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Published on September 6, 2007

 People Power Party (PPP) leader Samak Sundaravej yesterday vowed to grant amnesty to all the 111 banned Thai Rak Thai executives if his party wins the next election and assumes power.

"If I become prime minister, I will grant the amnesty to the 111 who have been banned," Samak said.

"They all are important politically. They are suitable to do the work passed on from me," he said.

Samak insisted he had never asked for financial support from former premier Thaksin Shina-watra. "I use my own judgement. I am not Thaksin Shinawatra."

The veteran politician said people involved in the failed military coup of 1981 were granted amnesty, and therefore the 111 who were overthrown in last September's coup should enjoy a similar privilege too because "their wrongdoing was much lighter".

The PPP, new home to former MPs and supporters of the TRT, yesterday introduced its election candidates to contest seats in Chiang Mai, including first-time candidate Chinnicha Wongsa-wat, a niece of ousted prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra.

Surapong Towijakchaikul, a key member of the PPP, said the party has already decided on the candidates for the 11 constituencies in Chiang Mai. Most are former Thai Rak Thai MPs, as well as two new faces - Prasit Wutthinanchai, a Democrat candidate in the last poll, and Chinnicha, who is a daughter of key party figure Yaowapha Wongsawat.

"The system of MP elections has been changed from single-MP to multiple-MP constituencies. This caused us to change the line-up of candidates for suitability," he said.

For Khon Kaen province, another large constituency, the party plans to mostly field ex-MPs as its candidates.

Meanwhile, the Chat Thai Party yesterday announced its readiness to contest the election by saying that it has candidates for all constituencies throughout the country.

Party deputy leader Nikorn Chamnong said the party is counting down to the election. They plan to visit Khon Kaen in two weeks and will open new party branches in Nong Bua Lamphu, Chiang Mai and in the South.

The party's election campaign has been finished and the policy platform will be publicised after the election law is effective, he said.

In another political development, Pimon Sriwikorn, co-founder of the Ruam Jai Thai group, said a working group has been set up to draft policies to address Bangkok's problems. He is going to serve as the working group's chairman, with former Bangkok governor Bhichit Rattakul as its adviser.

He said the group would publicly introduce its Bangkok candidates every Monday.

Ruam Jai Thai leader Pradit Pattaraprasit, said he would register the group as a political party within this month.

The Nation