Chavalit returns to political fray, joins Puea Thai Party

       Former prime minister Chavalit Yongchaiyudh has officially resumed his political career, joining the opposition Puea Thai Party and putting forward a plan to restore national unity.
       Speaking after registering as a Puea Thai member yesterday, Gen Chavalit said he was driven by an urge to end "unprecedented" social divisions.
       He said that it was not him who chose to resume his political activities with the Puea Thai Party. The decision was made by the public at large.
       "I did not do the choosing. I asked around - most people like the poor,the farmers, the workers, police, soldiers and those in the deep South. They want me to be here," he said.
       He said that at this stage he was a plain party member and was willing to work with other members in making Puea Thai a "political party for the masses".
       Gen Chavalit was approached to become the party's chief adviser.
       The former prime minister said a dialogue would be the best approach to end political conflicts and divisions.
       Gen Chavalit laughed and said he was not in a hurry when asked if he was ready to become prime minister.
       He also played down the pending charges against him for his alleged involvement in the Oct 7 crackdown last year, saying he would fight the charges through all available channels.
       The National Anti-Corruption Commission recently resolved to file charges against him over the police crackdown on People's Alliance for Democracy demonstrators on Oct 7,2008. Gen Chavalit was deputy prime minister in charge of security affairs at the time.
       Gen Chavalit, accompanied by 20 supporters, was greeted with a warm welcome and given a Puea Thai Party jacket by Puea Thai leader Yongyuth Wichaidit after completing his paperwork.
       Among his supporters was Gen Panlop Pinmanee, former deputy director of the Internal Security Operations Command, who said yesterday he was ready to bury the hatchet with Gen Chavalit.
       "Our conflict was strictly about work.I still respect him and now we share the same ideology," said Gen Panlop who was transferred by Gen Chavalit over the Krue Se massacre in April 2004.
       He said the teaming-up of Gen Chavalit, Gen Orapan Wattanawibul, Gen Wattana Sanpanich and Lt Gen Pirat Sawamiwat would be a formidable force.
       "Old soldiers never die and they are ready to work for the country," he said.
       Lt Gen Pirat said yesterday that the Puea Thai Party had leadership problems which he believed would be resolved in a a few months.