Matubhum Party
Encyclopedia
The Matubhum Party is a minor political party
in Thailand
, founded in November 2008. It mainly represents the interests of the Muslim
minority in Thailands Southern provinces
. It is led by General Sonthi Boonyaratkalin.
Forerunner of the Matubhum Party was the Wahdah faction (Arab for Unity), initially a cross-party group of Muslim parlamentarians led by Wan Mohamad Noor Matha. The majority of the Wahdah faction joined the New Aspiration Party
and later the Thai Rak Thai Party of Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra
, to achieve improvements for the Muslim population in the South. After Thaksin's use of brutal force against the insurgency in the three southernmost provinces, the faction fell out with Thaksin and the Thai Rak Thai Party. After the 2006 Thai coup d'état, most Wahdah members joined the Neutral Democratic Party
and were later spread among Puea Pandin Party, Ratsadon Party, and Pheu Thai Party. In November 2008, the Muslim politicians formed the Matubhum Party.
The Muslim general Sonthi Boonyaratkalin, from 2005 to 2007 Commander-in-Chief of the Army, leader of the 2006 coup d'état, and chairman of the military junta, joined the party in November 2009, and immediately became party leader
. Sonthi oriented the party on neutrality between "Red Shirts" and "Yellow Shirts
" and reconciliation of the Southern Muslims with Buddhist Thais, especially the Islamist rebels and the government.
In the 2011 general election, the party won two seats, one for the party-list and one constituency-based in Pattani province
. It is in the opposition against the government of Yingluck Shinawatra
.
Political party
A political party is a political organization that typically seeks to influence government policy, usually by nominating their own candidates and trying to seat them in political office. Parties participate in electoral campaigns, educational outreach or protest actions...
in Thailand
Thailand
Thailand , officially the Kingdom of Thailand , formerly known as Siam , is a country located at the centre of the Indochina peninsula and Southeast Asia. It is bordered to the north by Burma and Laos, to the east by Laos and Cambodia, to the south by the Gulf of Thailand and Malaysia, and to the...
, founded in November 2008. It mainly represents the interests of the Muslim
Islam in Thailand
Islam is a minority faith in Thailand with statistics suggesting a population of anywhere from 500,000 to 1.2 million Most Thai Muslims belong to the Sunni sect, although Thailand has a very diverse and developing population which includes immigrants from around the world.-Demographics &...
minority in Thailands Southern provinces
Southern Thailand
Southern Thailand is a distinct region of Thailand, connected with the Central region by the narrow Kra Isthmus.-Geography:Southern Thailand is located on the Malay Peninsula, with an area around 70,713 km², bounded to the north by Kra Isthmus as the narrowest part of the peninsula. The...
. It is led by General Sonthi Boonyaratkalin.
Forerunner of the Matubhum Party was the Wahdah faction (Arab for Unity), initially a cross-party group of Muslim parlamentarians led by Wan Mohamad Noor Matha. The majority of the Wahdah faction joined the New Aspiration Party
New Aspiration Party
The New Aspiration Party was a political party in Thailand. In the legislative elections, on February 6, 2005, the party won 0.4 % of the popular vote and no seats in the House of Representatives....
and later the Thai Rak Thai Party of Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra
Thaksin Shinawatra
Thaksin Shinawatra is a Thai businessman and politician, who was Prime Minister of Thailand from 2001 to 2006, when he was overthrown in a military coup....
, to achieve improvements for the Muslim population in the South. After Thaksin's use of brutal force against the insurgency in the three southernmost provinces, the faction fell out with Thaksin and the Thai Rak Thai Party. After the 2006 Thai coup d'état, most Wahdah members joined the Neutral Democratic Party
Neutral Democratic Party
The Neutral Democratic Party was a Thai political party founded in 2006 by Somsak Thepsuthin, a former Thai Rak Thai party Cabinet Minister...
and were later spread among Puea Pandin Party, Ratsadon Party, and Pheu Thai Party. In November 2008, the Muslim politicians formed the Matubhum Party.
The Muslim general Sonthi Boonyaratkalin, from 2005 to 2007 Commander-in-Chief of the Army, leader of the 2006 coup d'état, and chairman of the military junta, joined the party in November 2009, and immediately became party leader
Party leader
In politics, the party leader is the most powerful official within a political party.The party leader is typically responsible for managing the party's relationship with the general public. As such, he or she will take a leading role in developing and communicating party policy, especially election...
. Sonthi oriented the party on neutrality between "Red Shirts" and "Yellow Shirts
People's Alliance for Democracy
The People's Alliance for Democracy also called the National Liberation Alliance - กลุ่มพันธมิตรกู้ชาติ, Thai Patriots Network or the Yellow Shirts - เสื้อเหลือง - was originally a coalition of protesters against Thaksin Shinawatra, the former Prime Minister of Thailand. Its leaders include...
" and reconciliation of the Southern Muslims with Buddhist Thais, especially the Islamist rebels and the government.
In the 2011 general election, the party won two seats, one for the party-list and one constituency-based in Pattani province
Pattani Province
Pattani is one of the southern provinces of Thailand. Neighboring provinces are Narathiwat, Yala and Songkhla.-Geography:...
. It is in the opposition against the government of Yingluck Shinawatra
Yingluck Shinawatra
Yingluck Shinawatra , or nickname Pu , is a Thai businesswoman and politician, member of the Pheu Thai Party, and the 28th Prime Minister of Thailand following the 2011 general election...
.