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Published on September 30, 2007

 Its mission is to overcome social division and political impasse.

"The party will strive to put smiles back on the faces of citizens and ensure happiness in society again," he said, referring to the turmoil caused by rivalry between opponents and supporters of former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra.

Two weeks ago Suwit joined a Thai Rak Thai splinter group under the aegis of banned party executive Surakiart Sathirathai to build a "third force" in politics.

Yesterday he appeared alone to plough on with the new party while his allies - like Preecha Laohapongchana and Pinij Charusombat of the Saman Chan group and Suranand Vejjajiva from Bangkok 50 - were no-shows. At his side was businessman-turned-politician Vachara Phanchet, the designated party secretary-general.

The new party wants to offer voters a choice and not be a proxy for either of the rival camps, the designated leader said.

Meanwhile, the Prachakorn Thai Party yesterday pledged to contest the general election even though its former leader Samak Sundaravej is leading the People Power Party, a new home for the pro-Thaksin camp.

Prachakorn Thai leader Sumit Sundaravej said his party was in alliance with his older brother Samak. "The two parties are siblings in every sense of the word," he said.

Election Commission secretary-general Suthiphon Thaveechaiygarn reminded banned party executives and Thaksin supporters that new campaigning rules barred them from using the name of the banned party to sway voters to the People Power Party.

Suthiphon singled out a Thaksin speech recorded on compact disc and distributed in the North.

"In his message, Thaksin spoke in North dialect encouraging Thai Rak Thai supporters to vote for People Power Party," he said, noting this was in clear violation of the ban.

Under Article 95 of the Political Parties Act, the name, abbreviation or logo of a party disbanded by a court verdict cannot be used for political gain.

If convicted, offenders face jail terms up to two years and a fine of no more than Bt40,000.

In another development, Election Commission member Sumeth Ubanisakorn will tomorrow meet independent watchdog organisations and allocate Bt60 million for vote-monitoring.