Lame Democracy in Thailand since 1932, The PAD Origins

Tagged Under : background, capitalism, corruption, democracy, pad, sufficiency economic, sufficiency economic theory, thaksin

(4 votes, average: 2.00 out of 5)

Loading ...

First of all, you shouldn’t read here if you still favour Thaksinism (aka Taxsin) because you will be blind by lots of materialism illusion and shut away from whatever I have to say.

Current political situation in Thailand is the unexpected consequences of bloodless coup of Peope’s Party since 24 June 1932. Several Thai governments has misled the country while majority of Thai people still lacks of education and understanding of what democracy really is.

This atrocious tree is fully grown when Thaksin had fullest power where the development of countries is measured by only GDP, reflexion of materialism and capitalism whereas level of morality and ethics were mostly ignored.

Thaksin completely got the hearts of grass-root people with several corrupt populism policies (contact me if you need references), his party also used lots of money to buy votes, the election committee, and whatever got in his way of power. He and his party was also popular among middle class people and rich men who thought

“Corrupt politicians are acceptable as long as they do something good to people and/or the country” and/or

“Thaksin did so many good things to the country comparing to other previous governments, no matter what he did for his own” and/or

“Every Thai government in the past corrupted, though Thaksin’s government corrupted the most, but his government also did the most for the country”

Starting from then, Thai people have been divided till now. Bloodless coup that overthrew Thaksin in 19 September 2006 was ashamed. The same toxic tree was just being trimmed but ready to regrow as you can see from the latest Thailand election.

The People Alliance of Democracy (PAD) or the Yellow Shirt was originally a coalition of protesters against Thaksin formed on 8 February 2006. The PAD then dissolved after the coup then re-grouped again in March 2008. This time PAD was originally against the 2007 Constitutional amendment to help Thaksin and banned key members of dissolved Thai-Rak-Thai party. The marching on Rajadamnern Road in May 5 has now become the longest protesting campaign in Thailand history.

Now PAD consists of various groups of people ranging from young teenagers, some grass-root people, middle-class people, labours, to high-class people. PAD believes that representative democracy is not suitable for Thailand, and the vicious captialism initiated by Thaksin will makle Thailand collapsed. PAD also favours in the Sufficiency Economic Theory (founded by H.M. King Bhumibol) which is completely opposite of what Thaksin and his current proxy government have done for Thailand. Everyone in PAD is now sharing the same common goal that is to protect constiutional monarchy and re-establish the New Politics for the sake of Thailand‘s future and their descendants.

PAD’s campaigns had been peaceful until PAD leaders decided to take control of NBT (The National Broadcasting Television – (was Channel 11), Public Relationship Department) and the government office area. I believe that taking control of NBT is the wrong decision, but nothing can be changed now. Some said, this offensive strategy was necessary for the shameless government, whatsoever… Now PAD has completely surrounded and settled in the government office area with a more permament stage for continuous protesting.

PAD marched against cruel polices who hit unarmed women, old men and a dog

PADs were marching against barbarian polices which attacked unarmed men, women, old men, and pet!

Those who don’t like PAD including many anti-Thaksin groups think that PAD caused a disorder in Thailand, and PAD movements were all about personal benefits. Some personally disliked PAD leaders by their gray background (especially Sondhi Limthongkul’s) where this was (seem-to-be temporary) exempted from other PAD followers.

On the opposite side, the National United Front of Democracy Against Dictatorship (the Red Shirt) was established after the coup in September 2006 First of all, this group attacked H.E. General Prem Tinsulanonda, the President of Privy Council and State man by accusing him of being the guy who was behind the coup. They gave their full support to Samak Sundaravej, the ex-prime minister and the People Power Party. They claimed that PAD was destroying democracy in Thailand. The Red Shirt mainly consists of grass-root people, anti-royal activitist, and some hard-core extremists. They were believed to be supported and led by members of PPP, this might be why the anti-PAD group couldn’t stay over days and nights as same as PAD which has already established a self-economy in protesting area and received unstoppable donation from the supporters. Some of anti-PAD leaders include Jakkrapob Penkae, the former Prime Minister’s Office Minister, were also charged for giving a disrespectful speech about H.M. King Bhumibol and his family.

The violence happened when the Red Shirts marching to the Makhawal Bridge, the PAD original stronghold on the night of 26 August. By this incident, Samak declared the state of emergency in Bangkok area. The declaration was quite effective-less on PAD. Instead, it drove more people to join including student from colleges and universities. They finally formed a group called YoungPAD. Many activists believed that this was a good sign since there hadn’t been a political movement led by students since the tragic bloodshed in October 1973. However the anti-PAD group argued that this group of students were very small and their parents are already PAD members.

Many believe that both PAD and Anti-PAD group are eager for violence, but I think they are wrong. When PAD leaders heard that there would be anti-PAD protesting at the Thai parliament on 12 September, they canceled the YoungPAD protesting on the same date to avoid confrontation with the anti-PAD which could lead to violence.

Look at the current Thai government, it is so funny that a person who Thai Constitutional Court decided to be unqualified minister can quickly rejoin the cabinet (e.g. Chaiya Sasomsub). Fortunately Samak failed to become a prime minister again because of absent votes in the parliament. In Samak’s case, where he became unqualified because of his cookery TV show, many foreigners criticized Thai Courts for the decision, but I think the decision is fair enough based on the fact of conflict of interests and evidences of fraud found by the court.

It is funnier that Somchai Wongsawut, who should have fought with the rest of candidates to become a new prime minister. Instead, he and his supporters had to fight with Newin Chidchob, the hidden influential person and (believed-to-be) Khmer sorcerer who has been banned from political activities by the Constitutional Court in 2006. Somchai finally got Newin follower’s votes by exchanging with important seats in the cabinets. Probably Newin is the real boss in PPP while Thaksin’s power is declining.

Any interesting things/issues that we miss?

I don’t think I can tell what you miss. There were little things now and then, but as long as you can catch up with key stories, those are not important.

However, if you are Thai People and always miss most of the stories it is you that are interesting and in need of attention not the stories.

What will or might happen next?

PAD will continue to protest, but I think it will end before the royal funeral ceremony of HRH Princess Galyani Vadhana one way or another. Many columnists and fortune tellers said that there will be bloodshed, but I don’t want so. Whatever, this puppet government won’t live long. Praew Se Ngern, the popular columnist and philosopher said in his article that the toxic tree had been cut down, but there were still some branches, bushes, and its roots left over. He suggested that PAD needed to exterminate them using new tactics or either stop for a while and regroup again when necessary. You also have to watch Thai military carefully; their action which claimed by PAD that it is stepping to stand on PAD’s side will also play a major role.

Most importantly, you are also the one who will decide what to happen next.

Should we concern about anything in particular? How should we act or react?

You should learn the purpose and goals of any groups, both PADs and anti-PADs. You should look deep into the core of the campaigns but not just the surface. You should read news from many sources not only one. You should decide what is right or what is wrong. Then you should take side or do nothing. But if you decide to do nothing from the start without learning anything, I have nothing to say but just sorry to the country.

Anything to Add?

There is a story… (told by Sondhi Limthongkul)

Sondhi Limthongkul

There was a rat. It heard a husband and a wife talking that tomorrow they will buy a trap.
The rat was so scared to be killed by this trap.
He ran to tell a chicken “Help Help, our house owners are going to kill me with a trap.”
A chicken replied “it is none of my business, I will pray for you then”
He then ran to a pig, the pig replied the same.
He then ran to a cow, the cow replied “I am fine and happy now, good luck Rat!”
One day, the trap was flipped!
The house owners went down stair to check it out.
But it was so dark at night, and a cobra was trapped by the trap not the rat.
The cobra bit the wife, and she was taken to a hospital
A doctor gave her an injection of serum, and told her to go home and have only energetic food
At home, the husband killed the chicken to make a cup of soup for his wife.
But her symptom didn’t get any better, so he had to take her to the doctor again.
The doctor asked him to pay for a cure, so he had to kill the pig and sell it in a market.
After it was sole in the market, his wife died. He needed to host a funeral
So many people came to the funeral so he needed to kill the cow to feed them finally….

“Politics is not a far away stuff, and not boring either.”
“If you don’t play with Politics, it will play you”

(17) Comments| Posted by : vorapoap

(17) Comments posted for Lame Democracy in Thailand since 1932, The PAD Origins

Boonrat says...

This is one of a few well-written articles which summarize the political situation in Thailand in the past, present, and the hopefully this article will help shape Thailand’s political future. Thanks for posting this. Who wrote this by the way?

PAD|People’s Alliance for Democracy – Our Hope for Thailand