From left to right, former Bangkok governor Bhichit Rattakul, former Democrat Party secretary-general Pradit Pattaraprasit, former president of the Stock Exchange of Thailand Kittirat na Ranong, former Mahachon Party leader Anek Laothammatas and former Th

"I haven't committed to anyone that I would be a co-founder of the new Ruam Jai Thai Group," he was quoted as saying on Manager website.

The Ruam Jai Thai Group (Thai Unity), formerly the Thamma Thippatai Group, led by disbanded Thai Rak Thai Party deputy leader Somkid Jatusripitak, yesterday held a press conference announcing its official launch.

However, Somkid failed to appear at the conference, along with Pimol Sriwikorn and Suranand Vejjajiva, former Thai Rak Thai executives who were banned from politics for five years by the Constitution Tribunal.

Chai-anan, who was earlier expected to join Somkid's new group, also failed to appear. He said he was urged to join but he could not since he was still director of Vajiravudh College.

He said he had no information about the group's model, structure, even its name, or whose idea it was to hold the press conference.

"As far as I know there was a discussion about Somkid's role after he was banned from politics. But they had yet to reach a conclusion clear enough to announce publicly," he said.

Ruam Jai Thai announced it was ready to form a political party of the same name to contest the upcoming election, but it was not clear who its leader would be.

Somkid was expected to be party leader but since he was banned from politics for five years he had to change track and seek a new leader.

Chai-anan, who will retire on June 28, was expected to head a new party formed by Somsak Thepsuthin, leader of the Matchima Group. Both were reportedly upset with Ruam Jai Thai's announcement.

Earlier, it was understood that Somkid and Somsak would form a party together, but there was a rumour of conflict, causing Somkid to decide to form his own party, Ruam Jai Thai.

Somsak yesterday sent his right-hand man - former Nakhon Sawan MP Banyin Tangphakorn - to observe Somkid's group's meeting. Banyin said he thought Somsak would not join Ruam Jai Thai.

"Somsak felt he was betrayed. Somsak never knew about the new name or the conference, even though the two groups always discussed their political futures," Banyin said, adding that he thought Chai-anan would likely join Somsak's group as he [Chai-anan] had attended Matchima's political gatherings every Friday.

However, Chai-anan thought that without Matchima, Ruam Jai Thai was unlikely to make its presence felt in the political arena, as it had only academics and administrators as members and no former MPs.

Somsak claimed he had 100 former MPs ready to join.

Ruam Jai Thai co-founder Suwit Mesinsee said the Ruam Jai Thai Party would be registered as soon as the new charter becomes effective.

The group will also set up a strategy assembly, consisting of nine members, and this would be more important than the party leader, he said.

Suwit said the group had learnt that party leaders have many weak points, thus the party assembly would set policies and forward them to the party leader to carry out. He said the party leader must decode strategies and coordinate with all sides.

However, he said the group remained undecided on who would be party leader, saying that perhaps the leader may be chosen from assembly members.

The group would ask the Election Commission about Somkid's status, he said.

The assembly membership includes Suwit, former Bangkok governor Bhichit Rattakul, former Mahachon Party leader Anek Laothammatas, former Democrat Party secretary-general Pradit Pattaraprasit, former senators Surachai Danaitangtrakoon and Suraporn Danaitangtrakoon, and former president of the Stock Exchange of Thailand Kittirat na Ranong. Economics lecturer Somjai Phagaphasvivat was making his decision.

Kittirat said most of the assembly members would contest the next election.

Anek expressed confidence his party could win the election because of its blend of young politicians and veterans who were ready to serve.

"I believe we have a chance to win [the election]. We can solve the country's problems," Anek said, adding that he had acted as a middleman in asking Somsak and others to join Ruam Jai Thai.

Pradit said he returned to politics after quitting the Democrat Party because the Ruam Jai Thai strategy assembly seemed interesting. The group paid attention to working together rather than focusing on a leader.

Meanwhile, Matchima leader Somsak yesterday introduced two of the group's members to 2,000 Khon Kaen residents and delivered a speech on its policies.

"During the past four years, we worked with Thaksin. We were counted as the same family. But now we are split up into three groups. The first group joined those who are expected to be the majority in the [next] Parliament and will form the government," Somsak said in his speech.

"The second group are those who want to continue the same policies [as Thai Rak Thai] and develop policies for people. This is the Matchima Group. The third group is the thugs rallying at Sanam Luang."

The two members, who are expected to be MP candidates, included Thaikorn Polsuwan, a witness against Thai Rak Thai in the electoral fraud case that led to the party's dissolution.

Sucheera Pinijparakarn,

Dussadee Ngamlua

The Nation