New Politics Party
Encyclopedia
The New Politics Party or NPP (Thai: พรรคการเมืองใหม่ ก.ม.ม. or Karn Muang Mai, KMM) is a political party
in Thailand
which was founded on June 2, 2009. It is the political party of the People's Alliance for Democracy
(PAD), with which it shares the same principles and ideas. It claims that other political parties in Thailand only protect their own vested interests, such as the bureaucrats and nobles, and are unable to tackle the country's problems. The party is expected to solicit more than 5,000 members and set up branches in all the four regions of Thailand, within the one-year deadline. It also plans to an early completion of the registration process in order to contest the next general election.
The party's colors are yellow and green. Yellow refers to the constitutional monarchy
of Thailand, and green represents "clean politics", in which corruption is repressed by an independent judiciary
.
by a body with only 30 per cent directly elected Members of Parliament, the rest installed by employers'
and labour unions
or similar pressure groups
, in order to achieve their ideal of “clean politics”. Their adherents typically distrust established politicians and representatives and want to replace them. The party claims to defend the supposedly endangered monarchy.
. On October 7, 2009, Sondhi Limthongkul was elected as the leader of the party.
, one of the five PAD core leaders and media mogul, is the party's inaugural leader and PAD coordinator. Suriyasai Katasila is the secretary-general. This was decided upon by the 21 co-founders during a meeting that lasted two hours.
(AHRC), label the PAD and its political party as neo-fascist
, stating "Some commentators and opponents of the alliance have described its agenda as fascist. This is not an exaggeration. Experience shows that the types of systemic changes and regimes that follow such movements, although they may not describe themselves as fascist, have fascist qualities. Indeed, successive dictatorships in Thailand's modern history appreciated, expressed and used many fascist symbols and policies, and the residue of these can be found in the language and behaviour of the alliance leaders today."
Political party
A political party is a political organization that typically seeks to influence government policy, usually by nominating their own candidates and trying to seat them in political office. Parties participate in electoral campaigns, educational outreach or protest actions...
in Thailand
Thailand
Thailand , officially the Kingdom of Thailand , formerly known as Siam , is a country located at the centre of the Indochina peninsula and Southeast Asia. It is bordered to the north by Burma and Laos, to the east by Laos and Cambodia, to the south by the Gulf of Thailand and Malaysia, and to the...
which was founded on June 2, 2009. It is the political party of the People's Alliance for Democracy
People's Alliance for Democracy
The People's Alliance for Democracy also called the National Liberation Alliance - กลุ่มพันธมิตรกู้ชาติ, Thai Patriots Network or the Yellow Shirts - เสื้อเหลือง - was originally a coalition of protesters against Thaksin Shinawatra, the former Prime Minister of Thailand. Its leaders include...
(PAD), with which it shares the same principles and ideas. It claims that other political parties in Thailand only protect their own vested interests, such as the bureaucrats and nobles, and are unable to tackle the country's problems. The party is expected to solicit more than 5,000 members and set up branches in all the four regions of Thailand, within the one-year deadline. It also plans to an early completion of the registration process in order to contest the next general election.
The party's colors are yellow and green. Yellow refers to the constitutional monarchy
Constitutional monarchy
Constitutional monarchy is a form of government in which a monarch acts as head of state within the parameters of a constitution, whether it be a written, uncodified or blended constitution...
of Thailand, and green represents "clean politics", in which corruption is repressed by an independent judiciary
Judiciary
The judiciary is the system of courts that interprets and applies the law in the name of the state. The judiciary also provides a mechanism for the resolution of disputes...
.
Aims for Political Reform
PAD and NPP want to replace the National Assembly of ThailandNational Assembly of Thailand
The National Assembly of Thailand or the Parliament of Thailand is the legislative branch of the government of Thailand. The National Assembly of Thailand is a bicameral body, consisting of two chambers: the upper house, , and the lower house,...
by a body with only 30 per cent directly elected Members of Parliament, the rest installed by employers'
Employers' organization
An employers' organization, employers' association or employers' federation is an association of employers. A trade union, which organizes employees is the opposite of an employers' organization...
and labour unions
Trade union
A trade union, trades union or labor union is an organization of workers that have banded together to achieve common goals such as better working conditions. The trade union, through its leadership, bargains with the employer on behalf of union members and negotiates labour contracts with...
or similar pressure groups
Advocacy group
Advocacy groups use various forms of advocacy to influence public opinion and/or policy; they have played and continue to play an important part in the development of political and social systems...
, in order to achieve their ideal of “clean politics”. Their adherents typically distrust established politicians and representatives and want to replace them. The party claims to defend the supposedly endangered monarchy.
History
In May 2009, The People's Alliance for Democracy made an announcement that they were creating a political party. The party was formally registered on June 2, 2009. The interim leader of the party was Somsak KosaisuukSomsak Kosaisuuk
Somsak Kosaisuuk , is a Thai union official and politician.He was the Secretary-General of the State Enterprise Labour Relations Confederation , a union of government owned enterprises' employees, and in this position very active in organizing a campaign against the privatization of the Electricity...
. On October 7, 2009, Sondhi Limthongkul was elected as the leader of the party.
Key persons
Sondhi LimthongkulSondhi Limthongkul
Sondhi Limthongkul is a Thai media mogul and leader of the right-wing People's Alliance for Democracy . He was elected for leader of the New Politics Party ....
, one of the five PAD core leaders and media mogul, is the party's inaugural leader and PAD coordinator. Suriyasai Katasila is the secretary-general. This was decided upon by the 21 co-founders during a meeting that lasted two hours.
2011 rupture
In 2011 it came to a break between Sondhi and the majority of PAD on the one and the NPP leadership around Somsak on the other side. In late March Sondhi demanded the party to boycot the upcoming parliamentary elections according to PAD's extra-parliamentary opposition strategy and its abstention campaign. This was declined by Somsak and his NPP functionaries who are keen on fielding candidates and seeking parliamentary representation. The hardline PAD position however is, that all party politicians - even the ones of NPP - should retreat for a certain period and the King is to appoint a non-partisan expert government. This idea again, was rejected by Somsak and his public servants' union SELRC as undemocratic and “close to a coup d'etat”. This lead consequently to the retirement of Somsak from the PAD leadership in late April and Sondhis leave from the NPP in return. Correctly concluded, the NPP cannot be considered as PAD's political wing any longer.Criticism
Critics inside and outside Thailand, including the Asian Human Rights CommissionAsian Human Rights Commission
The Asian Human Rights Commission is an independent, non-governmental body, which seeks to promote greater awareness and realisation of human rights in the Asian region, and to mobilise Asian and international public opinion to obtain relief and redress for the victims of human rights violations...
(AHRC), label the PAD and its political party as neo-fascist
Neo-Fascism
Neo-fascism is a post–World War II ideology that includes significant elements of fascism. The term neo-fascist may apply to groups that express a specific admiration for Benito Mussolini and Italian Fascism or any other fascist leader/state...
, stating "Some commentators and opponents of the alliance have described its agenda as fascist. This is not an exaggeration. Experience shows that the types of systemic changes and regimes that follow such movements, although they may not describe themselves as fascist, have fascist qualities. Indeed, successive dictatorships in Thailand's modern history appreciated, expressed and used many fascist symbols and policies, and the residue of these can be found in the language and behaviour of the alliance leaders today."