Suthep's reform foundation gets a mixed response from observers
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FORMER protest leader Suthep Thaugsuban's announcement about a reform foundation has drawn varying reactions from politicians and reformers.
Alongkorn Ponlaboot, a former member of the Democrat Party and a current member of the National Reform Council (NRC), said the launch of the People’s Democratic Reform Foundation chaired by Suthep was a “positive sign” for the national reform process.
Yesterday, after Suthep and other People’s Democratic Reform Committee (PDRC) members held a press conference concerning the foundation, which would focus on driving the so-called reform, Alongkorn told The Nation, “overall, the approach is constructive.
“They have approaches that are in accordance with the blueprint of the NRC, especially on political reform,” he said.
“The NRC’s blueprint lays emphasis on reform of political parties and their system. I’m happy that Suthep also spoken about such reform. It is the right approach,” he said.
He said he hoped the United Front for Democracy Against Dictatorship (UDD) would come up with a similar approach that is in the interests of democracy as well as national interests because both groups are crucial dynamic forces that could drive national reform.
However, Weng Tojirakarn, a red-shirt figure and a former UDD leader, said he viewed Suthep’s action as signifying he’s back in politics.
“He is continuing his political life. The foundation he is establishing is a political organisation as well. In the future, there might be more rallies and he might even send people to run in an election,” Weng claimed.
“He can say it is a foundation or whatever he wants. But it’s a political organisation in camouflage.
The red-shirt figure also questioned how the National Council for Peace and Order (NCPO) had allowed the former PDRC to hold such a press conference, as obviously it had political significance.
“People could question whether the military and the PDRC are on the same side. I’m worried for the NCPO,” he said.
Ekkachai Srivilas, an NRC member, made similar remarks, saying there should be no double standards on political gatherings. If the NCPO allowed Suthep to stage such activities, then maybe others should be able to do the same thing.
To prevent other groups from following suit, the NCPO should be careful about the standard it is setting, he warned.
He added that this could be viewed as a way for Suthep to pursue politics.
The foundation could be backing a political party – be it a new one that might be created or the Democrat Party – he said, adding that it was the same as how UDD was associated with the Pheu Thai Party.
However, Tankhun Jitissara, a former Democrat MP, said it was too early to tell if the foundation would be political. But so far he agreed with it in its principles regarding “reform”.
