From: trin@tlaeng.enet.dec.com
Newsgroups: soc.culture.thai
Subject: Re: Political Parties  ????
Date: 25 Jul 92 12:58:03 +0700
Organization: Digital Equipment (Thailand), Ltd.

According to the Local Administration Dept, sixteen parties are eligible to
stand the next general election. These parties, according to the Bangkok
Post July 25, are Chart Pattana, Democrats, Rassadorn, Chart Thai,
Prachakorn Thai, Social Action, Solidarity, Muan Chon, Palang Dharma, New
Aspiration, Therd Thai, Palang Prachachon, Seri Tham, Pracha Thai,
Kasetakorn Thai and Song-serm Prachathipatai.

Therd Thai has been merged with Chart Thai. So fifteen remain.

In article <1992Jul23.231143.26694@ccu1.aukuni.ac.nz>, thanon@ccu1.aukuni.ac.nz (Thanachart Numnonda) writes:
> 
> I just recieved news from Thai News Agency (mail from Khun Voradesh).
> However, there're only few political news included in its News between
> 16-22 July.

Final update at Thai News Agency is done at around 9:30pm Bangkok
time. During the past two weeks, a volunteer who normally send TNA
news out to Khun Voradesh went abroad. The person asked his colleague
to replace the duty. The news were fetched around 7pm each day during
that period. So, some news might be missing in that final 2:30 hrs.
(Hey, it's a volunteer job. What else do you expect more? ;-)

> 1) TerdThai (Former Sammakki Tham party) is now dissolved, and merge into
> the Chart Thai party. Chart Thai party is now heading by Pol Gen Pramarn
> Adireksarn. Mr.Banharn Silpa-archa is still the secretary general of the
> party. However, there might be some changes after the election, since many
> newcomer are now joining the party. These include
>    -Narong Wongwan (Can anybody confirm this report?)

Do you really care? Mr. NW formed the Ruam Thai party, then merged it
with 4 other parties to form the Solidarity (but failed to gain the
majority in the Parliament and sadly became an opposition in the
Chartichai Govt before the '91 Coup). Then, the mission-specific
Samakkhi Tham Party was formed "to be the core of a Government". The
mission was accomplished (with great failure), so the party was
renamed into Therd Thai in an attempt to change its image. That didn't
work well, I guess. So, next thing is to disguise in a party which
might have a chance to become a Government again.

I like what Khun Tweet^H^H^H^H^H^H Tawit said, "Salad bowl" party,
mix up everything to gether. After all, these politicians would just
like to be a Government. The merger between CTP and Therd Thai seems
to be neutral to me. They have one thing in similar: the desire to be
in the Thai-Koo-Fah building (Govt house).

The new CTP will field over 200 candidates in the election and hope it
will win at least 135 seats.

> 2) Many politicians shown their support for Gen Chatichai Choonhavan as
> the next PM. Furthermore, many former MPs now join the new Chart Patana
> party. These include
>    -Korn Dabbaransi (former Korat MP) and other former Korat MPs of Chart
           ^^^^^^^^^^ pronounced Tap-pa-rang-see
>     Thai and Sammakki Tham party.
>    -Suwat Liptapallop (former Korat MP of Sammakki Tham party) and probably
>     his boss Gen Arthit Kamlangek (Confirm??)
>    -Sonthaya Khunplem (former Chonburi MP and the son of Chonburi Mafia)
               ^^^^^^^^ Khun-pluem in Bangkok Post spelling
>    -Boonterk Thonsawat (former Lampang MP of Sammakki Tham), now 80 years old.
      ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ you mean Boon-teng Tong-Sa-Wat former Chairperson of 
                         the STP advisory board who always criticised STP?
>    -Dej Boonronk (financial Backing)
>    -Col Phol Rerngprasertvit.
>    the new Chart Pattana party has strong prospect in the Esarn pronvinces,
> but they have to fight with New Aspiration party and Chart Thai party.
> Whoever pay more will definitely get more seats in that area.
 
> 3) Not many news about PalangTham party, I suspect that Maj.Gen Chamlong
> Srimuang still wants the PM post. The party will defintely get most
> seats in Bangkok and now probably other surrounding provinces.
> In addition, the Solidarity now probably merge with the PalandTham party
> (Can anybody confirm this?). Chamni Saksert (former Nakhon Srithammarat
> MP) is also join the party, with Boonchu Rojanasatern. So, I suspect that
> other former MPs of the Solidarity party is now join Palang Tham as well.

In the previous election, Chamlong said repeatedly that he didn't want
to be the PM. But if his party gained the majority, he would accept
the position. PDP will use the slogan (paraphrased) "For Chamlong to
be the PM, vote for PDP candidates".

I think U-thai Pim-jai-chon still runs the Solidarity party despite
the fact that Boon-chu, former leader, left the party.
 
> 5) Not many news from other parties, for more detail pl ftp News from
>        june.cs.washington.edu

Not much info here too.

Solidarity will field 176 candidates in the upcoming election: 111 in
the Northeast, 42 in the East and the Central Region, 19 in the South
and 4 in the North.

The Democrats Party will field 250 candidates. They expect 15 seats in
the Northeast from the stake of 128. Last election they got 12 but
Pra-chuab has left for Chart Pattana and one Democrat MP followed him.

Palang Dharma will send 255 candidates to stand the general election. 253
have been chosen: 60 to run in the North, 40 in the South, 44 in Central
Region, 74 in the Northeast and 35 in Bangkok. They expect to win "more"
seats than last time of which the party won 41 seats from 220 candidates.
Newsgroups: soc.culture.thai