Pheu Thai warns of plot to dissolve party linked to Shinawatra visit

The new law on political parties prohibits any political party from allowing intervention by an outsider in its affairs. Violators of the prohibition risk a jail term of between five to 10 years, a fine of Bt100,000 to Bt200,000, or both, as well as being deprived of electoral rights for five years.
A party found to have allowed such intervention could face dissolution, while executives from the dissolved party and people deprived of electoral rights would be prohibited from registering to form a new political party for 10 years, according to the law.
A Pheu Thai source said yesterday that media reports obviously were aimed at destroying the party, while denying that Thaksin and Yingluck had interfered in Pheu Thai’s internal matters.
The source said its executives and politicians were aware of the law and would never allow intervention by an outsider.
Thaksin has been able to travel freely in different countries and often is accompanied by sister Yingluck, who recently joined him overseas, the source said. It was also normal for Pheu Thai politicians to visit Thaksin when he was in countries near Thailand, the source added.
Earlier yesterday, Pheu Thai publicly dismissed media reports that three former prime ministers had met in Beijing to discuss who should become the party’s new leader.
Phumtham Wechayachai, Pheu Thai’s secretary-general, said former prime ministers Thaksin, Yingluck and Somchai Wongsawat had been in the Chinese capital on personal business and they had not had appointments to meet anyone there.
He was responding to reports that factions within the previously ruling party did not want Khunying Sudarat Keyuraphan, a key Pheu Thai figure with support from the party’s Bangkok politicians, to become the new party leader.
Somchai and his wife, Yaowapa, a Shinawatra sibling who also has a great deal of influence in Pheu Thai, reportedly met Thaksin and Yingluck in Beijing to discuss concerns about Sudarat and possibly replacing her as the next party leader and prime ministerial candidate.
Earlier reports said Sudarat had Thaksin’s backing. They have worked together for a long time, even before Thaksin formed the now-defunct Thai Rak Thai Party in 1998.
In a statement released yesterday, Phumtham said that Pheu Thai “had no need” to find a new leader at present given that it already had a leader, Viroj Pao-in.
Viroj, who is caretaker Pheu Thai leader, is viewed as occupying the position temporarily and lacking the charisma to lead the party in an election campaign.
However, Phumtham said in his statement that as soon as the junta ban on political activities is lifted, Pheu Thai would immediately convene a party meeting to discuss finding a new party leader.