Banharn Vows To Return To Thai Politics After His Ban

[webfact]

EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW

Banharn vows to return after his ban

By The Nation

The old saying that power is sweet, it's a drug and the desire for it increases with habit could well be applied to Thai politics. Despite disappointment in politics, a veteran like Banharn Silpa-archa, 78, can't leave.

"Thai politics now is regressive. I cannot find any good answers for what happened (in politics). I don't know how to write a textbook to teach our children," Banharn told The Nation with a smile in an exclusive interview last week.

The leader of the now defunct Chart Thai Party brought up the party's dissolution in December 2008 as an example. The party was founded 36 years ago. Why was it so easily dissolved? He did not know how to explain it. Banharn and his Chart Thai executive members have been banned from politics for five years for election fraud.

After Chart Thai was dissolved, his party founded Chart Thai Pattana as a reincarnation.

"In the past five to six years, if we had allowed Thai politics to go without any intervention, it would have been better for our country. But that didn't happen. There was also a military coup, although the Army had their reason [to doing that]," he said.

Banharn was not sure when the House might be dissolved but, as far as he knows, young politicians in the ruling Democrat Party believe the sooner the election is held the better for the Democrats. Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva has said many times the House dissolution could take place in April or May.

Having been in politics for 37 years, however, the former prime minister said it's hard to say if a coup would happen again.

He thought fugitive ex-premier Thaksin Shinawatra would be a key influence on politics.

Thaksin could come back to his motherland but he would have to face justice first, Banharn said. The Supreme Court sentenced Thaksin to two years in jail for abuse of power in facilitating a deal for his wife, Khunying Pojaman, when she bought land on Ratchadaphisek Rd in Bangkok worth Bt772 million from the state.

"As a Thai, I feel for him but don't know how to help him," Banharn said.

Thaksin made a mistake when he ignored Banharn's suggestion to choose then deputy prime minister Sanan Kachornprasart from Chart Thai Party to replace Samak Sundaravej as prime minister after Samak was disqualified, he said.

Then Thaksin chose his brother-in-law Somchai Wongsawat as Samak's successor. Somchai was later was ousted after judges dissolved the People Power Party for election fraud.

The only way for Thaksin's Pheu Thai Party to become the next government was by winning more than half of the House seats in the next election, Banharn said. There were several people in the party qualified to be the next premier.

Banharn said he preferred to have a small- or medium-size party with 25-30 MPs because a party with fewer MPs had more solidarity than a big party.

He dismissed a suggestion that he led small- and medium-size parties to make bargains with big parties, saying it was unlikely that the leader of a small party would have a chance of becoming prime minister.

"It's enough for me to take that role. I was betrayed many times."

However, he vowed to return to politics after his punishment ends in three years. "I will stay in politics for life and I need to because it's me who headed my (Chart Thai) party for more than 30 years. I want to see how politics will end. I always keep in mind that I will be free on December 2, 2013," he said.

-- The Nation 2011-01-31

[siampolee]

These dinosaurs can't or won't stop will they?

Having abused their power and position and looted the country for so long one can only suppose that the power scenario and manipulation of funds is indeed an addiction.

However it is rather interesting to see the manoeuvring and the formation of assorted interested ( financially that is) individuals and groups who wish to assume power when the time comes.

There will be a power vacuum in the future and it will be an interesting time for all of us, the outcome of these power struggles will determine the future of Thailand and its people for many years to come.

[Buchholz]

"I want to see how politics will end. I always keep in mind that I will be free on December 2, 2013," he said.

He will have turned 81 years-old on August 19, 2013...

Hope he still has a mind and can see at that point.

[animatic]

"I want to see how politics will end. I always keep in mind that I will be free on December 2, 2013," he said.

He will have turned 81 years-old on August 19, 2013...

Hope he still has a mind and can see at that point.

Maybe he comes from long lived stock, but a big question of whether he will still be living then. Of course we all know he has not stopped his political control from behind the scenes. A smaller party is easier to control, but still van be a large bargaining chip in the typical Thai horsetrading for power.

Edited January 31, 2011 by animatic

[SomTumTiger]

The King of the Snakeheads....

[Valentine]

Him & Chavilit already did a great job at bringing Thailand to its knees in 1997 which in turn caused an Asian wide collapse.

[Sydebolle]

...... and if he does not succeed then we will see him possibly declaring the "Free State of Banharnburi" by renaming Supanburi. The Bavarians did the same a few centuries ago; to the benefit of its people as well as to the Federal Republic of Germany.

When will the voters get a chance to get educated in such a way that they will understand these sneaky approaches. Banharn farted around for decades already. Those longer in town will remember the "mobile crane" inforcement at Klong Toey port 20 years ago which brought the operation to a total stand-still and collapse; shipping lines inforced penalties for blocked containers and the works.

Then Banharn became known for moving the Yaks infront of his Ministry (he had so many I forgot which one it was); his daughter was apparently involved in that murky deal with a little plot of land which got co-incidentially sold to the Thai Mintery stamping new coins and the land was ...... well, not essentially cheap.

Ah, possibly his next campaign will be in French as he obtained a Master's Degree in French from Ramkamhaeng University and to this date I am not too sure if they even teach French there. Et voilà, c'est la vie d'un politicien thaïlandais! Bravo!

[rubl]

Him & Chavilit already did a great job at bringing Thailand to its knees in 1997 which in turn caused an Asian wide collapse.

The only highlight I remember k. Banharn quoting was his photo-op with then President George Bush sr. I don't remember if our esteeming senior politician used a stool to 'lessen' the lack of stature