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Published on August 28, 2007

Matchima group leader Somsak Thepsuthin said the registration of his party, scheduled for yesterday, was deferred after a senior member told him the election might be held before February.

"We can't schedule a date to register the party. We had asked Pradit to be coordinator in seeking other groups to merge with us, but today I will be a coordinator too," Somsak said, referring to Ruam Jai Thai leader Pradit Pattaraprasit.

He hinted that the name of Matchima Thippatai may change. "It is not a big issue but it might create a problem if we talk [about the name] beforehand. Now we have a project which is more important than the name of the party, including who will be the leader."

Prime Minister Surayud Chulanont yesterday declared the general election would be held on December 23.

Matchima spokesman Rachata Phisitbannakorn said they postponed the registration because they wanted to check that the organic law dealing with political parties had been approved. Matchima Thippatai is the result of the merger of Matchima and Ruam Jai Thai.

Pradit said they were not yet prepared.

"It's rather urgent for me to coordinate with other groups [in forming the party]. I have a given time and will wait and see if we can conclude it on Thursday," Pradit said.

The Ruam Jai Thai group yesterday held a religious rite as the group opened its headquarters on Lan Luang Road in central Bangkok.

However, it seemed Ruam Jai Thai wanted to form a party by itself, according to senior adviser Uthai Pimchaichon.

The former Parliament president has just joined Ruam Jai Thai. He said he had suggested the group not merge with any other, including Matchima.

"We should make the group strong before thinking of merging with another group. Even though we have no candidates, our group has to continue," he said.

Somkid Jatusripitak, founder of Ruam Jai Thai, said the group would be a "nominee" of the nation.

He said he told members to make the group a "political institution" and to aim for "quality rather than "quantity".

Meanwhile, veteran politician and Army officer Pramuan Ruchanaseree yesterday registered a party with the election commission.

Pramuan, a former close aide to Pracharaj party leader Snoh Thienthong, registered "Pracha Mati" (Referendum) with the EC.

Pramuan said "money" was not important for his party to contest the upcoming poll.

He said the party had 38 candidates for Bangkok constituencies but was seeking candidates for provincial constituencies.

He insisted the party would field candidates for the party-list and constituencies.

Maj-General Kattiya Sawasdiphol, a senior army officer, sent representatives to register the Sae Daeng party. The title is Kattiya's nickname.

He said "Sae" comes from the chief of staff and means "cleaver", while "Daeng" (Red) is meant to represent the national flag. He said the party has only one policy and that is to investigate the work of the national police, adding it already had candidates for 400 constituencies.

The Nation