Surapong Suebwonglee, who served as the information and communications technology minister in the previous government, is using his skills and experience in the renovation of the Thai Rak Thai Party's website.

He has assisted the party to launch its revamped website at the staff's request, mostly providing ideas to them.

The website revamp was the idea of the party's caretaker leader Chaturon Chaisang, Surapong said in an exclusive interview with The Nation.

Surapong, who was also government spokesman in Thaksin's administration, has experience in developing websites. He was a key man of the website of the PM's Office and state websites relating to the 2004 tsunami disaster.

"I've suggested to the party's website staff that they should add information which is concerned with the campaign for democracy. Because democracy is the main topic which should be raised in communicating with people," said Surapong.

He said he told the webmaster to put photos and video clips on the site because video clips can communicate with people very well.

On the Thai Rak Thai website, besides talk about democracy, they also give information about Thaksin Shinawatra, their former leader who is still abroad.

The latest news about Thaksin is a video clip which comes from www.hi-thaksin.net, the hottest website at this time.

The former ICT minister, however, insists he does not know the founder of the site.

"I don't know them, and I don't pay attention to it," he said.

"However, the website founder must be a member of the Thaksin fan club and wanted to publicise information about the former prime minister and his achievements."

Surapong said the website's creator had the right to hide his or her name, which is normal so that the public would not know who was behind it.

Surapong admitted the website was becoming the focal point of information, including defending themselves from others who try to challenge them and sometimes it is a counter-attack tool.

Further, he believed the website would have a bigger role, especially in politics.

For the party's website, he said he just suggested that the staff update the news and make it more interesting.

"The website should have variety, yet I am just a consultant, not the webmaster. The direction of the party's website will depend on the party's executives. However, I can say a significant point is to promote democracy and not only Thai Rak Thai, that's all," he said.

"A website cannot give every view including that of Thai Rak Thai. It is the duty of netizens to check many sources and weigh them up to make a decision on which ones they should believe."

Next issue that would be put on the site is the party's policies, he said, after the court ruling on whether the party was to be dissolved. "If the party is not dissolved, we will start campaigning on our policies for the next election," he said.

Even though several key members have jumped ship after the Thai Rak Thai government was overthrown and former leader Thaksin Shinawatra stepped down, Surapong said he had never thought of quitting the party.

Surapong said he had a special feeling for the party because he was an original member.

Surapong remained a party member after the coup but did not get involved in party activities as he wanted time to assist in his family's business.

"The caretaker leader [Chaturon Chaisang] has not yet started any [urgent] projects. And anyway, he has staff to assist him. When I considered the political work was not going to be too demanding for me, I decided to go back to my business," he said.

Jintana Panyaarvudh,

Sucheera Pinijparakarn

The Nation