Political king-maker out to try his own luck

Saritdet Marukatat

What will Thai politics be like when Sanoh Thienthong isn't a key factor in the poll?

Don't misunderstand and think that Mr Sanoh is out. He's still in, under the Pracharaj party. At the age of 73, he still looks fresh and ready to step onto the stage when his party seriously hits the campaign trail.

Still, he isn't the same person. Don't forget what the man from Wang Nam Yen in Sa Kaeo has contributed to politics over the past 11 years. He has been behind the rise to power of three out of five prime ministers of Thailand.

It began with Banharn Silpa-archa, a trader-turned-politician who stayed at Government House for 17 months from July 13, 1995. That was when Mr Sanoh was the Chart Thai party's secretary-general.

After divorcing Mr Banharn, Pa Noh partnered with Chavalit Yongchaiyudh, a military general-turned-politician. Both guided the New Aspiration party, with Gen Chavalit sitting in the driver's seat to win the contest. Mr Sanoh did it again. He was part of the success in pushing Gen Chavalit to become prime minister. The retired army general occupied Government House on Nov 11, 1996.

Unfortunately, Gen Chavalit could stay only for one year and did not walk out of the cabinet office gracefully, as economic pressure forced him to leave the position earlier than expected. He failed to restore public confidence after the financial crisis hit Thailand.

As the force behind the two government leaders (Mr Banharn and Gen Chavalit), Mr Sanoh was a proven asset in politics. Everybody at the time knew that any politician who had his backing would have a big chance of going all the way. So when the New Aspiration party of which he was a part had no aspiration left, Mr Sanoh was courted to join Thai Rak Thai.

Mr Sanoh didn't disappoint Thai Rak Thai founder and owner Thaksin Shinawatra. The telecom tycoon-turned-politician rose to power, becoming prime minister two terms in a row. Starting from Nov 9, 2001, the country remained under Mr Thaksin's leadership until the night of Sept 19 last year.

Unlike the previous two premiers, Mr Thaksin was the one Mr Sanoh was glad to see leave. As the Thai Rak Thai leader stayed longer in power, Mr Sanoh felt himself becoming more and more dispensable.

Fed up with Mr Thaksin's performance, he was among the many who openly attacked Mr Thaksin during the pre-coup period.

With some 30 years' experience in politics and proven success in his skill of crafting new prime ministers, Mr Sanoh has now decided to lead a party himself instead of playing the deal-maker behind the scenes.

For the first time in the recent memory of political watchers, the election on Dec 23 will take place with a lesser role for the veteran politician.

His Pracharaj party appears ready for Thailand's new political contest. A recent advertisement photo in the papers shows Mr Sanoh on the left; Anongwan Thepsuthin, wife of Mr Somsak, in the middle; and Prachai Leophairatana, founder and ex-CEO of Thai Petrochemical Industry Pcl, on the right.

The party has come up with 38 issues which need urgent action.Voters who want to see the perennial Kra Canal project built should vote for his party.

The rural poor who want better lives will get several projects to boost their income _ one of which is a plan to plant fast-growing trees covering 30 million rai across the country. Farmers would be able to sell the wood thus harvested, to factories.

Over a period of four years, the party will dig eight million wells _ one for each household. To get the project going, the party will give each local administration organisation at least one backhoe for the job.

Bangkok residents and those in provinces around the capital might be interested in the party's promise to collect only 15 baht on the mass transit lines for 10 years.

These projects may look attractive on paper but there is a problem: Does Mr Sanoh still have the charm and ability to convince voters, like he did when he was under the Chart Thai, New Aspiration and Thai Rak Thai banners?

Saritdet Marukatat is News Editor, Bangkok Post.