Somsak Reveals Turmoil Between PAD And New Politics Party

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Somsak reveals turmoil between pad and new politics party

By Satien Viriyaphanpongsa

The Nation

New Politics Party leader Somsak Kosaisuk, one of the five core leaders of the People's Alliance for Democracy (PAD), has opened up on how he has been thrown out of the group and subjected to heavy attack for refusing to accept the PAD's no-vote move.

Why did the party executive board not field MP candidates to contest the general election - after the party members had resolved to do so at the April 24th meeting?

It was a misunderstanding. That day there was no such topic on the party's special annual caucus agenda. We were to discuss general topics like endorsing the party's balance sheet. Other issues were in other agendas and they were not yet resolved. I thought since there was opposition to fielding MP candidates, the party should allow members to voice their opinions - but on the PAD rally stage, people were mobilised to vote against fielding MP candidates. That was a lie and public distortion. The party did not have such an agenda at the meeting that day and I have documents to prove that.

We notified the Election Commission of the party meeting's agenda a month in advance. We must follow the EC regulations. The decision on whether to field MP candidates rested with the party executive board and not with party members. This was not my decision but the EC's regulation. When I submitted meeting results to the EC, I had to submit the party executive board's decisions and not those of party members. If we removed the power of the party executive board, the party could not exist because we had violated EC regulations.

The PAD said on the rally stage that you do not care for the members' opinions.

I believe there was interference in the party by the people on the stage. I wanted to ask if this was appropriate. Certainly, the PAD and the party are allies. The PAD must respect party affairs. Not that the PAD wants no vote and mobilise people to disrupt the party's activities and pressure the party to follow their decision. I wanted to know then - why set up this party? We set up this party so that people could decide if our policies should be supported.

If the PAD wants no-vote, they should just campaign for no-vote and respect the party's decision to field candidates. Then there will not be any problem.

People who want to contest the election under the New Politics Party banner will pay their own election expenses. The party will not have to shoulder a single baht. They are opened-minded. Even though they know that the PAD supports no-vote and it would be harder for them to win MP seats, they were not discouraged. The party should be independent and should not come under the influence of any particular group or be used as a tool by some people.

Why did PAD leaders not discuss how to iron out their differences?

We had barely started talking and we were shouting at each other already. In March, the five PAD leaders met to discuss the New Politics Party's direction.

Sondhi Limthongkul did not want the party to join the election. I asked them - if they did not want an election, what the other options were? No one provided me any answer. I said, if you did not want an election but wanted a coup I could not accept it. As a political party, supporting a coup is against the Constitution. The party executive board will be sent to jail. I said I would ask the party's branches and party executive board if they wanted to field MP candidates. I intended to hold a meeting on March 30th. But Sondhi said it was too late, he wanted only no-vote. So I called a meeting on March 22nd and representatives of the party's branches came to the meeting. I asked them one by one and the meeting unanimously resolved to field MP candidates. I decided to report the decision to the PAD leaders on March 24th but I was heavily attacked on March 23rd . They accused me of having a relationship with communists. It was funny to hear that.

Don't you have any way to iron out differences since you are on the same team?

We had a talk like adults before the party's branch meeting on March 22nd.

The PAD leaders said they would respect the party's resolution and not attack me. But things turned out the opposite. After the party's branches' meeting, I was attacked on the PAD rally stage. I asked the party executive board on April 5th, had they decided on the matter? Most insisted on joining the election. We were deciding which constituency would field and which would not field MP candidates, but when the PAD pressured the party hard, everything was put to a stop.

Facing such pressure from the PAD, have you ever thought of quitting?

I have not made any mistakes. I have followed the rules and laws. I want the party to be independent and not a tool of anyone. If they want to attack me, it is ok. I have no wounds and I have high morality. I will stand here and prove with my own life who represents truth and who lies. I want to show if it is true that they are led by the Dharma or morality. They accused me of being hired by someone. It is a mess. I believe people who support no vote are actually being hired by someone. If you look at the sharp drop of supporters, especially through SMS, you know that the path the PAD is walking is not being supported by society. They should have reviewed their decision. I warned against Sondhi' move to take over the party because this is against the law. Sondhi is a media, he cannot interfere in the party's affairs. He cannot take over the party because he is not even a party member.

You have been attacked for being too dire to be a politician, so you are doing everything to get elected.

I have been accused of being politically lustful. I believe that is the old way of thinking. I have never thought of how many seats the party will win. The New Politics Party must not think like that. We must think of public interest.

The party must contest the election to solve people's problems. I cannot see any option for helping the country - if we do not join the election.

-- The Nation 2011-05-02

[vont]

So, if the majority of the pad are in consensus to exercise to vote NO.....

Does any executive board member has any veto right to override the majority decision of the member who choose to vote NO.... regardless

Such an interesting development each and everyday in amazing Thailand. :jap:

[ardsong]

vont , from what you write I conclude you have not understood the story properly.

the pad is a movement but not a party. so people dressing in yellow and following a blind leader have completely no say in what a party shall do, other then the method used to push you and me out of the airport.

it is the members of a party who can have their voice heard in the party . It is a question whether that helps as I understand that it is ultimately the parties executive board , which apparently is lead down in the electrion laws.

[vont]

As you said, perhaps I do not understand the story properly....

But then perhaps, I understood the reasons behind SomSak too well on one hand,

and perhaps, I do not understand other farangs at all, on the other.... LOL

If you wish, the outgrowth of the pad movement is the New Politics Party, NPP.

SomSak appears to be the head of this NPP in the beginning.

Now, perhaps, you--ardsong, do not understand at all that....

from the very beginning, it was decided by the pad executives that since there is no one appeared to be

qualified to sit at the head of the command table of the NPP, SomSak is allowed to be its

temporary head until a more qualified person comes along. This vacancy is created

because SonThi disqualified himself to head the NPP, reason given is, he wants a younger

person to head up the new political party.

It really does not bother nor concern me one bit.... just who is heading the NPP.

Anyone who is more honest, transparent, hardworking, upholding the constitution and the Thai monarchy to the highest esteem....

would receive my vote.... :jap:

Short of that, my vote would be ultimately.... to cast a no confidence vote or a vote to say.... NO!

Yes, I do have all the rights to vote in Thailand. A rare privilege bestowed decades ago. :jap: :jap: :jap: