ON THE RECORD

SOMCHAI SEES BIRTH OF NEW PARTY

But it all hinges on outcome of poll fraud case against Thai Rak Thai

Somchai Soonthornwat, a former key Thai Rak Thai figure, has come off as the most outspoken on moves to set up a brand new political party with Somkid Jatusripitak, a former deputy premier and finance minister, at its head. The new party, yet to be named, would consist largely of veteran MPs, said Mr Somchai, who currently acts as a go-between for several frontline politicians and Mr Somkid, who has remained tight-lipped about his political future.

However, the scheme is likely to fizzle out if the Constitution Tribunal finds the former ruling Thai Rak Thai party guilty of poll fraud charges, and orders its dissolution. By law, former members of a dissolved party cannot form a new party or serve as party executives.

Here's what Mr Somchai, a former deputy interior minister in the Thaksin Shinawatra government, told Surasak Tumcharoen about plans for his political future and also that of some of his former party colleagues.

Is your scheme to set up a brand new party with Mr Somkid as leader still alive? And who are the people to help you do it?

Absolutely, the scheme for a brand new party is alive and in progress. I and those who will [help] set it up meet from time to time. It's not a regular get-together but we've been keeping in touch. Those faction heads who have already agreed to join the new party are Somsak Thepsuthin [head of the Matchima group, earlier known as Wang Nam Yom], Suchart Tancharoen [former deputy House speaker and head of the Por Mod Dam group], Sora-ad Klinprathum and Varathep Ratanakorn, among others.

We would certainly set up a brand new party to contest the next election and back Mr Somkid for the premiership. There's no doubt about that. We are only keeping our fingers crossed that TRT won't be dissolved, or the [planned] party will never be born.

Has Mr Somkid known of the intentions to let him take the leadership of the new party and to back him for the premiership ?

Absolutely, he's been aware of all those plans and schemes which we've laid out. We've resolved to back him for the premiership, given his economic expertise and credibility. Mr Somkid is regarded in both the domestic and international arenas as a man of compromise and vision. We did not hesitate to make him a top candidate for the premiership and Khun Somkid would not run [in the next general election] without us, to say the least.

What's the main platform your new party will adopt for campaigning?

The new party's policies have yet to be formulated. But I was assigned [during the Thaksin administration] to handle local administration plans, the OTOP [One-Tambon-One-Product] campaign, Village Fund and SML loan projects for the grassroots. Those government policies should be implemented on a continual basis because they have done much good for the poor and underprivileged.

How many ex-MPs would run in the next election under the new party's banner?

No fewer than 150. Most are wellknown to people nationwide. Most are now being led by Mr Somsak and Mr Suchart, among others.

Besides, a number of former senators have offered to run for MP seats under our party tickets as well. I'm not in a position to reveal their names for the time being, though.

Given the intention of Prime Minister Surayud Chulanont to see the next election happen by the end of September, we would roughly have about six months to campaign, which is more than enough. The only condition is that we must survive the Constitution Tribunal's ruling on the Thai Rak Thai party, expected to come out by April.

What would you do if Thai Rak Thai was found guilty and dissolved?

I would rest my case and call it quits. I would never return to politics again. I can't speak for the others, though.

I was one of 11 top Thai Rak Thai executives, ranking above those who sat on a 100-plus executive board. Perhaps, the Constitution Tribunal would pass its ruling in the next few months. And the Council for National Security would, hopefully, not set any directions which might influence the tribunal's decisions. Let's leave it all to the rules of law.

Bangkok Post
Wednesday January 31, 2007