From: kamol@munnari.oz.AU (Kamol Hengkietisak)
Newsgroups: soc.culture.thai
Subject: June 9: Chatichai refuses to head Chart Thai party
Date: 23 Jul 92 06:12:14 GMT
Organization: Mail/News gateway

Chatichai refuses to head party
 
     CHART Thai Party was left in limbo yesterday when Gen 
Chatichai Choonhavan rejected its offer to return as leader in 
favour of heading the new Chart Pattana Party.
     Gen Chatichai yesterday telephoned acting party leader ACM 
Somboon Rahong, who was waiting at Gen Chatichai's home in Soi 
Rajakru with other senior Chart Thai Party members, to tell him of 
his decision.
     About 120 Chart Thai members met at Gen Chatichai's home, but 
the home owner was nowhere to be soon, having left earlier with 
his wife, Thanpuying Boonruan.
     The gathering which included secretary-general Banharn 
Silapa-archa and deputy leaders Vatana Asavahame, Sanoh Thienthng 
and Piya Anginand waited for several hours before voting 
unanimously for Gen Chatichai as the new party leader.
     Chinese dinner tables had been set up by party members who 
claimed to be celebrating Thanpuying Boonruan's birthday. ACM 
Somboon said Gen Chatichai had gone golfing at Nava Thani and was 
expected to return for dinner.
     They then waited patiently for Gen Chatichai to return home 
so they could inform him of their resolution, which many interpret 
as a last-ditch effort to maintain the former party leader's 
support.
     But the dinner lost its fizz when Gen Chatichai telephoned to 
tell ACM Somboon he had decided against accepting the Chart Thai 
leadership.
     Party sources said Mr Sanoh was enraged by the decision and 
openly denounced the move before Mr Piya intervened to cool him 
down.
     Vitthaya Thianthong, Mr Sanoh's brother, and Chumphol 
Silpa-archa, Mr Banharn's brother, confirmed Gen Chatichai's 
decision.
     The party then scheduled another meeting for today to discuss 
what to do next.
     Mr Chumphol said he still could not say if Mr Banharn would 
now assume the party leadership.
     "There's politics involved and I am not sure if Banharn will 
be able to become leader," he said.
     The Chart Thai executive board resolved on Tuesday to ask Gen 
Chatichai to return as Chart Thai leader and the general meeting 
of party members yesterday upheld that decision.
     Chart Thai spokesman Prathuang Wicharnpreecha said everybody 
had been sure Gen Chatichai would agree to return as party leader 
as he had set up the party.
     He then said the party would not consider Gen Chatichai's 
decision as final until he confirmed the move himself at a party 
meeting.
     The party will keep the leadership open in the meantime.
     Mr Banharn told Gen Chatichai Tuesday night of the party 
executives' resolution, but the ex-premier did not say either way 
if he would accept the position.
     Gen Chatichai early yesterday left his home to meet his 
nephew and former PM's Office minister Korn Dabbaransi at the 
latter's home across the street.
     After the meeting, Mr Korn announced he had set up the Chart 
Pattana Party and Gen Chatichai had agreed to become its leader.
     Mr Korn said Dr Anuwat Wattanapongsiri, Col Phol 
Ruangprasertvit, Thavich Klinpratum, Vatana Asavahame, Panja 
Kesornthong, Suwat Liptapallop, Jaroon Ngarm-pichet, Sonthaya 
Khunpluem and Gen Chatichai had all agreed to form the Chart 
Pattana (Nation Development) Party.
     The party will be based on the Puang Chon Chao Thai (PCCT) 
Party which will be renamed Chart Pattana for political purposes.
     Mr Korn said the new party would bring together more than 80 
politicians from various parties and businessmen to contest the 
September election. It will support Gen Chatichai Choonhavan, the 
proposed party leader, for the premiership.
     Party members will meet on Sunday to discuss other posts and 
these will be announced officially on the same day.
     Informed sources said Gen Chatichai had joined Chart Pattana 
on the condition many other former MPs join him in the new party.
     "His decision on whether to lead the party depends on the 
number of other former MPs joining," said one source.
     "He has not committed himself and he might turn down the 
offer if less than 80 or 90 former MPs join the party."
     The source said Mr Korn had spent the last week lobbying 
several senior politicians from various parties including Democrat 
deputy leader Prachuab Chaisarn, Samakki Tham secretary-general Dr 
Anuwat Watanapongsiri, Samakkhi Tham deputy leader Sompong 
Amornvivat and a key member of the STP's Prachatipatai faction led 
by former Khon Kaen MP Chavalit Osathanukroh.
     Mr Prachuab, a former Udon Thani MP, admitted yesterday he 
had been approached by politicians asking him to switch sides for 
the next election.
     STP's Prachatipatai faction, which groups 9-12 former MPs, 
has agreed to join the party if Gen Chatichai agrees to become 
leader.
     An STP executive member ruled out the possibility of key 
party members alligned to Narong Wongwan's northern faction 
defecting to join the Chart Pattana Party.
     He also dismissed reports that Dr Anuwat would join the 
party.
     "Dr Anuwat will be named new STP leader at tomorrow (today)'s 
party meeting. How can he join Chatichai's party?" asked the 
executive member.
     Acting PCCT leader Col Phol Rerngprasertvit confirmed that 
Gen Chatichai's decision to become party leader would depend on 
the number of former MPs joining the party.
     "If there are not enough, he may not accept the offer," he 
said.
     Col Phol yesterday had lunch with the former premier and said 
Gen Chatichai had still not made his position clear.
     "Gen Chatichai cited His Majesty the King's message calling 
for national unity to rebuild the country. He said if everyone 
understood this and united for the sake of the nation, then he 
might agree to accept the offer."
     Col Phol claimed that about 80-90 former MPs would join Chart 
Pattana, which has scheduled a party assembly this Sunday to elect 
a new executive committee and party leader.
     The acting PCCT leader, who will resign officially the same 
day, said he supported Gen Chatichai's nephew, Mr Korn, as party 
secretary-general.
     "He is suitable for the post. He is a young politician who 
helped initiate the move by acting as a housekeeper so I think he 
should continue holding that position," he said.
     He then said Gen Arthit Kamlang-ek would be next in line for 
party leader if Gen Chatichai refused the position.
     He said PCCT secretary-general Maj-Gen Ravi Vanphen was 
working out details for the Sunday meeting, including the change 
of name to Chart Pattana.
     The situation would be much clearer by Sunday, he said, and 
he was optimistic Gen Chatichai would not turn down the offer.
     "I personally asked him to lead the party and I hope he 
will," said Col Phol.
Newsgroups: soc.culture.thai