Thaksin wants poll to go ahead: Surapong

Surapong Suebwonglee yesterday tried to distance his Thai Rak Thai Party from the anti-coup protests and defended ousted premier Thaksin Shinawatra as wanting to see the general election take place rather than derail it.

"If my party was behind the anti-coup activities, I believe the protests would be on a much larger scale: just look at the mass rallies we organised ahead of last year's general election," said Surapong, a key party member.

The organisers of PTV's demonstrations, the nucleus of the anti-coup movements, have resigned their party memberships, he said.

Thaksin agrees with Prime Minister Surayud Chulanont's road map to restore democratic rule, he said.

"I think Thaksin has made himself very clear that he does not encourage any party members to get involved with anti-coup activities," he said, admitting that he has not had any direct contact with the former party leader lately.

Surapong said the coup-makers should concentrate on fixing the country's problems instead of wasting time plotting another coup.

He also opposes the plan by the People's Alliance for Democracy, a key anti-Thaksin coalition, to pressure Surayud into quitting.

"The key issue is to call the general election as soon as possible, otherwise the country will regress," he said.

The party is sure to win its election-fraud case, he said. A guilty verdict by the Constitution Tribunal on May 30 could mean the end of the party.

Election Commission chairman Apichart Sukhagganond confirmed that election day would be December 16 or 23.

"This is an auspicious marked by His Majesty the King's 80th birthday, a good rallying point for awareness of righteousness to deter vote-buying," he said.

The campaign for clean and fair polls may lose momentum if the general election is delayed till next year, he said.

It would be even better, he said, if the drafting of the new constitution and the referendum on it finish ahead of schedule and the election can take place even earlier.

The EC is reviewing a plan to transport voters to balloting stations free.

To forestall anti-coup campaigners, the Interior Ministry has instructed all governors to beef up security in their provinces for Songkran and beyond.

The CNS's General Sondhi Boonyaratglin yesterday insisted that he would not become premier if PM Surayud Chulanont resigned as critics forecast.

"I see no reason for me to become prime minister," he said.

Sondhi also said he would take a close look at all political movements after Songkran and find out who was behind them.

Sondhi said he would leave any Cabinet reshuffle to the prime minister. (from The Nation)


Blog master.... political Surapong always have a good comment , I don't care what 's real relation about Thai rak Thai with PTV. I went to Sanamluang last Sunday for rally with PTV , they speech like a previous , to aim to CNS , for the military junta they attacked a little. This is mean that the situation was changed , from Thai webboard explain that Gen.Prem compromised with Thaksin and then he sent Gen.Chaowalit went to London last week for deal with Thaksin. Gen.Prem would try to stay away from The coup-makers because he was heavily engage by the Anti-coup activists. It's mean that the coup-makers was isolated and sacrificed. And CNS always conflicted with the military junta in many case also prove that argue because the head of military junta was appointed by Gen.Prem.

2 comments:

Anonymous said...

TRT continues to be Thaksin's doormat . . even when is out of power. Because the whole party and its entire membership depend on Thaksin and Potjaman for monthly handouts.

TRT had never been a party for the people or of the people. TRT is Thaksin's political butler . . it will do whatever Thaksin bids.

What kind of political party would continue to be behind its corrupt criminal leader while the Kingdom is being torn apart in the process?

Voice of Thai said...

This system have a country manager, it 's not real democracy ,you know, they would try to force Thais to choose a limited choices , they could be controlled from behind by these way , We will prepare some choices for your choose , you can't choose another. they ploted already done again , they would planed to democrat party to be core of the next government , but Its not soundly , they had changed and choosed to compromised with Thaksin , because this crisis stemed from the illegal problem and involved about someone that I can't talk.

Thaksin or his party or Thais was just a victim of this confliction.