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Published on December 4, 2007

A day after His Majesty the King called for national unity, contenders in the December 23 election responded positively during a live programme on True Vision and the government's broadcasting network for distance learning.

Noppadon Pattama, deputy secretary-general of the People Power Party (PPP), said his party was favourite to win the poll and form the new government. However, PPP would not take revenge on the coup leaders of September 19, 2006, who ousted former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra.

"All parties should accept the election result, which will reflect the people's decision on whom they really want to rule the country," he said.

Although some people had tried to spread rumours that the military would stage a fresh coup if PPP won, he thanked Army chief General Anupong Paochinda for announcing that another coup would not happen as long as he was in the post.

Democrat Party leader Abhisit Vejjajiva said re-building unity was top of his party's agenda. "The Democrat Party is already of this mind," he said. Although he and his party had been attacked over several issues related to the political conflict, the Democrats had not made counter-attacks, he said.

Instead, Abhisit said he was focusing on clarifying his party's policies to voters before they cast their ballots.

The heart of reconciliation, he believed, was a "free and fair" justice system, which would deal with cases related to the ongoing conflict. Kasemsant Weerakun, deputy leader of Ruam Jai Thai Chart Pattana, said all parties should forget their biases regarding each other.

"All the parties should accept the election result because it will be the decision of the people," he said. Otherwise the country will have no way out of the crisis, he added.

"All political problems should be solved through Parliament," he said.

Weerayut Chokchaimadon

 The Nation