• 
• 

Published on September 7, 2007

The People Power Party under Samak Sundaravej is clearly the new home for former Thai Rak Thai members. Its message is that it will restore Thailand to its heyday under deposed premier Thaksin Shinawatra.

Samak insists that the September 19 coup was illegal, illegitimate and ruined the image of Thailand as a democratic nation, so any action taken by the junta or junta-sponsored agencies are not acceptable.

Turning a blind eye to corruption charges against himself, Thaksin and other former Thai Rak Thai leaders, Samak vows to dissolve the junta-sponsored Assets Examination Committee (AEC) if his party wins the next election and assumes power.

He insists he will grant amnesty to all 111 Thai Rak Thai executives, including Thaksin, who were banned from assuming political posts for five years following the Constitution Tribunal's ruling to dissolve the Thai Rak Thai party for committing electoral fraud.

As the new haven for members of the Thai Rak Thai, People Power does not need to think up new policies to win over voters in the coming general election. Instead, it can simply revive the policies of the former ruling party that are still popular among millions of Thaksin supporters. These include the Village Fund, the Bt30 universal healthcare scheme, the Community Bank and One Tambon One Product project.

However, policies will not be the main focus of the election. The outcome will hinge on the "Thaksin issue" - whether the people support the former premier or his enemies.

Meanwhile, the Democrat Party is steadfast in its goal: to stand up against what it regards as a malaise to the whole nation - Thaksin Shinawatra and his legacy.

The party blames Thaksin as the main factor that left the military no choice but to stage a coup to prevent more damage to the nation.

The Democrats reject all of Thaksin's policies, which they call "populist schemes" that benefited no one but the businesses of the former premier and his allies.

For this reason, Democrat leader Abhisit Vejjajiva has vowed to form a coalition government with any party but People Power in the wake of the election.

He has dismissed speculation that the Democrats would join with People Power if Samak led the coalition government. The Democrats will not cooperate with Samak, who they allege is Thaksin's nominee to fight for his return to power.

The "no" vote in the strongholds of the former Thai Rak Thai during the recent constitution referendum shows that loyalty to Thaksin is still solid although his party is disbanded.

People Power is believed to be most likely to win the next election in the present political circumstances, giving rise to reports that a third group will be formed shortly to block Thaksin's return under a new banner.

The Matchima-Ruam Jai Thai coalition is linked by the belief that the coup leaders will do everything to ensure that Thaksin and former Thai Rak Thai members have no chance of returning to power.

The coup leaders realise that the Democrat Party cannot resist the Thai Rak Thai group's strength alone.

Pracharaj Party is being linked to the coalition as a "charismatic person" is said to be planning the merger of all smaller political groups to build a strong party to beat People Power.

Political observers believe that junta chief General Sonthi Boonyaratglin will lead the new party after he retires as the Army chief on September 30.

As the clock ticks away to the election date, however, the Thai political philosophy of overall benefit recalls the old saying, "No true friends, no permanent enemies".

In other words, anything can happen and promises can be "adjusted".

Weerayut Chokchaimadon

 The Nation