before election day, and Party's core leaders banned from politics.

The Party was formed to replace now defunct People Power Party, which was dissolved by the Constitution Court on December 2, 2008 on grounds of election fraud. Chart Thai and Matchima Tippataya Parties were also disbanded on the same grounds. The three parties' executives were also disbanded from politics for five years.

Yongyut said, however, that the Party has been prepared to be opposition party to fully probe the government's works. He was also willing to step aside and let a new Leader to take up the Opposition Leader in the lower House of Representatives, citing his lack of political skill as the main reason.

The Party would host a meeting on Tuesday for the matter. The new Leader was expected by this week.

- ThaiNews / 2009-01-12

ex-Leader of Ruamjai Thai Chart Pattana Party General Chetta Thanajaro, perpetrator of the ridiculously fraudulent and infamous scam involving a Deep South ceasefire:

http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/Southern-Ins...28.html&hl=

Southern Insurgents Announce Ceasefire, Chetta claims insurgents will end operations

gets set to take a leadership role of the PTP...

Puea Thai Party to single out new Leader Tuesday

Opposition Puea Thai Party (PTP) would host a meeting on Tuesday afternoon (January 13) to the Party's MPs to be the new Leader, while ex-Leader of Ruamjai Thai Chart Pattana Party General Chetta Thanajaro was approached to be advisor to the party.

PTP core leaders, led by its leader Yongyut Wichaidit, visited Gen Chetta at his house in Muaeng Thong Thani today to invite him to be party's advisor.

Meanwhile, the party's MPs would hold a meeting on Tuesday afternoon to discuss the party structure’s management restructuring. Its new Leader would also be appointed in order to be Leader of opposition parties in the House of Representatives.

- ThaiNews / 2009-01-13

=============================

*late edit.... and now he has...

Chettha to become Chief Adviser of Pheu Thai Party

Former Party Leader Chettha Thanajaro on Tuesday accepted the invitation to become the Chief Adviser of Pheu Thai Party following his departure from Ruam Jai Thai Chart Pattana Party.

Chettha resigned his party leadership last month after refusing to vote the party line in endorsing the premiership of Abhisit Vejjajiva.

Pheu Thai Party Leader Yongyuth Wichaidit called on Chettha at his home to deliver the party's invitation.

- The Nation / 2009-01-13

Would have thought they could have found someone better than this. The southern ceasefire scam ended any credibility he had ages ago. He was also basically forced out of his own party a few weeks ago and certain PPP MPs at one point had him down as a spy in the government camp. He seems to be one of these elitists who everyone must to listen what they say because he is elite confused by a tad of look at me mentality.

Edited to add: OK so it is only party adviser. Wonder if it carries a good salary? Have to reward the dude for ignoring the decision of the party he led to vote for Abhisit.

*Mild cautionary note: Take care not to confuse the two different Yongyuth's mentioned in this article.*

Puea Thai Party chief wants to step down

Yongyuth says not being an MP hinders him from functioning as Opposition Leader

Puea Thai Party Leader Yongyuth Wichaidit plans to step down so that his party could be revamped and better prepared to fight back against the government.

In an exclusive interview to The Nation, Yongyuth admitted his Party now needs to be completely overhauled to prevent it from sinking further.

The most important aspect of the restructuring should be to change the executive board, Yongyuth said, adding he had made preparations to submit his resignation.

However, Yongyuth cannot resign yet because his leadership has not been endorsed by the Election Commission. After Yongyuth and the new executive board were elected on December 7, the EC has not yet endorsed the party election results. As a result, Yongyuth is simply working as the caretaker Leader, replacing Suchart Thadathamrongvech, who has resigned.

Yongyuth decided to step down after calls by certain PTP MPs asking him and Party Secretary-General Sunee Luengwichit to resign because both of them were not MPs.

Yongyuth is a close aide of former Thai Rak Thai Party executive Sudarat Keyuraphan. He once worked as an adviser to Sudarat , who was then the Public Heath Minister.

Sunee is a close aide of former Thai Rak Thai executive Pongsak Raktapongpaisal.

Yongyuth admitted that he is not qualified to lead the PTP now that it is the main opposition party. He said the Party Leader needs to be an MP so that he can perform as the Opposition Leader. He added that the Party Leader needs to have enough political influence, which he also lacks.

"I've tried to resign three times already, but I was asked to hang on because of legal technicalities. After the EC endorses the new board, I'll definitely resign. I plan to resign not because I've given up but because I know that I am not suitable for the post in the current situation," Yongyuth said.

He said a key reason that prompted the Party to elect him and other non-MP members as Party executives was because the Party was then the coalition government leader and the Party executive would only manage general affairs of the Party. Moreover, the Party did not have many choices after the People Power Party was disbanded and its executives were banned from politics.

"At that time, we were lost and did not know where to begin. It's like we built a temple and we had an abbot. Then, our temple was abolished and we built a new temple and we had to have a novice serve as the abbot. And our temple was dissolved again so all the monks and novices were gone. This time, we need to have a layman serve as the abbot," Yongyuth said.

Since the Party has become the opposition, the Party's executive board needs to be changed so that the Party Leader could become the Opposition Leader and could lead the censure debate against the government, he said.

A PTP executive, who did not want to be named, said the Party was now like a headless body.

"If we lack other organs, we can still live. But without the head, how could we survive? So, we need a new Party Leader who can lead the party to perfectly perform the opposition's duty in Parliament," the source said.

However, reports had it that Yaowapa Wongsawat, a sister of former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra, did not agree with calls to change the Party Leader now. Yaowapa is known to be the main driving force behind the Party. Her stand was reported to contradict that of Yongyuth Tiyapairat, a banned executive of the former People Power Party. Yongyuth wants to have the Party Leader replaced by a new one as soon as possible.

But the source admitted that once a new leader is appointed, the party will immediately see rifts.

The source said that although Chalerm Yoobamrung, Chairman of the PTP MPs' working committee, has been saying that he did not want to be Party Leader, he actually wants the post. However, several PTP MPs disagree with the choice of Chalerm because he has joined the party recently. The MPs want Chief Opposition Whip Witthaya Buranasiri, a several-time MP from Ayutthaya, to become the Party Leader.

Meanwhile, Witthaya said yesterday that the Party still had unity and he had not heard that a group of MPs close to Yongyuth Tiyapairat wanted the party leadership to be changed.

He said he thought the Party Leader should not be changed now because it would be too soon to have the third leader.

However, the source said although the PTP appears in bad shape, leading members were still fighting for the Party from behind the scenes in two groups - outside and inside Parliament.

Outside Parliament, the leaders have set up a new satellite TV station, DTV. And inside Parliament, the PTP leaders have made preparations to file a censure debate against the government and censure would focus on allegations that the Democrat had unlawfully received donations, the source said.

The source added that Yaowapa and Yingluck Shinawatra, another sister of Thaksin, took part in the Party board meetings every Monday.

Another PTP source noted that it was impossible to end political divisiveness in society unless the PTP and Democrats joined the same coalition government.

- The Nation / 2009-01-19

=======================================================================

Chief Opposition Whip and PTP MP Witthaya Buranasiri

That final comment is critical. That is exactly what the Bhum Jai Thai party is aiming to do by drawing PTP MPs in and leaving those it doesnt like in opposition. This comment is interesting. Could it be that the current headless PTP are saying to the Dems we could work with you. It would be an option if things went wrong with Newin and in politics nothing should be ruled out.

[Plus]

attempt by the TRT rump to participate politically

I wouldn't go as far as to give them any political legitimacy jsut yet.

They tried to dissolve Democrats for Abhisit-Newin hug but see no moral or ethical contradictions in officially appointing Thaksin to a political position.

If TRT rump wants to participate in politics they should abandon Thaksin first. They claim to serve the majority or the poor or whatever while all they do is trying to be a political vehicle for one disgraced and convicted individual.

I can't believe you take their propaganda seriously.

[Journalist]

^I don't put any more credence in the Thaksin propaganda than I do in the establishment propaganda. From both sides spin is 100% self-serving.

Thaksin wants a voice - and if he is denied a route of doing that politically, he may seek another more damaging way. Therefore pursuing Puea Thai - which is a denuded force compared to its predecessors might be counter-productive

However Plus, you give the appearance of having bought in hook, line and sinker to Government PR. eg: Upon hearing of a Government minister milking claims about tears being shed in a hospital bedroom - which he wasn't even present in - it seemed like we were going to have to pass you the Kleenex too. It seems as though you're just on auto-pilot when it comes to Thai politics. The same predictable kneejerk reactions.

For both sides this is a simple power game motivated by control and money rather than ideology.

[Plus]

I don't see the link between PTP ideological bankruptcy and alleged govt propaganda. You are simply trying to change the subject.

Thaksin was stripped of his political voice for very solid reasons. He doesn't have the right to political life after all he has done. Period.

I also don't think he has any political aspirations that go beyond his personal interests. I think his personal ideological bankruptcy is rather obvious, too.

[Samuian]

............edited.....

For both sides this is a simple power game motivated by control and money rather than ideology.

is the final conclusion... but how do you want to prove that you are right?

There are attempts to chance the way things have been handled!

And the Taxinista Camp was/is clearly the worst option!

Anyone could accuse you of having fallen for the PR of the PTP, it's exactly their tactics!

As recently one of them claimed "the democrats are copying the TRT populist policies"... it's a grand charade show of the master illusionists!

[samgrowth]

TRT/PPP/PTP. This is the end of an era. Should just let the old ship sink.

AND START FRESH. Maybe Thaksin's sister or son should start a new party.

[Journalist]

............edited.....

For both sides this is a simple power game motivated by control and money rather than ideology.

is the final conclusion... but how do you want to prove that you are right?

There are attempts to chance the way things have been handled!

And the Taxinista Camp was/is clearly the worst option!

Anyone could accuse you of having fallen for the PR of the PTP, it's exactly their tactics!

To be frank, I have to cope with equally inane PR people and their verbiage every day about how angelic and sanctimonious their Wall Street bank is !

Eg: Half of the Public Relations executives in the UK are currently employed by the British Government. A great deal of what we hear percolating through the media is pre-designed, on-message fluff. Easier to write up such a press release than go and find a story independently.

My point was a simple tactical one. Its perhaps easier for the Establishment to have PTP within the system but powerless, rather than run the risk of having a Red 'People's Army' concocted out of nowhere attacking the airport. Thats all I was saying, I don't really think thats a proposition for Wittgenstein, but the Pollyanna's here can't grasp that sometimes you have to concede a small battle in order to win the war. Crushing Thaksin on every front may not be the smartest gambit.

Edited January 19, 2009 by Journalist

[Plus]

Unlike the UK, "establishment" here is not in control. It appears they finally wrestled it from Thaksin but I wouldn't overestimate their ability to manipulate the events.

Abhisit's agenda, for example, is born out of necessity rather than dictated by establishment, and so is Abhisit's ultimate fate.

There are too many variables, too many players, too many external factors and very little trust.

[Journalist]

^Yes, lets hope Abhisit can dictate his own agenda. He needs to deal with the economy as a priority as Thailand is not immune from the global credit crisis, and whilst he needs to be mindful of Thaksin's everlasting aspirations, he may feel that tolerating a castrated PTP in opposition is expedient for him right now.

[hammered]

Unlike the UK, "establishment" here is not in control. It appears they finally wrestled it from Thaksin but I wouldn't overestimate their ability to manipulate the events.

Abhisit's agenda, for example, is born out of necessity rather than dictated by establishment, and so is Abhisit's ultimate fate.

There are too many variables, too many players, too many external factors and very little trust.

A very astute comment. while the opposition to Thaksin which covered a magnitude of groups was held together by their opposition to Thaksin they now have a lot less in common with the Dems empowered and the Thaksin camp in turmoil. The Dems are already finding "establishment" voices criticizing some of their moves. Abhisit is going to have quite a difficult hand to play.

On the other side though. PTP has its own problems. There are it seems three broad groups drifting apart: Those that want to join up with Newin, those that want to engage with the ideological red shirts, and those that are loyal to project Thaksin. What held them together it seems was pure power.

The red shirts are also seemingly divided not just between upcountry and Bangkok leadership but also between the Jatuporn, Veera, Nattawut threesome and the Jakkropobites.