No Amnesty For Just One Man: Opposition MP Purachai

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EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW

No amnesty for just one man : opposition MP Purachai

By The Nation

Dubbed as "Mr Ruler" for his staunch integrity, Rak Santi Party leader Purachai Piumsomboon is pleased with his successful return to the political fray. This time around, the former deputy interior minister does not mind sitting on the opposition bench.

Purachai vows to general-news editor Chularat Saengpassa that he would remain as "unbending" as a ruler when it comes to upholding righteousness.

What do you think about the election results?

Satisfied. Not only did the Rak Santi Party receive about 284,000 proportional votes, but its candidates also finished in third place in most Bangkok constituencies. Such a performance is good since we did not have many months to prepare for the election. In the very beginning, we believed the voting would not take place before the Democrat-led government finished its term late this year. Coup rumours were also flying around. By the way, when the election was announced, we decided to jump in because we wanted to give people an alternative, a new choice. Rak Santi is not a party to the conflict that has been dragging on in the country for years now.

Did your party use too little marketing tactics?

I think we were on the right track. It's just that we didn't want to spend too much money. In just a few months, we managed to get 284,000 votes.

Was there any lesson to be learned?

After many political parties were dissolved, I planned not to assign the party's executive posts to those running in an election race. This is because executives risk being banned from politics for a certain period of time if their party is dissolved.

About the election results, I would like to emphasise that the Rak Santi and Thai Rak Thai (TRT) parties are different in many ways. (Purachai was a co-founder of the immensely popular but now-dissolved TRT).

First, when TRT first fielded candidates in an election, it was already fully prepared. TRT spent three years making solid preparations. The Rak Santi Party had just 40 days before it officially launched its election campaign.

Second, media coverage was mostly given to the two main political parties. Rak Santi candidates gave interviews to TV reporters too but they were hardly broadcast.

Third, we had a limited budget. We never bought advertising space in the media.

Rak Santi and TRT have some similarities, though. Both started with small steps. Both were born at a time when the country was facing a serious crisis. When TRT was formed, the country had suffered badly from the 1997 financial crisis. Rak Santi sprang into existence at the time Thais were suffering from political violence. That's why our party is named "Rak Santi" (Loving Peace). Our goal is to restore peace through intellectual, not violent, means.

Rak Santi is a new party with limited financial resources, so I don't think its election results should be compared with those of Pheu Thai (a reincarnation of TRT) and the Democrat Party (the country's oldest political party).

What about the Rak Prathet Thai Party's immense success? The votes it received from the party-list system were three times more than yours.

Chuwit Kamolvisit founded Rak Prathet Thai Party long before Rak Santi was established. The strategies used were also different. His party focused on party-list votes alone while we also fielded candidates in most constituencies. We believe our strategy will work well in the long run. It is going to build a support base for Rak Santi across the country over time. To me, a party that plans to work in the political arena permanently should have candidates for both party-list and constituency-based systems.

I'm not going to comment on voters' choice regarding Rak Prathet Thai Party's huge success.

I can only say that I'm happy with how Rak Santi Party fared in the general election. We had little time to prepare and relatively little money for our election campaign.

In most surveys conducted before the House dissolution, your name emerged as a top favourite when people were asked which person they wanted as the government leader. Has your popularity been declining since then?

I don't think so. Respondents have mentioned my name when they were asked which type they wanted as the government leader. But Thailand's political system does not provide for the direct election of the prime minister. People here have elected their MPs and their MPs have elected the prime minister.

In my opinion, it takes time to establish a political party firmly in society. It's also important for those in charge to steer the political party in the right election.

Who are your party's supporters?

Those aged over 30, especially people between 40 and 50. Big fans are apparently government officials from the middle rank up, and teachers and adults who seriously follow political developments.

You're the only Rak Santi MP in Parliament. As an opposition MP, what are you planning to do?

I will monitor legal enforcement especially in regards to laws concerning social order. For example, authorities should provide an explanation for why night entertainment venues have been blossoming across Bangkok despite the fact that the Enter-tain-ment Venue Act of 2003 prescribes zoning. MPs are not involved in the legislation of laws only. They have to ensure enforcement of the laws too.

What do you think about constitutional amendments and amnesty laws that may crop up?

I think the country should look ahead. Don't waste too much time dwelling on the past. Please think about economic problems and international-relationship issues that we have to tackle. Don't focus on just one man or one group of people. Let justice run its course for that man and those people. Please don't interfere.

Do you mean you will voice opposition if the Pheu Thai Party proposes an amnesty law?

I don't think amnesty laws should be initiated for a particular man. Everyone should be held responsible for his or her action. This

concept applies to those seizing airports and staging (non-peaceful) rallies too. Good people should be praised and bad people should be punished.

Now that you have returned to politics, will you adjust your character a bit? Many politicians used to say you are too uncompromising and so it's hard to work with you.

I believe I'm simple and straightforward. It should be easy to work with me. I don't oppose all issues. I'm reasonable.

With such a stance, are you ready to vote for the government on some issues?

Yes, if the government does something good, I'll vote for it. However, on some other issues, I may vote against it or just abstain. There are three options. Abstention will be necessary in cases where I don't receive adequate information for decision-making. But definitely, I won't miss a meeting or opt for a no vote (laughs).

You won't toe the opposition whip's line then?

No. I work independently.

Does this mean you may vote for Yingluck Shinawatra when her name is nominated for premier?

Let's wait and see. (Laughs). It's too soon to comment on that.

Some critics say you are now a bent ruler, and just someone advocating nepotism. What do you say about this?

Truth will speak the loudest in the end. There are some groundless allegations against me. For example, I'm accused of having tried to protect General Patcharawat Wongsuwan when I sat on the Police Commission. Then, I'm being accused of being the nominee of the Pheu Thai Party, Bhum Jai Thai Party and the military. Such slandering is going on. But the truth is that in my heart, I only think about serving the country.

What about the Rak Santi Party's future?

The Rak Santi Party will remain true to its political ideology. We plan to have 5,000 members within one year of our establishment, or nine months from now. After that, we'll open offices in the four regions. Training will be provided to party members so that they get a full understanding of the issues like the global economy and the environment.

Watch a video of Rak Santi Party leader Purachai Piumsombon vowing to remain as "straight" as a ruler at www.nationmultimedia.com.

-- The Nation 2011-07-25

[marquess]

will monitor legal enforcement especially in regards to laws concerning social order. For example, authorities should provide an explanation for why night entertainment venues have been blossoming across Bangkok despite the fact that the Enter-tain-ment Venue Act of 2003 prescribes zoning. MPs are not involved in the legislation of laws only. They have to ensure enforcement of the laws too.

Certainly one reason why I hope that it never gets in power, but I fear that if the the new Gov proves to be corrupt and nepotistic then they will be paving the way for a man like Purachai. I never enjoyed the so called 'Social Order Campaign' the first time round.

[moe666]

Right wing buddhist fundamentalist

[scorecard]

Something of a catch 22 situation:

- Some of his policies are farr too strict.

- On the other hand, perhaps he's one of the few that are very serious about fair justice.

[gregb]

Something of a catch 22 situation:

- Some of his policies are farr too strict.

- On the other hand, perhaps he's one of the few that are very serious about fair justice.

I would have to agree. I never appreciated his social order campaign. But that was my opinion as someone without family responsibilities. Now that I have children I appreciate his position a little more. He wasn't really so bad.

And now reading his comments about justice, I find myself warming to this guy. I never thought I'd say it, but I want Purachai back.

[lannarebirth]

Something of a catch 22 situation:

- Some of his policies are farr too strict.

- On the other hand, perhaps he's one of the few that are very serious about fair justice.

Correct. He'd be horrible in a majority party but a good tempering voice in a multiparty Parliament.