Meanwhile, Thailand's military government has suggested their ban on political activity could be lifted soon -- although an exact date remains unclear. Elections are expected to happen early next year, despite having been postponed several times by the ruling Generals. Several new parties have registered with the election commission, most notably the Future Forward Party. CGTN's Tony Cheng went out on the road with the party's charismatic leader.

Heading off on the journey back to democracy, but it is a long and complicated path. That hasn't deterred Thanathorn Juangroongruangkit, however, a new player in the world of Thai politics. He's the founder and leader of the Future Forward Party. And today, he's taking his message on the road to Southern Thailand. First stop is a local University, a conservative school specializing in agriculture. And Thanathorn is keen to engage with the students, most of whom have grown up in a Thailand divided by coups and political division.

THANATHORN JUANGROONGRUANGKIT LEADER OF FUTURE FORWARD PARTY "This generation have been living in political conflict for most of their lives."

The topic of debate, decentralization, a key party platform. On the sidelines, a military observer listens keenly while others have a harder time staying awake. The man himself, scion of a wealthy family but also a political progressive, says Thailand needs a third political option after the colour coded divide of the past decade.

THANATHORN JUANGROONGRUANGKIT LEADER OF FUTURE FORWARD PARTY "When one camp speaks half of the country doesn't listen, so how can you get the country out of the conflict?"

Further down the road, a meeting with mushroom farmers. The Party has to be careful not to contravene laws banning political activity, so these are set up as advisory meetings, but inevitably complaints are aired.

TONY CHENG CHUMPHON, THAILAND "Because of the current ban on political activity here in Thailand we haven't been able to film some of the meetings Thanathorn and his colleagues have been having. But in an area that's very supportive of the Democrat party, it's clear that there's deep dissatisfaction and from the questions he's being asked people also seem very unhappy after four years of military rule."

And while the party will have to make difficult deals with their rivals, they've also introduced some exciting new ideas.

PROF. THITINAN PONGSUDIRAK CHULALONGKORN UNIVERSITY "The platform is very progressive, but the reality of the post election outcome is that they will be willing to make some compromises but they will also stick to some policy ideas that we haven't seen in Thai politics."

Last stop of the day a huge fruit market exporting durian, 80% of which is destined for China. The spiky smelly fruit is either loved or hated with little room for compromise. So I asked Thanathorn whether he would be compromising his political platform for power.

THANATHORN JUANGROONGRUANGKIT LEADER OF FUTURE FORWARD PARTY "What we would love to see is change at the end of the day, so the power is just a means to reach our destination. Power without change is meaningless."

A quick photo op with the market porters then back on the bus. He may well be travelling a well-trodden path, but Thanathorn and the Future forward party appear to be travelling in a new direction, Tony Cheng CGTN Chompon Southern Thailand.