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Published on August 31, 2007

Chat Thai deputy leader Somsak Prissanananthakul said his remarks on Wednesday about polarisation should not be construed as readiness by the Chat Thai to switch allegiance.

"I was talking about political bickering and not about the formation of the next coalition," he said, stressing that he wanted rival politicians to bury the hatchet for the sake of national unity.

Another deputy leader, Kanchana Silapa-archa, said her party remained true in its alliance with the Democrat and Mahachon parties.

She said it was impossible for her party to ally itself with Thaksin supporters.

Democrat Party secretary-general Suthep Thuagsuban said he understood why Chat Thai opposed polarised politics.

"Chat Thai can have its own stance, but the Democrats will always oppose what we see as not conforming to democratic rule.

"This is not about reconciliation but an attempt to safeguard democracy from money politics, abuse of power, corruption, human-rights violations and media interference," he said in reference to the authoritarian rule of Thaksin.

He said his party's alliance with Chat Thai remained strong and that he did not rule out soliciting new allies with parties that renounce the Thaksin regime.

The Nation