Thai Rak Thai senior figure Pongpol Adireksarn gestures as he speaks at a press conference held at the party’s headquarters yesterday.

He said his recent remarks about the ongoing Constitution Tribunal case against the party must have been misinterpreted, as he had simply stated that a ruling on the case was nearing.

"I didn't mean that the time was near for dissolution of Thai Rak Thai. That's not a word from a phuyai [senior figure] like me," said Sonthi, who chairs the Council for National Security.

The general said Thai Rak Thai had misinterpreted his reference to the impending verdict on the party's future, saying a faction which had recently left the party had no association with the CNS.

Sonthi was speaking during a meeting with community leaders in Buri Ram yesterday.

CNS figures have been visiting the Northeast in a bid to woo support from the region where backing is strong for deposed prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra.

Senior Thai Rak Thai member Pongpol Adireksarn yesterday said the party remained strong despite the resignation of many former MPs.

Pongpol, chairman of a committee to redevelop the party, spoke about the party's future and said the electorate had accepted the military leaders who staged last year's coup.

"Members of the Council for National Security can become politicians but they must follow a democratic path first," he said.

Pongpol said the CNS leaders must keep the electorate informed about their intentions and be honest about whether they are incapable of keeping their pledge to solve the nation's problems.

Thai Rak Thai policies are more important than individuals, Pongpol said, adding the party would battle on without former leader Thaksin Shinawatra and the MPs who had resigned.

Since the coup almost 200 members have abandoned Thaksin's party with the latest group being Suwat Liptapanlop's Lam Takong.

Pongpol said he believed no more mem|bers would resign and that in fact some defectors were returning to the party in the confidence that an election would be held this year.

Pongpol admitted he was concerned about Sonthi's recent statements suggesting Thai Rak Thai would be dissolved.

He said the party must decide whether it would form a new political force if it was dissolved and how it would carry on if it was allowed to remain intact.

Kuthep Saikrachang, another senior party figure, said Thai Rak Thai must continue to perform strongly in the political arena despite the "warning" from General Sonthi. He said Sonthi's remarks were aimed at discouraging several former MPs from remaining with Thai Rak Thai.

At present 209 former MPs remain loyal to the party, he said.

Panya Thiewsangwan,

Samatcha Hunsara

The Nation