Yellow Shirts register for new party
Thailand’s ‘Yellow Shirt’ protestors, who were involved in blockade of Bangkok’s airports last year, have formally applied to the Election Commission for registration as a political party.
Formerly known as People’s Alliance for Democracy (PAD), it was responsible for toppling Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra in 2006 and has renamed itself as ‘New Politics Party’.
Meanwhile, Election commission will take 30 days to examine the documents submitted for the registration of new party and will later formally announce the new political party.
The documents include a list of 27 founding members of the new party, which says that its primary policy and objective is to root out corruption completely.
The new party has changed its colors to a new combination of yellow and green – yellow signifying the support for Thailand’s King Bhumibol Adulyadej and green standing for clean politics.
As PAD, the group has the support of the Bangkok’s elite in palace, military and bureaucracy who didn’t support Thaksin. The group grabbed the attention of the world when they besieged the international airports for nine days to force the then Prime Minister to resign.
The party general elections are planned to be held in two months. The moment they receive the registration certificate from the Election Commission, the party plans to set up member subscription and set up four regional branches to prepare for the party general elections.