Party leader Abhisit Vejjajiva, senior adviser Chuan Leekpai and former leader Banyat Bantadtan join the celebrations for the Democrat Party’s 60th anniversary.

Democrat leader Abhisit Vejjajiva called on government officials and the public to eradicate the administrative traditions of Thaksin by keeping in mind that they were working for His Majesty the King and the country.

"If people and government officials monitor Thaksin's system and don't let him succeed in controlling the administration, the system will be eradicated," Abhisit told a gathering at the party's head office. He said the next government must return the Electricity Generating Authority of Thailand to the people.

Abhisit downplayed Thaksin's decision not to accept the position of prime minister in the next government as a move to reduce social tension.

Thaksin was either taking a break from politics or stepping back to wield power from behind the scenes, Abhisit said. In the latter case, he would have power without being held responsible and social conflicts would worsen, he added.

The best solution for the country is for the prime minister and the entire Cabinet to resign and open the way for a royally appointed prime minister, the Democrat leader said.

Thai Rak Thai legal expert Peerapan Palusuk congratulated the Democrats on their anniversary, but said comments made by Abhisit and the party's senior adviser Chuan Leekpai showed the Democrats had failed to change for 60 years.

"We hoped to see something constructive, but the Democrats as usual just accuse Prime Minister Thaksin," Peerapan said. "I want to ask what the Democrats have accomplished ... besides destroying their opponents. I want the party to contribute something to the country," he said.

Other Thai Rak Thai members called on the Democrats to cooperate in the political reform process, reminding them that they had agreed to do so if Thaksin took a break.

Abhisit said the party would counter Thai Rak Thai's populist policies with the sufficiency-economy model to coincide with celebrations of the 60th anniversary of His Majesty the King's accession to the throne.

Democrat secretary-general Suthep Thaugsuban said the party's  executives and members would join people nationwide to design projects suitable for local communities. "We will fight for people's freedom and rights, until people are respected. There will be no media muzzling, no blocking of the information people need," he said.

Suthep said he supports the proposal from academics and the People's Alliance for Democracy that the next government should not take power for a long time.

Thaksin's decision to take a break was intended to reduce social tension, he said.

"Thaksin acts like the CEO of a company and others are like employees that have to listen to him ... In the future Thaksin will never have to be responsible for what he orders as the employees will have to take responsibility," Suthep said.

Chuan said an administration similar to the last would be unacceptable, as it would make the same mistakes.

Yossawadee Hongthong

The Nation