Defection shows rift in Matchimathipatai

PRADIT RUANGDIT SURASAK GLAHAN

Sophon Phetsawang, a key member of the Matchimathipatai party, defected to the newly-established Puea Pandin party amid signs of growing rifts in Matchimathipatai.

Mr Sophon, former deputy leader of the Matchimathipatai, cited yesterday ideological differences as the reason for quitting the party led by industrial tycoon Prachai Leophairatana.


He said Somsak Thepsuthin, founder of the Matchima group, which was later changed to Matchimathipatai party, wanted to carry out political work under the Buddhist philosophy of the middle path. However, things had changed after Mr Prachai was elected party leader.


http://www.bangkokpost.net/topstories/topstories.php?id=122803

With Mr Prachai as leader, the party's ideology had changed from the middle path to the polarisation of power, said Mr Sophon.


Mr Prachai favoured opinions of the faction belonging to the People's Alliance for Democracy (PAD), an anti-Thaksin Shinawatra group. This was giving way to divisiveness and voters did not want to see the party split, he said.


Several Matchimathipatai members were uncomfortable with the direction the party was taking, he added.


Sakhorn Prompakdi said he and seven other members would leave the party on Oct 24 to join the Ruamjaithai Chartpattana party. His group could not stand working with Matchimathipatai since the party was now dominated by Mr Prachai and the PAD faction.


Santi Tansuhat, another party member, said he had told Mr Somsak about his plan to leave the party to join the Puea Pandin party.


A source said several party members were not happy with the role of some PAD figures in the party, particularly Karun Sai-ngarm, a former Buri Ram senator, who was close to Mr Prachai.


Mr Prachai indicated he could not care less about Mr Sophon's departure from his party. Mr Karun yesterday denied the PAD has wielded much influence over the party's affairs.


The Pracharaj party, meanwhile, elected a new executive board with Chianchuang Kalayanamitr, a cousin of deputy permanent secretary for defence Gen Saprang Kalayanamitr, as the party secretary-general.


Sanoh Thienthong was again elected party leader, said a source.


The new board was needed after Mr Prachai and some party members left Pracharaj to join Matchimathipatai.


Meanwhile, the People Power party (PPP) yesterday unveiled potential candidates for Bangkok in the Dec 23 general election.


Among them are children and relatives of political figures including Natipoom Navaratna, the 27-year-old son of National Legislative Assembly member Nitipoom Navaratna, said deputy party spokesman Danuphorn Punnakanta.


Mr Nitipum played a part in the People's Alliance for Democracy campaign to oust then prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra, prior to the Sept 19 coup last year which toppled Mr Thaksin.