Thaksin allies join small party to contest polls
Sunday, July 29, 2007
MORE than 300 allies of ousted Thai premier Thaksin Shinawatra agreed yesterday to take over a small, novice political party so they can contest elections due by December, an official said.
Thaksin's party was dissolved in May by a military-appointed court which also barred the billionaire businessman-turned politician and 10 other party executives from politics for five years.
But more than 300 top members of banned Thai Rak Thai, including 160 former parliamentarians, agreed to join the People Power party, enabling them to run in polls the military has promised to hold by year's end, an official said.
"We chose the People Power party because it has a policy platform similar to Thai Rak Thai's," said TRT chief Surapong Suebwonglee.
TRT members will take over the party's executive committee, while former Bangkok governor Samak Sundaravej has been asked to become the party's new leader, Surapong said.
People Power has never held a seat in parliament, and the sudden arrival of hundreds of experienced politicians from Thaksin's camp will dramatically raise the profile of a party little known to most Thais.
Surapong said the TRT members wanted to join a party to make sure they would be able to contest the next elections.
Thailand's junta is preparing for its first test at the ballot box next month, when it brings an army-backed constitution before voters in a referendum.
Elections are key pledges of the military rulers after they ousted twice-elected Thaksin and his party in a bloodless coup in September.
Under Thailand's previous electoral system, politicians were required to be members of a party for 90 days before an election in order to run in the race.
The military says the new constitution will clear the way for elections by the end of the year, but opponents fear it will provide ways for the army to maintain an influence over government through powerful appointees.
Campaigning for the referendum is tilted heavily in the government's favour, with half the country under martial law since the coup and a new law threatening prison time for anyone convicted of obstructing the vote.
Meanwhile, thousands of troops were deployed in the Thai capital yesterday to reinforce security amid fears protests against the country's army-backed government could again turn violent.
Most of the 2,100 troops were guarding Sanam Luang plaza in central Bangkok, a venue of daily rallies demanding the ouster of the junta, which came to power after last year's coup overthrowing prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra.
"We are deploying troops to ensure security for the public," said the regional army commander, Lieutenant General Prayuth Chan-ocha, adding that extra troops were also deployed around the prime minister's office.
In case of emergency, the military was ready to send an extra 2,200 troops for security, he said. Thailand's junta chief, General Sonthi Boonyaratglin, ordered the troop deployment on Friday after more than 100 anti-coup protesters were injured in clashes with police last Sunday.
The clashes were the first violence since the bloodless coup in September 2006 and came as campaigning got underway for an August 19 referendum to approve an army-backed constitution.AFP
Thaksin's party was dissolved in May by a military-appointed court which also barred the billionaire businessman-turned politician and 10 other party executives from politics for five years.
But more than 300 top members of banned Thai Rak Thai, including 160 former parliamentarians, agreed to join the People Power party, enabling them to run in polls the military has promised to hold by year's end, an official said.
"We chose the People Power party because it has a policy platform similar to Thai Rak Thai's," said TRT chief Surapong Suebwonglee.
TRT members will take over the party's executive committee, while former Bangkok governor Samak Sundaravej has been asked to become the party's new leader, Surapong said.
People Power has never held a seat in parliament, and the sudden arrival of hundreds of experienced politicians from Thaksin's camp will dramatically raise the profile of a party little known to most Thais.
Surapong said the TRT members wanted to join a party to make sure they would be able to contest the next elections.
Thailand's junta is preparing for its first test at the ballot box next month, when it brings an army-backed constitution before voters in a referendum.
Elections are key pledges of the military rulers after they ousted twice-elected Thaksin and his party in a bloodless coup in September.
Under Thailand's previous electoral system, politicians were required to be members of a party for 90 days before an election in order to run in the race.
The military says the new constitution will clear the way for elections by the end of the year, but opponents fear it will provide ways for the army to maintain an influence over government through powerful appointees.
Campaigning for the referendum is tilted heavily in the government's favour, with half the country under martial law since the coup and a new law threatening prison time for anyone convicted of obstructing the vote.
Meanwhile, thousands of troops were deployed in the Thai capital yesterday to reinforce security amid fears protests against the country's army-backed government could again turn violent.
Most of the 2,100 troops were guarding Sanam Luang plaza in central Bangkok, a venue of daily rallies demanding the ouster of the junta, which came to power after last year's coup overthrowing prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra.
"We are deploying troops to ensure security for the public," said the regional army commander, Lieutenant General Prayuth Chan-ocha, adding that extra troops were also deployed around the prime minister's office.
In case of emergency, the military was ready to send an extra 2,200 troops for security, he said. Thailand's junta chief, General Sonthi Boonyaratglin, ordered the troop deployment on Friday after more than 100 anti-coup protesters were injured in clashes with police last Sunday.
The clashes were the first violence since the bloodless coup in September 2006 and came as campaigning got underway for an August 19 referendum to approve an army-backed constitution.AFP
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