Thaksin nominees 'reclaim' TRT from Chaturon

Published on Jul 4, 2007

With a new election not far down the track, all political parties have to prepare and launch strategies, sooner rather than later, including the Thai Rak Thai Group.

For the ballot, parties must mobilise all resources and tactics. A vital factor for the poll will be funding. But the current TRT Group leader Chaturon Chaisang apparently has little in his war chest.

Suddenly, the spotlight is right on Chaturon, because there are signs the inner circle of the former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra has started its first mission - to seize power back from TRT's acting leader.

Before Chaturon went abroad he had scheduled a meeting with the press - on Monday at the Navasorn Building on Rama III Road, the defunct party's headquarters. But on the same day Sudarat Keyuraphan and Thaksin's sister Yaowapa Wongsawat summoned ex-MPs to meet at the IFCT Building, the party's former headquarters on New Phetchaburi Road.

Almost 300 former MPs and candidates showed up at the IFCT Building. All of Thaksin's inner circle, including Newin Chidchob, Surapong Suebwong-lee and Yaowapa, as Thaksin's representative, attended.

The meeting at the IFCT Building was packed with "heavyweights" known to be Thaksin loyalists. It suggests very strongly that they want to seize power and the party back from Chaturon.

And shortly after the start of their meeting, they achieved this. Chaturon joined their meeting.

It was reported that Sudarat had also set up a panel for election preparations. Her father Somphol was appointed to one of the committees. Chaturon was supposed to sign the appointment but he did not see the appointment order.

Thaksin has reportedly been upset at Chaturon's political style and direction. Chaturon may be "too nice" to lead the group after recent legal rulings, which have hit the party very hard.

One month before the party dissolution ruling, Chaturon moved the party headquarters from the IFCT Building to the Navasorn Building in order to wipe the image of Thaksin from the party and prepare to fight the junta. However, the move angered Thaksin and his wife Pojaman.

When Chaturon was deputy prime minister in Thaksin's government, many of his suggestions - for example, a comprehensive plan to counter violence in the South, or his suggestion that Thaksin resign as premier - were rejected by the party leader.

Ironically, perhaps, Chaturon, who is not in Thaksin's inner circle, was Thaksin's saviour, after the PM was ousted. Thaksin appointed Chaturon acting party leader. With the image of a pro-democracy activist and his experience in the October 1973 uprising, Chaturon was used as a tool to save the party. It was recognised that he would be able to help absorb pressure from the junta. The question now is, did Chaturon concede to a power seizure? And how did that happen?

A close aide said: "Chaturon has no money. Eventually he must withdraw from the leader's post, as he is banned from politics for five years following the Constitution Tribunal ruling."

At the moment the Thai Rak Thai Group may not need or want a nice guy. Some believe they need a tough guy to fight the next election and their "enemy" - the junta.

Thaksin is seen as having taken full control of the group through his nominees. And, a fight-back is expected to begin soon.

The TRT Group reportedly saw an opportunity when newly launched political groups, such as Ruam Jai Thai and Matchima, failed to impress the public.

Moreover, the number of attendees at Monday's TRT Group meeting also showed that the defunct party is still in command of most of its MPs. In the run-up to the election, the TRT Group might pick up more troops in the form of people who oppose the junta and military coup.

If it looks like public opinion is against the new charter before the national referendum is held on August 19, the TRT Group might lobby for the draft to be rejected. And if it is rejected, it could be a golden opportunity to oust the junta. And that is probably the ultimate goal of those who were once in power.

Somroutai Sapsomboon,

Jintana Panyaarvudh

The Nation