Dissolved PPP and Disbaned their executives

As expected, the constitutional court judges ordered to dissolve the ruling People’s Power Party led by Thaksin’s brother in law and also to ban all its executives. Why as expected? A few weeks ago, many senior leaders have resigned from the party to prepare themselves for new positions in a newly formed party – shell party. Chat Thai and Matchima Thipataya, ruling coalition parties, are also dissolved and their executives banned from politics for 5 years.

While the dissolution of these parties is not difficult to predict, it is more difficult to say whether the court decision will contribute to easing off tension in the Thai capital. PAD inisist they will stay at the airports until their proposal is met. They are now pressing for a national government. Their request will never be accepted and agreed upon by a proxy government. Conflict is likely to continue. Worst case scenario would be a physical fight between anti-government PAD and pro-government RED. Should that happens in a massive scale, it will definitely invite a military intervention military coup.

PAD has been trying to involve the military and the military has until today denied to get involved. They said they had painful experience from the last military take over in September 2006 and would not like to repeat the same mistake. Let’s hope that PAD’s attempt fails in getting military involved and military coup will never take place again!

No Surrender, No Resign: No Way Out

PAD say this is a matter of death or alive, insisting that they will only move away from Suvannabhumi and Donmuang Airports if Prime Minister Somchai resigns. PM Somchai says he will continue to rule the country since he was democratically elected and can not be chased out by street protesters. As such, both airports remain close and foreigners and Thais alike suffer from PAD aggressive move and the inaction of the government. Police Chief was the first to be sacrificed after he ignored order given by the PM to disperse the crowd at the airports by force. However, the newly appointed police who replaces the Police Chief is not on an equal ranking and may not be able to convince his subordinate or his senior to follow his order. That explains why the situation remains unchanged.There seems to be no way out at the moment.

It is amazing to hear from the news that the number of people joining PAD has increased dramatically since the government imposed emergency decree in two areas. They said they would not leave and prepare to sacrifice their lives – is it worth to die for?

The United front for Democracy against Dictorship is going to gather tomorrow to fight with PAD. As known, UDD is the group that is supported by the government. One of the leaders is the spokeperson of the government. Three others are committee members of PPP and having a television talk show “Truth Today” on National Broadcast of Thailand, a national television. They put on red shirts and criticise the royal monarch. I heard from one of friends who have met with UDD supporters lately. She told me that UDD supporters are there becuase they are against the Queen and the Crown Princess. So I assume PAD associated themselves with yellow to show respect to the royal monarch and UDD labeled themselves red to show disrespect to the monarchy. It amazed me in a way as i find it hard to believe that those rural people from the North and Notheast have no heart for their King and Queen!!!

This explains why there has been talk only and no action from the police and the military. Although they must follow order but how can they go against the monarch. Somchai may refuse to resign now but when the court decides on 3 December to dissolve PPP and ban all committee members for 5 years from political position and involvement, he will have to go anyway. It is very close to the King’s birthday. If the UDD organise a group to surround the court if the court decision does not go their way, there will surely be a civil war for the first time in our history. To this it would be interesting to wait and see if the King can deliver his annual speech and if he can what will he say then.

The Day the Thai Capital Stood Still

Who would have thought a day would come for all Thais to be held hostage in their own country. Now not a single one can fly out and not a single one can fly in. It is almost the end of the year, a peak season a golden opportunity for tourism industry. It supposes to be an earning month a month to celebrate – it does not suppose to be the day when our rights to travel to move and to decide our own destiny is violated or decided by PAD.

While we are all clear that PAD should not surround our national airport, we are also aware of such an invisible hand support to the group. In a way, they seem “the untouchable” entity, illegal but legal assmbly.

I often hear people complain that Thai manstream media tends to cover just one sided stories. I can quickly agree to this. Last night, there was a murder of a 60 years old man killed by a group of 300 pro-government supporters known as We love Chiangmai 51. The person who was beaten to death was a father of a leader of PAD in Chiangmai. Now civil war has begun and it will soon come to Bangkok. Listening to the three stars in Truth Today, Television programme, it explained to me why We love Chinagmai 51 killed a 60 years old man. A person who is not with us is our enemy – if this is how leaders of government under Somchai Wongsawat think, i can not see a way to resolve the current conflict. Killing definitely is not an answer, it is a start of a war.

What is happening in Thailand – a land of smile?

This photo surprised me because I would expect to hear a lot of complain not their smile. Foreigners who chose Thailand as their holiday destination perhaps are aware of the current situation in the country but I am sure that they would not expect that they would land into a land of myth, a never ending conflict between the government and the People Alliance for Democracy, known as PAD.

How can one describe the current political situation in Thailand? Very difficult, there is no light at the end of the tunnel. Thai people like to think that whenever we are in crisis, there will finally be a hero riding on a white horse to rescue them out of the crisis. In 2006, there was a hero in green riding a drak horse that eased off the situation – i mean military coup. Did it solve anything? NO. People still elect the same group of people to rule the country. Why? This is easy to answer but I don’t know why the opposition and the Bangkokian people can never accept and respect the election result. Although Thaksin himself iand all his cabinet members are corrupt leaders and might have cheated the election, grassroot people or the rural poor have actually benefitted from Thai Rak Thai policies i.e. 30 THB health care.

There are two options: first, military intervention; second, tparliament dissolution. The first is likely but not easy as there are many fraction within the military. Who can people really trust? The second is almost unthinkable. The government needs to stay on to provide a platform form for our former premier Thaksin to return to his motherland.

Despite the two options mentions, there can be another ugly scenario -  a mini civil war between anti and pro-government groups. A fight between RED and YELLOW. How can we go from there? It will take long time to heal people mentality. Will it eventaully lead to a division of North and South? Will it lead to a change of political system? There will be no immediate solution if we do not learn how to respect differences in opinion among ourselves. Killing is not an answer, it is a starting of a war. Here is my interview in Media Corp Radio Singapore 261108153000Thai_protest_airport.mp3

PAD’s last statement after taking over national airport

People’s Alliance for Democracy Announcement 26/2008
on
The Ultimatum for the Prime Minister to Resign Immediately and Without Condition

The People’s Alliance for Democracy has been rallying continuously since May 25, 2008 for 2 main objectives;

1. To prevent the rewriting of the 2007 Constitution by the proxy government of ousted premier Thaksin Shinawatra who are trying to amend the charter to whitewash the crimes committed by Thaksin and his cronies and to destroy the country’s judiciary system. The PAD also strives to prevent the proxy government from abolishing the Privy Council, a move which the PAD considers to be a direct violation of His Majesty the King’s authority.

The current Thai Parliament is also considered to be under Thaksin’s complete control. It has committed various wrongdoings and violated election laws, yet continues to claim it represents the people of Thailand. But in truth, the proxy Parliament is a sale to any highest bidding politician. The Constitution court’s imminent deliberation of a various party dissolution cases against several of the government coalition partners is proof enough of the fact that Thakin’s proxy government is not a truly ‘constitutional’ government of Thailand.

2. To drive out the killer government that has shamelessly acted as a nominee for fugitive Thaksin Shinawatra. The government is clearly behind the ruthless killings of Thai citizens, manipulated state media, supports the destruction of the Thai judiciary system, exploits the country’s national budget, condones lese majeste actions, lacks any ethical standing and therefore is deemed to be an illegitimate government which is not fit to administer the Kingdom.

For the above reasons the People’s Alliance for Democracy has been rallying peacefully and without arms, a right which is sanctioned by the 2007 Constitution Article 63. Article 70 stipulates that a Thai citizen has the responsibilities to protect the 3 pillars of the country; the nation, religion and the King and the nation’s constitutional monarchy.

However, during the course of the rally the lives and safety of supporters of the People’s Alliance for Democracy have been in constant jeopardy. The government is also clearly involved in masterminding various violent attacks against the PAD. It has also turned a blind eye when the PAD was attacked with weapons of war on more than 10 occasions. The ruthless attacks have resulted in countless injuries and 4 deaths. Several attacks were also targeted at the ASTV headquarters in an attempt to prevent that station from broadcasting live the PAD rally. The government has yet to take any responsibility for the underhanded sabotage attempts.

Three Senate committees, tasked with investigating the violence and bloodshed of the October 7th incident, have found that the PM Somchai Wongsawat and his Cabinet ministers are to be held responsible for the injuries and deaths of the protesters. Their findings coincide with that of the National Human Rights Commission. Premier Somchai must take responsibility for the tragedy by resigning immediately and without any condition.

The People’s Alliance for Democracy has called for a final mass rally to stop the traitorous government and proxy Parliament on November 23, 2008 at 2 p.m. The final rally is well into its 50th hour and the supporters of the PAD have been pressuring the traitorous government to step down with peaceful means. Armed with only the plastic hand clappers, the PAD protesters have marched to various key locations including Parliament, Finance ministry, the Metropolitan Police Bureau and the government’s temporary seat at Don Muang Airport. However, to no avail, the proxy government has failed to show any sign of remorse or any intention to step down as demanded by the PAD. In addition, it continues to cling on to power and is determined to amend the charter for the interests of its puppet master and his associates.

The People’s Alliance for Democracy is left with no choice but to step up its peaceful rally by blocking off access to the Suvarnabhumi Airport. This is considered to be an ultimatum for Somchai Wongsawat and the Cabinet to resign immediately and without any condition.

The people’s alliance apologizes for any inconvenience the closure of the Suvarnabhumi Airport may cause to the public and international visitors to the Kingdom of Thailand. But the PAD believes the measure is crucial to bring an end to the traitorous-killer government.

The PAD is calling for the public from all walks of life to join the PAD movement and call for the current administration to resign immediately to protect Thailand from more harm and to restore morals to the Thai society without any further delay.

With deepest respect, People’s Alliance for Democracy Tuesday, November 25, 2008