Return of the big guns

The Nation

About half of the 111 expected to formally re-enter politics

BANGKOK: -- In a little over a week, 111 former executives of the Thai Rak Thai Party will be free from the fiveyear political ban that came with a court order to disband their twice ruling party.

On May 30, 2007, the postcoup Constitution Tribunal ordered Thai Rak Thai to be dissolved for electoral fraud and deprived its 111 executives, including cofounder and exleader Thaksin Shinawatra, of electoral rights for five years.

However, it has been no secret that many of Thai Rak Thai's 111 have played politics behind the scenes through nominees, such as spouses, children, and other family members. Some key figures among the group retained their influence behind political parties legally run by politicians loyal to them.

While serving the ban many of these bigname politicians took the advantage of their political ties to boost family businesses. Some turned to sport and have run professional football clubs while maintaining a political support base among clubs' local fans. Some went into charities. Those who were party financiers mostly preferred to keep a low profile politically.

Many of these politicians are waiting eagerly for May 30 to make a legal political comeback. Between 50 and 60 politicians out of the 111 are expected to join Pheu Thai, according to some figures in the ruling party. Some are reluctant to return and others appear to have decided to stay out of politics for good.

There are three major groups in Thai Rak Thai's 111 - those who have played supporting roles behind Thaksin's proxy parties and their governments, those who have pulled strings behind small political parties whose MPs are former Thai Rak Thai politicians, and those who have kept a low political profile.

After Thai Rak Thai, two political parties linked to Thaksin managed to become the core partner in a ruling coalition - People Power in 2008 and Pheu Thai at present.

Despite the political ban, Thaksin retains his status as the "big boss" of both parties, helping to push his nominees - the late Samak Sundaravej of People Power and his youngest sister Yingluck Shinawatra of Pheu Thai - to the prime minister's seat.

His other sister, Yaowapa Wongsawat, was also one of the Thai Rak Thai 111, and her husband, expremier Somchai Wongsawat, has represented Thaksin in running his proxy parties.

Thaksin's trusted aides among the TRT 111, Prommin Lertsuridej and Phumtham Vechayachai, have recently returned to Government House to work unofficially for the prime minister. They both are expected to become part of the PM's staff when their political ban ends.

Suranand Vejjajiva, who distanced himself from Thaksin after the 2006 coup, has also made a return to government after settling a score with Thaksin. He is helping with public relations work for Yingluck and acting as her spokesman.

Pongsak Raktapongpisarn, who has retained close ties with Thaksin, helped with Pheu Thai's election campaign. Warathep Rattanakorn who worked for Yaowapa on strategies for the party's campaign in the North, is expected to be rewarded with a Cabinet seat.

Sudarat Keyuraphan, formerly a Thai Rak Thai deputy leader and a fourtime Bangkok MP, has retained her influence, particularly among Pheu Thai Party's Bangkok representatives. She has been involved in charity work while serving her ban.

Sudarat dismissed speculation recently that she would contest next year's election for the Bangkok governor's seat. She also denied being among figures from the 111 who will be appointed to Cabinet.

After Thai Rak Thai's courtordered dissolution, a large group of its former executives opted not to join Thaksin's proxy parties. They instead were behind the founding of new political parties or reviving old ones that were left inactive after members joined Thai Rak Thai.

Among the veteran politicians in this group are Somsak Thepsuthin, Newin Chidchob, Sonthaya Khunplome, Pinij Charusombat, Preecha Laohapongchana, Suchart Tancharoen, Sanoh Thienthong, Suwat Liptapanlop, Suriya Juengrungruangkit, and Anutin Chanweerakul.

Pinij, Preecha, and Suchart formed the Puea Pandin Party, with Suwit Khunkitti serving as the first party leader. However, infighting later led to a breakup and changes of the party's leadership. Part of Puea Pandin merged with the Ruam Chart Pattana Party to form the Chart Pattana Puea Pandin Party, with Suwat serving as chief adviser. The party has since been renamed Chart Pattana.

Somsak helped set up the Matchima Thipataya Party in late 2007 and after its courtordered dissolution due to electoral fraud, he cofounded the Bhum Jai Thai Party with Newin in early 2009. Sonthaya's faction became part of Bhum Jai Thai but later formed a new party called Palang Chon, which is now a coalition partner.

Somsak, 57, recently dismissed rumours that he was seeking to return to Thaksin's fold by joining Pheu Thai, saying he would remain with Bhum Jai Thai. He insisted that he would definitely return to politics because he was a "professional politician".

Suriya, who runs Thai Summit Group autoparts manufacturer, appeared to have opted to act as a key financier for Bhum Jai Thai, instead of becoming a fulltime politician like in the past when he was with Thai Rak Thai.

Pinij, 61, now runs large rubber plantations in the northeastern province of Bueng Kan and heads the ThaiChinese Culture and Economy Association. He said he was not eager to make an immediate return to politics. He preferred to provide advice to younger politicians.

Newin has been branded as "ungrateful to Thaksin" since Bhum Jai Thai joined a Democratled coalition government after the People Power Party was disbanded. Newin, 54, has successfully run the Buri Ram PEA football club and managed to maintain support from local residents for his team and his party - a success story that many politicians are trying to copy.

In a recent interview, Newin said he had found more happiness in football over the past two years than during two decades in politics. It appears he is going to remain out of politics for an indefinite period after the fiveyear ban ends.

Anutin, meanwhile, is expected to become Bhum Jai Thai's next leader with Newin's blessing. He will replace his father, Chaovarat Chanweerakul, who is the current leader. But there have also been rumours that Anutin has attempted to settle relations with Thaksin.

Two other key figures from the Thai Rak Thai 111 - former finance minister Somkid Jatusripitak and former foreign minister Surakiart Sathirathai - have kept a low profile politically for most of the five years.

Surakiart, who distanced himself from Thaksin after the coup, has reestablished good ties with the expremier and started working unofficially as an adviser on foreign affairs for Yingluck.

Somkid, 59, is also waiting patiently to make a political comeback. He has exchanged views with active politicians from time to time. The homepage of his website (somkid.com) features his political comment: "I believe good politicians exist. They should start making changes for a better future of Thailand."

-- The Nation 2012-05-21

I would have thought that the guns of the Pheu Thai Party, as exemplified by their MP's Natthawut and Jatuporn, would have been sufficient, but apparently the Thai Rak Thai Party offers even bigger ones.

Link to Photo:

http://accomthailand.wordpress.com/2009/05/03/%E0%B8%A3%E0%B8%B1%E0%B8%90%E0%B8%9A%E0%B8%B2%E0%B8%A5%E0%B9%80%E0%B8%9B%E0%B8%B4%E0%B8%94-2-%E0%B9%80%E0%B8%A7%E0%B9%87%E0%B8%9A%E0%B9%84%E0%B8%8B%E0%B8%95%E0%B9%8C-%E0%B9%80%E0%B8%9E%E0%B8%B7/

Anti-government protesters and supporters of exiled Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra display a gun to symbolize they will defend themselves during a rally outside the government house, April 12, 2009.

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Edited May 21, 201214 yr by Buchholz

I would have thought that the guns of the Pheu Thai Party, as exemplified by their MP's Natthawut and Jatuporn, would have been sufficient, but apparently the Thai Rak Thai Party offers even bigger ones.

Link to Photo:

http://accomthailand...เพื/

Anti-government protesters and supporters of exiled Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra display a gun to symbolize they will defend themselves during a rally outside the government house, April 12, 2009.

.

http://www.hrw.org/sites/default/files/reports/thailand0511webwcover_0.pdf

For example, UDD leader Arisman Pongruengrong told supporters at a rally at Army

Headquarters in Bangkok on January 29 they should carry out arson attacks if the

government tried to disperse them, warning they would turn the city into a “sea of fire:”

If you know they are going to [disperse] us, you don’t need to prepare much.

Just show up each with one glass bottle to fill with gasoline. Fill it up 75cc to 1

liter. If we go to Bangkok with one million people and one million liters of

gasoline, rest assured that Bangkok will turn into a sea of fire. This is the

simple way to fight by the Red Shirts. I am telling the soldiers, the dog

servants of the Privy Council, if you spill even one drop of the Red Shirts’

blood, it means Bangkok will instantly turn into a sea of fire.

Similarly, during a preparatory rally in Chantaburi province on January 27, UDD leader

Nuttawut Saikua warned: “If [the government] takes control [of the Red Shirt camp], we will

burn the whole country. Burn it all down, I will take the responsibility. If they want to arrest

or whatever, they can come to me. If they seize control, burn!”

Thailand sure has an interesting bunch of politicians.

Please dont start shootin or throwing grenades.

Edited May 21, 201214 yr by FOODLOVER

Has any of them ever had an original thought - that might tangibly help the Thai people?

Have any made any innovative proposals on the following topics (?):

>>>> more libraries

>>>> Thailand's first animal shelter

>>>> easier ID cards for tens of thousands of hill tribers born in Thailand.

>>>> alternative power generation

>>>> shut down jet ski extortionists and toss them in jail for 10 years each.

>>>> fewer cases of Johnny Walker whiskey needed to get gov't contracts approved.

>>>> clean up crews for Thailand's beaches

....the list goes on.

Has any of them ever had an original thought - that might tangibly help the Thai people?

Have any made any innovative proposals on the following topics (?):

>>>> more libraries

>>>> Thailand's first animal shelter

>>>> easier ID cards for tens of thousands of hill tribers born in Thailand.

>>>> alternative power generation

>>>> shut down jet ski extortionists and toss them in jail for 10 years each.

>>>> fewer cases of Johnny Walker whiskey needed to get gov't contracts approved.

>>>> clean up crews for Thailand's beaches

....the list goes on.

Another zero succsess.

Coupled with the wonderful return of coup d'etat's...I guess they haven't realized but there isn't a gap in country-wide loyalty yet. I look forward to their violent dissolution, again...