Thanathorn ready to face his critics on Facebook

Thanathorn Juangroongruangkit pre-registered his party on Thursday, and has since been subject to some criticism in regard to his family’s auto parts business, Thai Summit, which laid off more than 200 employees in 2006. Remarks he made about religion in the South have also triggered criticism.
His party, while earning praise from some for its young and idealistic image, has been questioned by others, suggesting the party’s initial success might be short-lived due to the lack of a mass political base.
Thanathorn said he would use social media, possibly Facebook Live, to explain to the public any issues that he has been questioned about. 
Thanathorn said as the party had pre-registered, the first chapter was over, and it would proceed to do what needed to be done to prove itself to the public. 
The young leader said he realised the next chapter of his party would be tougher, but he was confident with its ideologies as expressed to the public, as he has received morale-boost from a number of supporters.

Open to criticism
Thanathorn said he listened to productive criticism and would take it into account as the party’s “homework”. As for those comments meant to attack and discredit the party, he would not let them sway his morale and would respond to them with facts.
The “young blood” also said he would spend time during the coming week communicating with his supporters, as the past week he kept him busy setting up the party.
The party, he said, plans to forge a network with professional and local associations to recruit members – 500 at least – and lay down an infrastructure so it could be a true party for the masses.
Thanathorn also posted on Facebook to clarify his views on religion in the South. He said he had expressed a personal view a while ago that had nothing to do with his party. The context, he said, had been removed, prompting an easy misunderstanding about what he had expressed.
He was alleged to have suggested that the state not support any religions as part of the deep South solution. 
Thanathorn said religion was a personal matter that should not be exploited to instigate hatred against one another. 
Participatory dialogue should be pushed as part of the solution to the problems in the deep South, he said. Once his party was allowed to proceed with political activities, members would visit people in the South, he added.