New political bloc formed

"Our stance is to be nobody's enemy," said former foreign minister Surakiart Sathirathai, who was a key man behind the formation of the group.

Surakiart announced the platform of the Pua Paendin (For the Motherland) Party that plans to contest the general election scheduled on December 23.

Surakiart claimed that the new party would neither be a nominee of deposed prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra nor a supporter of the junta that ousted Thaksin with a coup on September 19.

"Thai politics is in a very special situation so it is necessary for us to come together (as a party) in a special way, with no sponsor, but with everyone following a system of decision-sharing," said Surakiart.

Joining the group were host of veteran politicians including Sanoh Thienthong, Suranand Vejjajiva, Somsak Thepsuthin, Phinij Charusombat and Preecha Laohaphongchana, many of whom were members of the Thai Rak Thai (Thais Love Thais) Party of Thaksin.

The party has also attracted businessman Prachai Leophairat, the founder of the Thai Petrochemical Industry (TPI) and one of the financial backers of an anti-Thaksin movement last year, and former Thai World Boxing Association (WBA) super flyweight boxing champion Khamsai "Galaxy" Sulasaenkham.

Surakiart, Suranand and Preechaa, all former TRT executives, are banned from politics, raising questions about who will lead the Pua Paendin party. 

by Sucheera Pinijparakarn

The Nation

Motherland Group to be launched