An attempt is reportedly under way to put together a political alliance among parties not allied with the pro-government Palang Pracharat party to form a coalition if they together manage to win more than half of the 500 seats of the House of Representatives in the forthcoming election.
Prachachart party leader Wan Muhamad Noor Matha said Thursday that he had been approached by a non-governmental organization involved in human rights activities to sign a memorandum of understanding to pledge to support for a free and fair election and to join forces with other parties to form a government if they collectively win the majority.
Wan is a former member of the now defunct Thai Rak Thai party and head of the Wa Da faction in the three southernmost provinces of Yala, Pattani and Narathiwat provinces.
He claimed that the NGO had already approached about 20 parties, including Pheu Thai, Thai Raksachart, Pheu Chart, Bhumjai Thai, Future Forward and Democrat.
One of the prime movers is reported to be Kothom Arya, a well-knon human rights advocate and an advisor to the Human Rights and Peace Study Institute of Mahidol University.
An informed source said that the MoU would cover pre-election and post-election periods and stipulate what the signatories should do during the two periods, such following the code of conduct regarding the election to refrain from vote buying and use of violence and foul languages during the electioneering.
