Purachai To Run In Thai Election Under New Party

[Lite Beer]

PurachaI to run in poll under new party

By Prapasri Osathanon

The Nation on Sunday

Former interior minister launches Rak Santi and pledges to be in politics for long term

Police Captain Purachai Piemsombun, the former interior minister and co-founder of the now-defunct Thai Rak Thai Party, will return to the political arena under the banner of a new party called Rak Santi.

Purachai, who used to be a key supporter of ousted premier Thaksin Shinawatra, will contest in the next polls as the No 1 party-list MP candidate.

Often called "Mr Ruler" when he was the powerful interior minister under Thaksin in the early 2000s due to his integrity and straightforward politics, Purachai is tipped as a candidate for the country's premiership if he wins the next polls, even though his party would be much smaller than the Democrat or Pheu Thai parties.

Purachai's Rak Santi Party was yesterday unveil-ed at an event at the Teochew Association of Thailand in Bangkok.

Speaking to the gathering, Purachai said: "We are under the national flag. Nothing is more important than the country. History has taught us whenever the country lacks unity, it is heading into trouble."

A competent, strong and honest leader would lead the country through the obstacles, according to Purachai.

"If a country has an undisciplined democracy, lacks honesty and morality, that's not a democracy. It's undemocratic. We can't let that happen. But I assure you, I don't mean to oppose any particular group or [political] colour. The national flag's colours are the ultimate. I don't want to take power from any party. But I cannot just stand still when I see Thailand is in crisis and people are unhappy," he said.

"Bang Rachan villagers [historic villagers] are good examples. They didn't want any leading position but just want the country out of danger," he said.

Among the guests at the launch party were former national police chief Patcharawat Wongsuwan, the brother of Defence Minister General Prawit Wongsuwan, Panlert Baiyoke, former deputy secretary-general of Thai Rak Thai and a key financier of the opposition Pheu Thai Party who is also a co-founder of Pracha Santi and Rak Santi parties.

The guests also included former Thai Rak Thai MPs Prachuap Ungphakorn, Nirun Namuangrak, Boonthueng Pholpanit, Purachai's police cadet classmates Pol Lt-General Thawin Surachetpong, who is now the caretaker party leader, and former assistant national police chief Pol Lt-General Boonruang Pholpanit.

Rak Santi (Love Peace) was registered on Wednesday and it has yet to be recognised by the Election Commission. The party's caretaker leader, Pol Lt-General Thawin, is a former commander of Provincial Police Region 7.

Holding the event at the Teochew association has a meaning. It is the location of the cemetery of Purachai's "Lim" family, and it is the area where his father was stationed as a police officer for a long time.

Many of Thailand's billionaires, including Dhanin Chearavanont of agribusiness conglomerate Charoen Pokphand Group, Charoen Sirivadhanabhakdi, executive chairman of Thai Beverage and the Sophonpanich family belong to the Teochew lineage.

Purachai said he planned to be in politics for the long term but was not sure whether he would win the election this time.

"Whether the party will be established in time to run in this upcoming election is not an issue," he said. "If I am elected an MP, I still don't know whether I will be in the government or the opposition. If I fail, that's okay, I will continue surfing the world."

He declined to answer a media question whether he would be a candidate for the premier's post, saying it was too early to address that issue.

"A poll result showed many people did not want to vote for any of the [current] choice. Anyone planning to cast "No Vote", please vote for Purachai," he said. Reports of Purachai's plan to return to politics have been agog for a while. But finally the party he is joining is not "Pracha Santi" as had been reported earlier. Caretaker Pracha Santi Party leader Seri Suwanpanont, a former senator and charter drafter, had said Purachai had accepted to be his party's leader with the launch to take place on April 2.

Purachai's close aide Noppadon Inna said the former interior minister preferred joining a newly registered party so that it could make a fresh start, without having to take responsibility for mistakes made by the incumbent party.

-- The Nation 2011-04-03

[janverbeem]

Is it wrong to assume that by the time the elections will happen,there will be as much party's as there are canidates?

[webfact]

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