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[B.I.G.]

"Former leader of the disbanded Council for National Security (CNS) Sonthi Boonyaratkalin is setting up a new political party aimed at bringing together politicians from opposing camps, a source close to the former coup leader said yesterday.

The party, which will be called Puea Pandin Thai, is aimed at ending political polarisation between several rival political groups in the country and bringing about national reconciliation, the source said.The former army chief, who engineered the coup that deposed former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra in September 2006, only wants to be the new party's secretary-general and not its leader, the source said.

Gen Sonthi believes that since the Sept 19 coup had failed to solve the problems the coup-makers had intended, it is his responsibility to enter the political arena to finish what he considers a half-done job through the new party.

The source said the new party would be a collaboration between former house speaker and former deputy leader of the dissolved People Power party, Yongyuth Tiyapairat, Buri Ram politician Newin Chidchob, former deputy transport minister Pichet Sathirachawal and Phinij Jarusombat of the Puea Pandin party. . .

The party is expected to be financed by Gen Sonthi's own money and by other sources, including some leading business groups, the source said. The party is expected to be unveiled in April and is likely to contest the next general election, if the House is dissolved, the source said. . .

The source said Gen Sonthi is also on good terms with Mr Newin and had a role in convincing Mr Newin to support the Democrat party in forming a new government. It was Gen Sonthi who arranged a meeting between Mr Newin and Gen Prawit and army chief Gen Anupong Paojinda that paved the way for the formation of the Democrat-led government, said the source."

http://www.bangkokpost.com/news/local/9463...ith-a-new-party

[wpcoe]

The party, which will be called Puea Pandin Thai...

Such an original name for a political party! I had to check the date line of the linked article to make sure it wasn't from 2007...

[Hedda]

It was Gen Sonthi who arranged a meeting between Mr Newin and Gen Prawit and army chief Gen Anupong Paojinda that paved the way for the formation of the Democrat-led government...

All of which suggests that Prime Minister Junior may be nothing more than an ornament which Bangkok's elite thought might be nice to hang out as the Prime Minister, unless and until something better comes along. One wonders if the choice of the name "Puea Pandin Thai" for the new party may also be designed to sow confusion among rural voters who still support Thaksin and are loyal to the PPP party, since renamed "Puea Thai." One thing for sure: the Bangkok elite could not be happier than to see the political system fracturing into a multiplicity of political parties which can be divided and conquered - largely with cash.

There's a cartoon in this morning's paper which depicts the celebration of Thai Childrens' Day at Government House, with PM Abhisit shown as a small child being held hand-in-hand, between two brawny adults named Suthep (Deputy PM) and Newin Chidchob. It's an image that Junior will be hard pressed to overcome.

[Sexpat]

"The Friends of Newin faction has no plans to form a new party at the prodding of former coup leader General Sonthi Boonyaratglin as has been speculated, Deputy Interior Minister Boonjong Wongtrairat said on Tuesday.

"I don't understand how and why the speculation is being spreaded linking the faction to General Sonthi," he said. Boonjong confirmed that his faction will tomorrow team up with Bhum Jai Party.

It is groundless that his faction would assist Sonthi in his political aspirations and that at the prodding of Sonthi, it plans to install Interior Minister Chaovarat Chanweerakul as the leader of the new party, he said."

http://www.nationmultimedia.com/breakingne...orm-a-new-party