Prayut refuses to comment on Paiboon’s proposal
Former senator's PDRC allies say they are not ready to support new party.
Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha has refused to respond to Paiboon Nititawan’s move to establish a new party, saying the matter did not involve him because it was a political issue. “I am not a politician, so I will not answer,’’ he said.
The prime minister added that it was not the right time for new parties to be set up. “The new charter is not yet in place and political bans have not yet been lifted.’’
Meanwhile, members of the now-defunct People’s Democratic Reform Committee (PDRC) have distanced themselves from the planned establishment of a new political party that has the stated goal of driving reforms.
Announcing the proposed new party, former senator Paiboon said the People’s Reform Party’s mission would also be to mobilise support for the “the best and most suitable person” to become prime minister. He added that in his personal opinion Prime Minister General Prayut Chan-o-cha was the best person for the job.
Akanat Promphan, secretary of the Great Mass of the People for Reform of Thailand Foundation, who was a key leader of the PDRC, said Paiboon, who was also part of the PDRC, had not asked his group to join the new party.
Akanat said former members of the PDRC were not yet ready to decide if they would get involved. “Paiboon is a good and honest person. Our group has not thought of elections as we want to push for reform first,’’ Akanat said.
Democrat Party politician Witthaya Kaewparadai, another former PDRC member, said the idea ofa new party was the personal idea of Paiboon and other former members of the movement had nothing to do with the plan.
“The PDRC group has no plan to set up a political party. Paiboon has the right to support anyone to be the next PM,’’ Withaya said.
The PDRC, which staged the infamous “Bangkok Shutdown” rally to oust the Yingluck Shinawatra government, was dissolved after Prayut staged the 2014 coup.
Meanwhile, key red-shirt leader and Pheu Thai Party politician Nattawut Saikua said the planned new party was an attempt by the “dictatorship side” to hold on to power. He said the “democracy side” needed a political party that fought alongside the people.
He also said that Pheu Thai insisted on adhering to democratic principles and was ready to be in the opposition after the election.
“At this stage, Thailand needs to choose if we want to move forward with dictatorship or democracy. And we have to be clear if we will trust elected politicians or appointees,” he said.
“If Pheu Thai is sincere with its [principles], what happened in Mynmar could happen [in Thailand] in the next election. But if every party wants to share dictatorial power, it will be sad for Thailand.”
Nattawut added that he did not want to argue with Prayut, who has insisted that the referendum was carried out according to international standards. “The international reactions showed that they do not believe that,’’ he said.
Democrat Party leader Abhisit Vejjajiva said everyone had the right to set up a new party but it had to adhere to the new regulations regarding political parties, which have not yet been written.
He also dismissed concerns that some Democrats may defect to new parties.
“New parties can be established any time. We must give the Constitution Drafting Commission the chance to lay down guidelines first,” the former prime minister said.
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