POLITICS
Sonthi takes reins of small political party
Thaksin's nemesis wants to mend fences in South
- Published: 19/11/2009 at 12:00 AM
- Newspaper section: News
Gen Sonthi Boonyaratkalin, the prime mover in the military takeover of the Thaksin government in 2006, will lead the Matubhum Party, claiming he is fit to be a democratically elected politician.
He said he would direct the party's agenda of national reconciliation.
On his first day as leader, Gen Sonthi said he joined Matubhum because it had a politically neutral stand.
It had set a goal to promote national reconciliation, a mission he intended to achieve.
He said current political conflicts and social disunity were critical problems which could seriously damage the nation.
- See also exclusive Q&A: We can reunite the country
Gen Sonthi said his party has made southern violence its policy priority. Attacks in the past five years have killed more than 4,000 people as the unrest continues unabated.
He insisted the pooling of resources and responsibilities of relevant agencies with a clear chain of command will create a breakthrough in the South.
He said the idea was much more practical than the plans of Puea Thai Party chairman Gen Chavalit Yongchaiyudh who has called for a special administration for the insurgent-infiltrated provinces of Yala, Pattani and Narathiwat.
When asked why he decided to go into politics, Gen Sonthi said people should put the past behind them.
He said he led the Sept 19, 2006, coup which toppled former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra because the country's situation at that time was different from what it is now.
"If there had not been that coup, I can't imagine what the situation would be like today," Gen Sonthi said.
Apart from the goals of national reconciliation and restoration of peace in the far South, Gen Sonthi said he had entered politics with the intention to "act as a decent politician".
He said politics would not change him for the worse.
His Matubhum Party is made up largely of Muslim former MPs of the Wadah faction and members of the Pak Nam faction controlled by veteran politician Vatana Asavahame.
Vatana fled the country before he was sentenced last year by the Supreme Court's Criminal Division for Holders of Political Positions to 10 years in jail for bribing officials in a land grab connected to the Klong Dan project.
The Wadah and Pak Nam factions used to be with the Puea Pandin Party. As most members have defected to Matubhum, Puea Pandin could eventually disintegrate or merge with another party.
Asked about the possibility of Matubhum forging a political alliance with the pro-Thaksin Puea Thai Party in the future, Gen Sonthi said that would depend on the policies of the two parties.
He said the government was stable and an early House dissolution was unlikely.
Deputy Puea Thai leader Kanawat Wasinsangworn said Gen Sonthi would have to explain his role as the coup leader to voters as the 2006 coup had disrupted the course of democracy in Thailand.
He said although Gen Sonthi is a well-known figure, surveys found many people had never heard of the Matubhum Party.
PM's Office Minister Sathit Wongnongtoey yesterday welcomed Gen Sonthi's foray into politics.
However, he downplayed speculation Matubhum would take seats in the far South currently dominated by his Democrat Party.
Although some Wadah members failed to get elected in the previous general election, they command wide political influence in many areas of the southernmost provinces.
About the author
- Writer: King-oua Laohong
- Position: Reporter
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