Chuck Bao
8/26/2008, 04:02 PM
I’m a bit worried tonight.
A mob is trying to overthrow the Thai government or at least give the military an excuse to stage a coup.
This group, which ironically calls itself “People's Alliance for Democracy”, believes that Thailand isn’t ready for democracy. They say that Thai citizens in the provinces are too stupid and naive to be trusted at an election booth.
They were instrumental in organizing protests against former PM Thaksin Shinawatra, which cumulated in the Sept 06 coup and most recently Thaksin’s self-imposed exile to the UK.
But, they have far greater ambitions now. They want to overthrow the democratically-elected Samak government and then re-write the constitution so that the legislature is partially appointed by the military and the Bangkok bureaucratic elite, thereby ensuring that the old guard does not have its powers ever eclipsed again by a rich and powerful politician able to unify provincial voters through populist measures.
I’ve been saying this for several years. It is not about former PM Thaksin, who is still popular with about half the country. It is about a power struggle and whether democracy works or not.
In my opinion, they have gone too far this time and they do not have the support of most Bangkokians, who have grown tired of their antics.
Last week, they organized a mass rally in front of my office and a march to the British embassy to protest Thaksin’s “retirement” there. Traffic was backed up for miles. I noticed that taxi drivers got out of their taxis and were shaking their fists at them. I rode by on my motorcycle and pointed my finger at them and then did a wanking motion. Yeah, that was rude, but I don’t think they could catch me, being as I was on my bike.
One of my colleagues said that his nephew was out there and this is a poor kid from a very poor province. He was being paid 500 baht (US$15 per day) and that’s a good deal for him.
The so-called People's Alliance for Democracy went for broke yesterday and staged mob invasions of a government-run TV station, several government ministry buildings and Government House (office of the prime minister). They tried to close roads coming into Bangkok, as well as two airports in southern Thailand – Phuket and Haad Yai. People in the south may be more inclined to support them, but not if they try to cut off the tourist dollars.
Some of the PAD thugs were armed with, get this, golf clubs. I just knew golf was evil. They also had a few pistols and sling shots. Sling shots? Yeah, like the Bangkok elite are prone to carry sling shots around in their BMWs and Rot Benz.
It was a lead story on CNN International for a couple of hours earlier, even replacing the Democratic National Convention and the problems in Georgia. I notice now that it as been completely dropped. I don’t know the latest.
As I mentioned before, I’m worried. And, two of my office colleagues are out there. Actually, one of them asked my permission to take off work. I told him that if he thought it important, he should go. I also told him not to go into any government buildings and don’t do anything illegal. Although I don’t agree with them and their political views, I would appreciate prayers / good thoughts / vibes for their safety.
There was a 6pm deadline for the protestors to leave government house. However, it seems now that Samak is planning to try to starve them out.
This is a front page Nation newspaper editorial that is available on its website and will appear in tomorrow’s newspaper. The Nation has been very, very supportive of the PAD. It is good to read that even they think that the PAD has gone too far.
http://www.nationmultimedia.com/2008/08/27/headlines/headlines_30081610.php
PAGE 1 COMMENT
PAD has gotten too far ahead of itself
By The Nation
Published on August 27, 2008
Thailand returned to the brink yesterday, and this time we cannot say it was because of a belligerent prime minister blinded by power or irrational mobs armed with clubs and stones. The so-called "D-Day" of the People's Alliance for Democracy (PAD) began badly at dawn, and when darkness fell, threats of violence were more real than ever.
The question is who should take the blame if blood is spilled, if Thais again resort to killing Thais. With most, if not all, key contentious political issues now in the hands of the courts, the PAD's highly provocative action yesterday was completely uncalled for. The group's actions - including briefly seizing control of a television station, invading government offices and occupying Government House - belied the PAD's own claims of nonviolence.
Although the movement may have shot itself in the foot, that is the least of the problems. The consequences from yesterday's events could be far beyond the collapse of an ideological grouping whose motives have gone from clear-cut to incomprehensible. There could have been - and may still be - a bloodbath. The military could come in and this time set back democracy for real.
Media organisations' stinging rebuke of the PAD's actions should serve as a warning, not least because it comes from press umbrella groups that have been largely sympathetic to the PAD's cause. The movement has started to be seriously questioned, because Thailand has been trying to break through the political impasse with the help of a judiciary that has demonstrated remarkable integrity and independence.
As a civic group, the PAD has the right to protest peacefully. Yesterday, its leaders may have bitten off more than they can chew, because they were suddenly no longer all about protecting the public interest, but rather about determining who should stay and who should go aside from Thaksin Shinawatra. The intentions may still be noble, but yesterday's means was anything but.
We can only pray it was a mere slip, and in the end good sense will once again prevail. The Samak government's response to the high-tension chaos was commendable, and the prime minister for once refrained from being his own belligerent self. But despite yesterday evening's superficial calm at Government House and Samak's unusual composure, threats of violence remained very real last night.
Politically, the PAD went too far. Democratically, the movement got too far ahead of itself. The danger of all of this is simply violence that could spiral out of hand, which could then destroy the very things the PAD has pledged to serve and protect.
A mob is trying to overthrow the Thai government or at least give the military an excuse to stage a coup.
This group, which ironically calls itself “People's Alliance for Democracy”, believes that Thailand isn’t ready for democracy. They say that Thai citizens in the provinces are too stupid and naive to be trusted at an election booth.
They were instrumental in organizing protests against former PM Thaksin Shinawatra, which cumulated in the Sept 06 coup and most recently Thaksin’s self-imposed exile to the UK.
But, they have far greater ambitions now. They want to overthrow the democratically-elected Samak government and then re-write the constitution so that the legislature is partially appointed by the military and the Bangkok bureaucratic elite, thereby ensuring that the old guard does not have its powers ever eclipsed again by a rich and powerful politician able to unify provincial voters through populist measures.
I’ve been saying this for several years. It is not about former PM Thaksin, who is still popular with about half the country. It is about a power struggle and whether democracy works or not.
In my opinion, they have gone too far this time and they do not have the support of most Bangkokians, who have grown tired of their antics.
Last week, they organized a mass rally in front of my office and a march to the British embassy to protest Thaksin’s “retirement” there. Traffic was backed up for miles. I noticed that taxi drivers got out of their taxis and were shaking their fists at them. I rode by on my motorcycle and pointed my finger at them and then did a wanking motion. Yeah, that was rude, but I don’t think they could catch me, being as I was on my bike.
One of my colleagues said that his nephew was out there and this is a poor kid from a very poor province. He was being paid 500 baht (US$15 per day) and that’s a good deal for him.
The so-called People's Alliance for Democracy went for broke yesterday and staged mob invasions of a government-run TV station, several government ministry buildings and Government House (office of the prime minister). They tried to close roads coming into Bangkok, as well as two airports in southern Thailand – Phuket and Haad Yai. People in the south may be more inclined to support them, but not if they try to cut off the tourist dollars.
Some of the PAD thugs were armed with, get this, golf clubs. I just knew golf was evil. They also had a few pistols and sling shots. Sling shots? Yeah, like the Bangkok elite are prone to carry sling shots around in their BMWs and Rot Benz.
It was a lead story on CNN International for a couple of hours earlier, even replacing the Democratic National Convention and the problems in Georgia. I notice now that it as been completely dropped. I don’t know the latest.
As I mentioned before, I’m worried. And, two of my office colleagues are out there. Actually, one of them asked my permission to take off work. I told him that if he thought it important, he should go. I also told him not to go into any government buildings and don’t do anything illegal. Although I don’t agree with them and their political views, I would appreciate prayers / good thoughts / vibes for their safety.
There was a 6pm deadline for the protestors to leave government house. However, it seems now that Samak is planning to try to starve them out.
This is a front page Nation newspaper editorial that is available on its website and will appear in tomorrow’s newspaper. The Nation has been very, very supportive of the PAD. It is good to read that even they think that the PAD has gone too far.
http://www.nationmultimedia.com/2008/08/27/headlines/headlines_30081610.php
PAGE 1 COMMENT
PAD has gotten too far ahead of itself
By The Nation
Published on August 27, 2008
Thailand returned to the brink yesterday, and this time we cannot say it was because of a belligerent prime minister blinded by power or irrational mobs armed with clubs and stones. The so-called "D-Day" of the People's Alliance for Democracy (PAD) began badly at dawn, and when darkness fell, threats of violence were more real than ever.
The question is who should take the blame if blood is spilled, if Thais again resort to killing Thais. With most, if not all, key contentious political issues now in the hands of the courts, the PAD's highly provocative action yesterday was completely uncalled for. The group's actions - including briefly seizing control of a television station, invading government offices and occupying Government House - belied the PAD's own claims of nonviolence.
Although the movement may have shot itself in the foot, that is the least of the problems. The consequences from yesterday's events could be far beyond the collapse of an ideological grouping whose motives have gone from clear-cut to incomprehensible. There could have been - and may still be - a bloodbath. The military could come in and this time set back democracy for real.
Media organisations' stinging rebuke of the PAD's actions should serve as a warning, not least because it comes from press umbrella groups that have been largely sympathetic to the PAD's cause. The movement has started to be seriously questioned, because Thailand has been trying to break through the political impasse with the help of a judiciary that has demonstrated remarkable integrity and independence.
As a civic group, the PAD has the right to protest peacefully. Yesterday, its leaders may have bitten off more than they can chew, because they were suddenly no longer all about protecting the public interest, but rather about determining who should stay and who should go aside from Thaksin Shinawatra. The intentions may still be noble, but yesterday's means was anything but.
We can only pray it was a mere slip, and in the end good sense will once again prevail. The Samak government's response to the high-tension chaos was commendable, and the prime minister for once refrained from being his own belligerent self. But despite yesterday evening's superficial calm at Government House and Samak's unusual composure, threats of violence remained very real last night.
Politically, the PAD went too far. Democratically, the movement got too far ahead of itself. The danger of all of this is simply violence that could spiral out of hand, which could then destroy the very things the PAD has pledged to serve and protect.