Justice Unity Party

{{Infobox political party

| country = Thailand

| name = Justice Unity Party

| native_name = พรรคสามัคคีธรรม

| logo =

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| colorcode = {{party color|Justice Unity Party}}

| leader = Narong Wongwan

| secretary_general = Thiti Nakornthap

| chairperson =

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| leader2_title = Advisory Chairman

| leader2_name = Arthit Kamlang-ek

| foundation = 3 January 1992

| dissolution = July 1992

| headquarters = Bangkok, Thailand

| youth_wing =

| membership_year =

| position = Right-wing

| membership =

| ideology = Conservatism
pro-military

| national =

| slogan =

| international =

| seats1_title =

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}}

The Justice Unity Party ({{langx|th|พรรคสามัคคีธรรม}}, {{RTGS|Phak Samakkhi Tham}}), which later changed its name to the Liberal Party ({{langx|th|พรรคเทิดไท}}, {{RTGS|Phak Thoet Thai}}), was a Thai pro-military and conservative political party established after the military coup d'état of 1991.{{Citation |first=Michael K. |last=Connors |title=Thailand |work=The Southeast Asia Handbook |publisher=Fitzroy Dearborn Publishers |year=2001}} It represented the interests of the military, bureaucracy and provincial business owners.

History

= Foundation and March 1992 election =

The party was founded by Narong Wongwan, who became party chairman, and Thiti Nakornthap, who was close to the National Peace Keeping Council.{{cite journal |last1=Maisrikrod |first1=Surin |date=1993 |title=THAILAND 1992: Repression and Return of Democracy |url=https://www.jstor.org/stable/27912083 |journal=Southeast Asian Affairs |publisher=ISEAS–Yusof Ishak Institute |volume=1993 |pages=327–349 |issn=0377-5437 |jstor=27912083}} It enjoyed the support of junta leader Air Chief Marshal Kaset Rojananil. The Justice Unity Party won the parliamentary election in March 1992 and nominated Suchinda Kraprayoon to become prime minister. In the ensuing conflict between the military-backed government and the pro-democratic movement, Thai media counted the party among the so-called "devil parties". The conflict eventually escalated to a bloody crackdown on the opposition protest movement ("Black May") and the downfall of the Suchinda government. As a result, the party was discredited and most of its representatives deserted it to join more promising parties, mainly the National Development Party.{{Citation |author=Surin Maisrikrod |title=Thailand's Two General Elections in 1992: Democracy Sustained |publisher=Institute of Southeast Asian Studies |year=1992 |page=24}}

= Name change and dissolution =

{{Infobox political party

| name = Liberal Party

| native_name = พรรคเทิดไท

| leader = {{ill|Anuwat Wattanapongsiri|th|อนุวรรตน์ วัฒนพงศ์ศิริ}}

| secretary = Sompong Amornwiwat

| predecessor = Justice Unity Party

| founded = 22 July 1992

| dissolved = 24 December 1992

| headquarters = Bangkok, Thailand

}}

On 9 July 1992, the Justice Unity Party changed its name and elected a new executive committee, becoming the Liberal Party. {{ill|Anuwat Wattanapongsiri|th|อนุวรรตน์ วัฒนพงศ์ศิริ}} became the party leader and Sompong Amornwiwat became the secretary. The changes were announced by the Government Gazette on 22 July 1992.[https://web.archive.org/web/20160304201641/http://www.ratchakitcha.soc.go.th/DATA/PDF/2535/A/080/2.PDF ประกาศกระทรวงมหาดไทย เรื่อง พรรคสามัคคีธรรมเปลี่ยนแปลงคณะกรรมการบริหารพรรค ชื่อพรรค และภาพเครื่องหมายพรรค] ราชกิจจานุเบกษา เล่ม 109 ตอน 80 ก หน้า 2 24 กรกฎาคม พ.ศ. 2535

After running the Liberal Party briefly, Anuwat and the entire party executive committee announced their resignation from the party on 10 August 1992.[https://web.archive.org/web/20190816133348/http://www.ratchakitcha.soc.go.th/DATA/PDF/2535/A/091/38.PDF ประกาศกระทรวงมหาดไทย เรื่อง พรรคเทิดไทเปลี่ยนแปลงคณะกรรมการบริหารพรรค] ราชกิจจานุเบกษา เล่ม 109 ตอน 91 ก หน้า 38 28 สิงหาคม พ.ศ. 2535 The party then ceased political activity, with no candidates standing in the September 1992 election. The Supreme Court therefore issued Supreme Court Order 4098/1992, dated 24 December 1992, to dissolve the Liberal Party.[https://web.archive.org/web/20180318054649/http://www.ratchakitcha.soc.go.th/DATA/PDF/2537/D/039/31.PDF ประกาศสำนักงานนายทะเบียนพรรคการเมือง เรื่อง การยุบเลิกพรรคการเมือง (จำนวน 10 พรรค)] ราชกิจจานุเบกษา เล่ม 111 ตอน 39 ง หน้า 31 17 พฤษภาคม พ.ศ. 2537

References

Bangkok Post, "Same old faces?", 27 October 1991

Category:Defunct political parties in Thailand

Category:Political parties established in 1991

Category:Political parties disestablished in 1992

Category:1991 establishments in Thailand

Category:1992 disestablishments in Thailand

Category:Conservative parties in Thailand