Thai Rak Thai is relocating its HQ

Current head office now unaffordable

The Thai Rak Thai party will move into a new office building tomorrow as it can no longer bear the high maintenance costs of running its current headquarters.

The party spokesman said the relocation was also an attempt to distance the party from its former party leader and deposed prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra and his wife Khunying Potjaman, who own the current building.

Kuthep Saikrachang said the new head office will take up the first floor of the Nawasorn Building on Rama III road in Bang Kho Laem district.

Party leader Chaturon Chaisaeng will preside over the inauguration ceremony at the new headquarters tomorrow, he said.

He said the party was relocating because its headquarters on Phetchaburi road was too spacious and required several million baht a month for its upkeep.

In addition, the new location conforms to the Chinese principles of Feng Shui, and is therefore ideal for the new headquarters, whereas the current site is an area more suitable for business offices, he said.

"The new head office, which also fronts the Chao Phraya river, is more appropriate and rental and maintenance fees are not so high either," he said.

However, he admitted that some Thai Rak Thai members were unhappy with the move.

"But they should eventually be able to adjust themselves to the new working conditions there," he said.

Mr Chaturon approved the relocation plan based on a careful study carried out by the party's working group, Mr Kuthep said.

He said Mr Thaksin and Khunying Potjaman, who are Thai Rak Thai founding members, had nothing to do with the party's decision to relocate.

Bangkok Post

Last Updated : Sunday April 08, 2007