Grin Party pours scorn on regime

Anti-coup campaigner Sombat Boonngamanong registered a political party called “Grin” yesterday, one of scores of newly formed parties eyeing the election tentatively set for February.

Mr Sombat, better known in Thailand as Bo Ko Lai Chut (Spotty Editor), said he was motivated by a desire to challenge the regime of Prime Minister Prayut Chan-ocha, who is rumoured to be considering remaining in power through various means in the poll.

“Our stance is that we oppose the idea of any outside prime minister,” said Mr Sombat after submitting the party’s application. It was registered as the nation’s 68th new party this month.

In Thai, it is called the Krian Party, which translates as “The Firebrands’ Party”.

It also has what many will consider to be a facetious slogan: “Not campaigning for votes, but looking for trouble.”

Known for his media savvy, Mr Sombat registered the party’s logo as “Ko Kai” with three crests.

Ko Kai refers to the first-ever Thai alphabet. The crests represent truth, goodness and beauty.

Mr Sombat, who also serves as a figurehead for the anti-coup group known as Wan Arthit Si Daeng (Red Sunday), said his party does not share a similar ideology to another new party that has been attracting a lot of coverage recently, the Future Forward, aka Anakhot Mai, Party.

The Grin Party aims to appeal to all of Thai society not just the younger generation, he said.

“They [Future Forward] may be serious about running in the election, but we aren’t,” he said nonchalantly.

His party still needs to recruit its first 500 members and find 1 million baht [in initial funding, as required by the law], he said.

He described his latest gambit as “action research” designed to gauge the public’s reaction to any attempt to set up a mass political party without a single baht in funding or any form of support.

“Some say this might just be idealistic,” he said.

“I want to prove that that’s not true.” “We aim to become a public party and we will make a real political institution happen [one that welcomes public participation].”