A NEW BREED OF POLITICIAN ?

General News - Sunday December 16, 2007

RACE TO PARLIAMENT : ON THE RECORD

A NEW BREED OF POLITICIAN ?

From an acid-tongued social critic of Nakhon Ratchasima Rajabhat University, Somkiat Pongpaiboon became known as one of the leaders of street demonstrations against then prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra before entering politics as a proportional representation candidate under the Democrat party. He talks to SUPAWADEE INTHAWONG about his inspiration and his role as a politician for the northeastern province of Nakhon Ratchasima. What made you decide to run in the general election?

I think we need to find a mechanism to channel issues from ''people's politics'' to parliament and the government. This is also a way to tap the resources to support people's politics for we don't have a leftist revolutionary movement as an option.

I think I have worked in the civic sector long enough to be able to bring the issues to national politics where solutions can be made.

Another reason was Ajarn Kraisak (Choonhavan, a former senator for Nakhon Ratchasima), with whom I have joined in political activities for a very long time. He kept asking me persistently to run in the election.

Other politicians also wanted me to run for their parties but I declined for I had no intention of being a parliamentarian. But even though I said yes to Ajarn Kraisak, let me tell you, I don't want to stay here forever.

For me, this is only an experiment. One day I will go back to people's politics. There is a lot to do in people's politics.

Why did you choose the Democrat party?

That's because it accepts most of the policies that Ajarn Kraisak and I worked out. We discussed our proposals with party secretary-general Suthep (Thaugsuban) and party executives such as Withaya Kaewparadai, Thaworn Senniam and Korn Chatikavanij before the party eventually included them as the policy platform. I am determined to realise many of those policies, in particular financial support for non-governmental organisations and the review of free trade agreements that put Thai farmers at a disadvantage. No other political parties dare to pick up on these crucial points.

Another key policy is progressive land reform. The party agrees that there should be community title deeds for land that all community dwellers can share and make use of. This land reform policy is important for it can help solve land conflicts while the newly-promulgated Community Forest Act still puts limits on the public's right to manage natural resources.

The community land title deeds should be a key mechanism that eases land problems for farmers. This policy, which allows farmers to lease state land at low rates, can help farmers clear their debts while the problem of communities living within forests should be solved simultaneously.

If the Democrats are elected to run the government, this will become policy.

Many people who used to push people's politics have changed after entering parliament. Why can't they adhere to their intentions of serving the public?

When they become MPs, they isolate themselves from villagers. They pay too much attention to formality, ignoring those who have voted for them. But I have passed several tests.

I have my political stance and have stuck to it. Before I do anything, I have to ask the ''for whom'' question and the answer is always ''for the people''.

If I get elected, I am determined to be the same, meeting villagers and listening to their problems. I will push for legislation in their interest. If they rally in front of parliament, I will join them.

In my life I have joined more than 300 rallies. The party cannot keep me from doing this as I will always have my freedom.

A party may have capitalists, bankers or landlords on their backs, but behind me there are only the poor.

As a Democrat member, I may have to fight against those capitalists to ensure that the party puts public interest as its top priority. This is in line with the party's motto that ''people come first''.

Compared with other parties, the Democrat party is free of thao-kae (traditional Chinese managers who use money to hold on to power).

The party has developed naturally and has not been merged with or sold to any party.

Will the policies you and Mr Kraisak worked out help the Democrat party survive in the Northeast where it is almost extinct?

I must admit that the Democrat party is conservative and slow to change. This is obvious over the past 61 years. They must change. They must figure out why they cannot sit in the hearts of the people, especially the poor, after all these years.

The majority of the northeastern people are poor and the Democrat party has a small foothold in the Northeast.

But my proposal injects new ideas into the old party. I told them that the problems of northeasterners must be handled by northeasterners. Local people must have a chance to work for their regions, to talk with their countrymen. Southerners must stay in the South, not the Northeast. The party has to understand this.

This is my opportunity to strengthen people's power. In the long run, we may achieve the ultimate goal _ to have a party for the poor.

Will this election be different from those in the past?

This election sees a clear polarisation. Yet there are attempts to blur the poles and that explains why we have the Ruam Jai Thai Chart Pattana and Puea Pandin parties in the contest. People may be confused because there are so many parties and they cannot make their choices until the election date. Every party is trying to fight through political canvassers. The one that commands more canvassers can win because canvassers can influence voters, giving back what they promise.

Bangkok Post