นสพ.คอม - Pibhop urges young PAD to set up party

<body> <h1>Pibhop urges young PAD to set up party</h1> <p> A core leader of the People s Alliance for Democracy has urged the group s young supporters to form a political party to push for New Politics . PAD leader Pibhop Dhongchai yesterday said the proposed setting-up of a political party was his own idea, and not the mandate of other PAD leaders - Maj-Gen Chamlong Srimuang, Sondhi Limthongkul, Somkiart Pongpaiboon and Somsak Kosaisuk. The PAD leaders, except Mr Somkiart, have insisted they will not contest elections or form a political party. Mr Somkiart is a Democrat party-list MP. Mr Pibhop denied his plan to set up a political party was to serve the PAD leaders vested interests. He said the party could be run by the PAD s younger leading members such as political commentators Anchalee Paireerak and Samrarn Rodphet. But it is up to them whether they wish to have any role in the party. Young people who have learned about the PAD s New Politics idea and have taken part in the alliance s rally for over 150 days are also urged to form a political party in a bid to push for our political concept, he said. New Politics calls for reforms of various political sectors. It also increases the people s power to keep the government in check, develops educational standards and expands equal opportunities, Mr Pibhop said. This concept, if translated into action, would bring about sweeping changes for the better, he added. He said the PAD would play no part in setting up the political party. Mr Pibhop said he floated the idea of establishing a party because Thais have no choice in politics now. There are either the People Power or the Democrat party-led blocs to contend with. He said Democrat leader Abhisit Vejjajiva could not rise to the occasion and take on the leadership like US presidential candidate Barack Obama can. Mr Obama has set out to change the political style of Washington and has convinced many American people that he is a force for change. Mr Pibhop said he was confident that a political party, if formed by PAD supporters, could win many House seats because voters are disenchanted by the mismanagement of national affairs by the Thaksin Shinawatra administration and the old, corruption-plagued political system. The PAD yesterday announced it was resuming a partial blockade of Ratchadamnoen avenue and turning it into a protest site again, backtracking on its earlier decision not to do so. PAD guards set up a barricade in Ratchadamnoen Nok avenue with tyres and barbed wire yesterday. </p> </body>