Members exodus at Thai Rak Thai Party

BANGKOK, Oct. 3 (TNA) – Former Deputy Prime Minister Surakiart Sathirathai and another former minister Wattana Muangsook tendered their resignation, along with many other members, of Thai Rak Thai party on Monday.

The exodus followed an order by the Council for Democratic Reform which stipulates that in the advent of a court order to disband a political party, executive members will be banned from contesting in elections for five years.

Thai Rak Thai and Democrat parties are awaiting court verdict on suits seeking to disband both parties.

Among the leading members to quit the TRT party yesterday included Mr Surakiart, who served as deputy party leader. He asked to relinquish both the party membership and executive position. Another high-profile person to leave yesterday was former Social Development and Human Security Minister Wattana Muangsook.

Veteran politician Pongpol Adireksan and former Saraburi MP Pos Adireksan both resigned from the Party’s executive committee but retain their membership.

Another major faction in the TRT led by Mr Somsak Thepsuthin comprising some 20 members also tendered their resignation yesterday afternoon. Former Nakhon Sawan MP Banyin Tangpaporn said Mr Somsak conferred with his colleagues and found that if the court verdict rules that TRT party be dissolved, nearly 100 former members of TRT would be unable to contest in the polls.

Mr Somsak’s resignation letter along with those of his faction members were tended to the Thai Rak Thai Party registrar yesterday. He said the group had to leave because it wanted to promote national unity and that “rules are not conducive to help the public for whom we have served for the last 25 years.”

Along with Mr Somsak’s faction, another party executive Suranand Vejjajiva also resigned from both the executive position and membership. He said he would take time off to rest and think the next move during the period when the new charter’s being drafted.

The party’s Registrar Samarn Wonglertrat told reporters that members have begun to leave gradually in recent months, for instance Gen. Yuthasak Sasiprabha. And upon the Council for Democratic Reform’s order forbidding those running in local elections using party platform in electioneering, more quit including former deputy party leader Sonthaya Khunpluem and his colleagues from Chonburi.

TRT Party executive Veera Musikpong on behalf of those who remain said Thai Rak Thai party wants to work for national reconciliation and hopes for a democratic charter along with swift election. He insists that the party remains a political party ready to serve the country and the electorate.

Regarding the resignation in drove, Mr Veera said those who quit did so out of their own free will and consideration. But he himself will stick to the party until the very end.

TNA