Loyalists in Chart Thai heartland mourn passing of the party

Many Suphan Buri residents were left sad and bitter by the order for the dissolution of the Chart Thai Party yesterday.

"Guilty party members should be punished, but the Constitution Court shouldn't include those who haven't violated the laws, particularly party leader Banharn Silapa-archa, his daughter Kanchana and son Warawut. The party has taken care of us very well," said Paisal Wongwaikolayoot, kamnan of Tambon Khunpatpeng Municipality in the province's Uthong district.

Silapa-archas listened

He said the party and the Silapa-archa family had responded to locals' requests by providing water supplies, telephone lines, electricity and education, which no MPs had done for the province before.

"I believe many people in my province will feel as sad as I do that the family's political role is over," Paisal said.

One such person is Pramjai Sreepoomma, a 22-year-old Suphan Buri student.

"Banharn brought progress to our province," she said. "He impressed me by putting Suphan Buri on the tourism map. I voted for his party in every election, and I'll vote for the family again in five years' time.

Niyom Panumatwiwat, 55, a businessman in the province's Uthong district, said that the procedure for party dissolution was too fast and that the court seemed to rush to give the verdict, which was unusual. He also disagreed with the law stating that a party should be dissolved if one of its members violates election laws.