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Published on December 28, 2007

The conditions appeared to be directed at the People Power Party (PPP), which is trying to gather support from smaller political parties in its bid to form a coalition government.

The PPP so far has secured a coalition of 254 election winners with the inclusion of three smaller parties.

Chart Thai and Puea Pandin have formed an alliance to negotiate for better offers in becoming part of a coalition government.

Chart Thai leader Banharn Silapa-archa, his Puea Pandin counterpart Suwit Khunkitti, and Puea Pandin's chief adviser Vatana Asavahame yesterday called a press conference after a working dinner.

They said any coalition leader they would join must agree to their conditions: reverence for the monarchy, respect for Privy Council president Prem Tinsulanonda, no revenge against political foes, no interference into the judicial process against ex-PM Thaksin Shinawatra, and no dissolution of the Assets Examination Committee.

 "We can work with any political party that accepts these conditions," Banharn said.

He said these conditions had not been proposed to the People Power Party. "We have just made public our conditions and we welcome it if the PPP accepts them," he said, adding he expected the PPP to approach his alliance.

There is no deadline for these conditions, he said.

Asked why the conditions did not include the possible amnesty to the 111 banned executives of the disbanded Thai Rak Thai Party, Banharn said the alliance had not discussed the matter.

"We haven't gone that far. That's an individual matter. We focused on security matters," Banharn said.

Before the dinner, Vatana, who earlier opposed the idea of joining a PPP-led coalition, had softened his stance. "I have no prejudice against any party. Our stance is reconciliation. We will join any party that can accept our party's policies," he said.

The Nation