To be green and clean

IN SIGHT

To be green and clean

The leader of the Prachamati party, Pramual Rujanaseri, says he wants to establish a political party which belongs to the people and really serves their needs

TUNYA SUKPANICH

Pramual Rujanaseri, the leader of the Prachamati political party, has a dream to set up his party free from obligations to big financial supporters. He acknowledges that money is important to run political activities, but says that financial support should come from a variety of groups in society. He is asking businesses listed on the Stock Exchange of Thailand (SET), as well as cooperative financial institutes, to donate small sums of money.

"It is too soon to tell whether these methods will be successful or not. We're on new ground," said Pramual.

The Election Commission of Thailand (ECT) approved Prachamati party on September 25 this year. The party was set up under the concept of "green and clean" politics. In order to make this a reality, he says, it cannot depend on any influential politicians or big entrepreneurs.

"This will help us to get out from a vicious circle of money politics, which leads to corruption," said Pramual. With his extensive experience as a high ranking government official and then as an elected representative, he knows well how money manipulation works in the system, and how it is the people who have to bear the consequences.

"Our party has initiated 20 policies concerned with politics, economics and social well being, which are all designed to benefit society as a whole, not the capitalists," he said emphatically.

The most significant policy deals with the establishment of a system for provincial financial management. Under the policy, each province would issue bonds worth 10 billion baht for sale to the general public in a particular province, similar to the bond schemes now run by the central government. The revenue generated would be used to implement development projects. Pramual said this rather daring policy would distribute real power to the local and provincial administration organisations.

This is the reason the party chose "Nok Wayupak" - a powerful mythical bird - as its official logo. The bird is also the logo of the Finance Ministry.

In his five years in the political arena, Pramual has seen his share of conflict, but this is the first time he has been in the lead role. He acknowledged that it is difficult, especially as leader of a new and small political party.

After retiring from the Interior Ministry in 2000, Pramual began his political career with Thaksin Shinawatra's Thai Rak Thai (TRT) party. When Sanoh Thienthong left TRT to form the Pracharaj party, Pramual went with him to become deputy leader.

However, he abruptly resigned from the Pracharaj party, saying that he wanted to look after his sick wife. He surprised the public again when he formed and became leader of the Prachamati party, vowing it would not be under the sway of influential politicians and businessmen.

He also vowed that his party would never join with the Pracharaj party, and has even said publicly that Sanoh should end his political career to pave the way for the new generation.

Pramual said he chose not to join any of the existing parties because the political strategies of the People Power Party (PPP) - the frontrunner in the 23 December election and the official offshoot of the now-dissolved TRT - are no different from those of TRT, while the political parties opposing the PPP are too weak.

"The various political parties are following in the populist style of the PPP. Everyone continues to use money, rather than wisdom, in the election battle," said Pramual.

"It would not be difficult to run a political party which has strong financial support from businessmen - just listen and follow their orders," he quipped.

"But that is not what I prefer. I want to establish a clean and green political party, one which belongs to the people and really serves their needs," Pramual said.

An uphill struggle

Apparently, the politics of clean and green is not quite ready for reality. To reach his destination, Pramual has to fight against the wrong attitudes of the general public and also of party members.

"I am shocked to learn that a recent poll found that 68 percent of eligible voters interviewed were willing to accept money from the candidates," he said. "If the people continue to think this way, the country can possibly be sold in the future.

"Even some Prachamati members have taken for granted that the party would take full responsibility for all their expenditures, especially for election campaigns. I have a hard time trying to make them understand that they must share certain responsibilities," he said.

Two Prachamati party members with high potential to be elected as MPs decided to run for other big parties after they were offered a large sum of money.

Because the party is small and its candidates are not well known, the Prachamati party has failed to place in any public opinion polls. However, Pramual says he does not feel apprehensive, and maintains a positive attitude. He believes that at the least he will be chosen as party-list MP in zone 6, which includes Bangkok, because of past good deeds.

Furthermore, since more than 50 percent of people interviewed say they have not yet made any decision, Pramual has hopes that Prachamati's policies will finally resonate with the public and more of its candidates will be elected.

One poll says that 75 percent of those interviewed are bored with the same old politicians. "This is another chance for our candidates, who are new faces in politics," he said.

He greeted favourably the possibility that Prachamati might be asked to join a coalition, but said that as a condition at least two of its policies should be implemented - supplying free electricity and water to the people and the bond scheme to fund provincial development.

New campaign methods

While the big parties like PPP, Democrat, Chartthai and Puea Pandin have put up their campaign posters all over Bangkok and other provinces, Prachamati campaign posters are rarely seen, perhaps surprisingly since the candidates are new faces.

"We have some posters. But I do not see how they are useful for the people to make a decision It's similar to the roaming pick-ups with the campaign tapes. Not every party uses those campaign methods any longer. "Times change, and so do people's attitudes. With modern technology we have alternative channels to direct our policy and opinions to the public. For example, websites and meeting with the people."

Beside the party website, Pramual has his own website and fan club.

However, he criticised the media for ignoring small parties.

"The media give most space to big parties. They do not give any significance to the policies of the small parties," he commented.

No matter how difficult it is on his chosen political path, Pramual insisted that he would not easily back off, even if his party gains not a single MP. Prachamati party is in it for the long haul, he said.

"I will continue with the new concept of green and clean politics. After the election I will set up an institute to develop politicians and also to develop a referendum policy and implementation process."

Another thing that can be counted on is that Pramual will continue writing. His book Royal Powers stirred a wide debate in society in 2005. The book was a best seller, with tens of thousands of copies sold. He published a number of lesser known books before that, for example Balance-Thailand and Power of People.

"I just finished another book called New Era-New Life, but it can be released after the election as it concerns politics," Pramual said. He confessed that he has also written several campaign songs.

Bio DATA

Pramual Rujanaseri was born on March 21, 1939 in Mae Sariang district of Mae Hong Son province. His early education was in Mae Hong Son and Chiang Mai provinces. He completed his Bachelor degree in Political Science from Thammasat University, and a Master degree in the same field from the National Institute of Development Administration (NIDA). He worked at the Ministry of Interior from 1962 until his retirement in 2000. His last position with the Interior Ministry was as Deputy Permanent Secretary.

Right after his retirement, he joined the now-dissolved Thai Rak Thai (TRT) party as deputy leader. Two years later, he became Deputy Minister of the Interior. Following conflicts within TRT, he, together with other members of the Wang Nam Yen faction led by Sanoh Thienthong, resigned from the party.

Pramual is married with two children.

Bangkok Post