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Published on August 23, 2007

Chavalit, in return, said he welcomed all "invitations" for a re-entry into politics. He said national reconciliation was the top issue on his agenda.

Ruam Jai Thai group leader Pradit Pataraprasit said he had been "on tour" to invite other smaller groups to join the alliance.

Asked if he had ap-proached Chavalit, Pradit said he had not met Chavalit for awhile although he had consulted him about the political situation but had not come to "a conclusion".

But former Parliament president Uthai Pimchaichon had accepted an offer to become a party adviser, he said.

A source in Matchima confirmed that Pradit had approached Chavalit to become the new leader of the alliance ahead of registering with the Election Commission as the "Matchima Thippatai Party" next Tuesday.

Pradit also approached the Saman Chan group under Suwat Liptapanlop, and the Pracharaj Party under veteran Snoh Thienthong to join the new party, the source said.

Chavalit said he had never closed the door on politics but would not establish a new party as there were more than 30 existing already.

If he re-entered politics, he would not become leader of the People Power Party (PPP) because it already had Samak Sundaravej as its leader, he said.

Chavalit said he had talked with several political groups. If any of them wanted to reconcile the divided nation then he would join either Ruam Jai Thai, Matchima or Saman Chan. He also believed the three groups would finally end up as one.

"If any party wants my help, it should have a clear policy of national reconciliation," Chavalit insisted. "The position is not important to me."

He warned that confrontation between supporters of Thaksin and the coup leaders would not improve after the election unless both sides took a step back and compromised with each other.

"Don't take forgiveness as a defeat," Chavalit said. "Forgiving someone will be a great victory, which only true heroes can do. We desperately need a party that raises a flag of national reconciliation."

He had kept warning people, but was not sure if they listened to him.

Chavalit refused to comment on speculation he was a frontrunner to become the next elected prime minister because of the need to restore national unity.

Chavalit faded from the political scene after a rift with Thaksin while serving in the government before the February 2005 election.

He was back in spotlight shortly after the coup last year when he verbally attacked the coup leaders over their alleged attempts to abuse authority by controlling state-owned and state-sponsored enterprises.

Chavalit became the front-runner to lead the new alliance following the merger on Monday of Matchima and Ruam Jai Thai, led by Somsak Thepsuthin and Pradit respectively.

It was the day after the national referendum and results of the vote showed support for ousted premier Thaksin Shinawatra and former TRT MPs - now mostly with the People Power Party - was still strong in the North and Northeast.

Asked about top-brass generals and failed attempts at national reconciliation and possible entry into politics, Chavalit said military officials or ordinary citizens were not the problem.

"The problem is their attitude toward reconciliation," he said.

As to whether junta chief General Sonthi Boonyaratglin would stand in the election, Chavalit said Sonthi was very conscious that people were suspicious of his intention to retain military power. He believed Sonthi would not enter politics.

Chavalit said he had talked with Thaksin as the deposed premier approached him to lead the PPP. But he rejected the offer, he said.

Reconciliation would not include cancelling all legal charges against Thaksin, he said.