Organization: Central Michigan University
Newsgroups: bit.listserv.seasia-l
Date:         Thu, 23 Jul 1992 19:33:57 EDT
From:         Elliott Parker <3ZLUFUR@CMUVM.CSV.CMICH.EDU>
Subject:      TH: Chatichai expected to lead PCCT
X-To:         seasia-l@msu.edu

=======================  Forwarded  Message  ===========================
Date: Wed, 8 Jul 92 03:05:39+0700
From: kamol@munnari.oz.au (Kamol Hengkietisak)

     Former prime minister and Chart Thai Party leader Chatichai
Choonhavan is expected to lead the Puang Chon Chao Thai Party
(PCCT) in the September 13 general election, reliable political
sources revealed yesterday.
     The sources said Gen Chatichai yesterday informed his close
associates about his political decision.
     The high-profile politician is expected to make a formal
announcement at the Puang Chon Chao Party meeting on Sunday.
     The PCCT is also expected to change its name to the Chart
Pattana (Nation Development) Party in order to give itself a new
image.
     Current PCCT leader Col Phol Roengprasertvit has already
begun renovating the party headquarters to welcome Gen Chatichai,
who is expected to join the party meeting on Sunday and formally
declare his decision to join the party.
     Gen Chatichai's relative and former Chart Thai MP Korn
Dabbaransi is expected to be among 20 former Chart Thai MPs to
defect to PCCT. He is expected to be appointed secretary general.
     Former PCCT leader Gen Arthit Kamlang-ek who defected to the
Samakkhi Tham Party in the last general election is expected to
rejoin the party along with his faction. The former military chief
is expected to be appointed as PCCT advisory chairman.
     Gen Chatichai's group and Gen Arthit's faction are expected
to be joined by bout 20 former MPs from the STP's another faction
led by Mr Surat Osathnukroh.
     With Mr Surat's faction, the PCCT will have up to 80 former
MPs under its control.
     Both Mr Surat and Mr Pong Sarasin, who is also another
faction leader, have pledged their support for the PCCT, although
they have agreed not to stand for election in the September 13
poll.
     Gen Chatichai's latest decision represents a major twist in
the on-going efforts within the Chart Thai Party to persuade him
to return to take the helm of the party for the upcoming election.
     A group of Chart Thai Party members claimed on Monday that
Gen Chatichai had agreed to accept the post as party leader.
     However, Gen Gen Chatichai yesterday called an urgent press
conference to deny that he has agreed to accept the post of Chart
Thai Party leader.
     "I have not decided yet. It's true that the party has asked
me to become leader but I will not announce my decision until
Sunday," Gen Chatichai said.
     He admitted that consultations had taken place with key party
leaders on several occasions but he has not accepted any offers as
yet because he needs more details.
     But after a meeting of the party's administrative committee
yesterday afternoon, party adviser Pramarn Adireksarn insisted
that Gen Chatichai had already "accepted to become party leader
without any conditions".
     Chart Thai, which has been the core of the past few coalition
governments, is now gripped by a internal power-struggle between
Gen Chatichai's Ratchakhru faction and the faction loyal to party
secretary-general Banharn Silpa-archa.
     The party recently admitted that it has been seriously
discredited in the eyes of the public after the bloody suppression
of pro-democracy protesters during the May 17-20 anti-Suchinda
Kraprayoon demonstrations.
     Gen Chatichai, ousted from power by Gen Suchinda in a coup
last year, was believed to be the only Chart Thai figure capable
of leading the party through what is expected to be a fierce
general election on September 13.
     However, Gen Chatichai's Ratchakhru faction has demanded that
Mr Banharn, reportedly the key political "manager" of Gen
Suchinda's government, accept a reduced role in the party.
     During yesterday's Press Conference held by Gen Chatichai at
his Soi Ratchakhru residence, he told reporters that he needed
more "details" from Chart Thai as well as clarification of its
policies before he would accept the leadership post.
     "If I accept, I accept. If not I will go back to England,"
said Gen Chatichai, who recently returned from the United Kingdom.
     Asked if he is reluctant to accept the leadership of Chart
Thai because he is worried about the assets seizure problem, the
former premier said it was only a small concern because a court
ruling on the case is still pending.
     Gen Chatichai admitted that other parties have asked him to
join them as their party leader but he is still considering the
offer.
     He refused to elaborate on the alternative offers other than
to say "I have to be in the best political party which has good
members".
     He insisted that if he agrees to be leader of any party, he
would contest the election like leaders of other parties.
     Asked who would be appropriate to lead Chart Thai if he did
not accept, Gen Chatichai said: "It's Khun Banharn. He is the most
appropriate."
     On the problems presently facing Chart Thai, a party which he
and his family founded nearly 20 years ago, Gen Chatichai said
that the party was still strong and belonged to the people and not
the Ratchakhru faction.
     "I want Chart Thai to become the most democratic party in
Thailand," he added.
     He declined to comment on the possibility of another coup
following a comment by former National Peace-keeping Council
chairman Gen Sunthorn Kongsompong that the military could not
guarantee that there would never be another military takeover.
     Gen Chatichai predicted that the next government would face a
hard time administering the country because it is suffering in all
fields ranging from the economy to foreign affairs.
     Late yesterday afternoon the Chart Thai administrative
committee held a meeting at party headquarters and reaffirmed an
earlier resolution to have Gen Chatichai take over the party
leadership.
     Pol Gen Pramarn, who is married to the former premier's
sister, Charoen, said that Gen Chatichai has already been
approached and the committee and the party MPs would hold a
meeting today at Soi Ratchakhru to formally invite him to be
leader.
     Asked about Gen Chatichai's statement that he will not yet
accept the post, Pol Gen Pramarn replied: "He accepts. If I say
that he accepts, he accepts."
     Pol Gen Pramarn laughed when told by reporters that Gen
Chatichai had not yet decided.
     He said reporters should not ask too many questions because
he had already insisted that Gen Chatichai has already accepted to
be leader without any conditions.
     "He used to be party leader but resigned because of the NPKC
problem. Now he will return to the same post," Pol Gen Pramarn
said.
     He said that the assets seizure order against Gen Chatichai
was "a matter for the future" and everyone recognised that it was
an unjust finding by the Assets Examination Committee.
     Asked if Gen Chatichai had confirmed that he would accept the
leadership of Chart Thai, Pol Gen Pramarn said "this is a sure
thing."
     "Let's just say that tomorrow everything will be clear. I
tell you that this is a sure thing," he said.
     On the issue of the conflict between his Ratchakhru faction
and Mr Banharn's, Pol Gen Pramarn played down the disagreement.
"There's nothing to it. Mr Banharn is still party
secretary-general like before."
     Deputy party leader Vatana Asavahame also confirmed that he
was still with Chart Thai because Gen Chatichai will come back to
lead the party.
     "I believe everything Mr Pramarn said because he is not only
an elder of the party but an elder of Gen Chatichai too. If you
don't believe Pramarn who are you going to believe?" Mr Vatana
said, noting that Pol Gen Pramarn is Gen Chatichai's
brother-in-law.
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