Sonthi calls for national unity

Pracharaj Party leader Snoh Thienthong said it would not be propitious for Sonthi to enter politics any time soon.

"Any announcement on entering politics or to establish a party for the CNS chairman … I think this is the critical period [in time]," Snoh said.

"I want to warn that he shouldn't jump into politics at this time but to wait for a while. It's never too late for politics.

"This will also prove to society that the military coup was not for personal gain. Otherwise, he'll just be favouring his opponents who accuse him of wanting to prolong his power."

Snoh said it would be acceptable if the elected government were to give Sonthi a defence portfolio even if the CNS chairman does not run in the election.

During the campaign for national unity and the promotion of His Majesty the King's 80th birthday celebrations, Sonthi said all Thais, not only government officials, had to take part in solving the country's problems.

The country was facing threats, Sonthi said, from drugs, illegal immigrants, poverty, global warming and rifts in society, which he regarded as the most important.

He said the country had in the past lost land and independence to foreign enemies because of rifts among the people. It was time all Thais lived in unity and people were not separated from government officials.

A key member of Ruam Jai Thai group, Anek Laothammatas, said it was unclear if Sonthi would enter politics and if he did, people might not welcome him.

"[Reports of Sonthi entering politics] could be testing the water and raising the issue to gain negotiating power," Anek said.

"I think if he were to really enter politics, people, especially in the provinces, wouldn't welcome him. He is the military officer who toppled Thaksin [Shinawatra]. Thai Rak Thai's voting base is in the provinces and they still love Thai Rak Thai."

Khunying Sudarat Keyuraphan, a former Thai Rak Thai Party deputy leader and a key member of the Thai Rak Thai group, said Sonthi's eventual would indicate clearly whether the military coup last year was for himself or for society.

"If Sonthi does go into politics, he alone won't make much of a change," she said.

"But he should be aware of expected criticism. If he claims his necessity because fear of being revenged, I would like to say our group doesn't feel living safely, we can't get revenge others and we are not bad people," she said.

She said the group was not receiving justice and it had been destroyed according to Sonthi's fourstep plan to eradicate Thai Rak Thai. The group should have had the right to form a party and register with the old name like in the past.

Former Thai Rak Thai MP Prateep Kreetavech, a member of Suwat Liptapanlop's Saman Chan group, said it was unreasonable that Sonthi would become the group leader.

"General Sonthi can't be in politics. If he joins a party, people will think the party surrenders the CNS. But we have to protect democracy best," he said.

Sonthi has been criticised after the news reports that he might enter politics. However, it is still uncertain whether he will become politician and which party he will join.

The Nation