People's Alliance for Democracy

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PAD's protesters marching in Siamsquare district

The People's Alliance for Democracy is a coalition of protesters against the government of Thaksin Shinawatra, Prime Minister of Thailand. Its leaders include media-mogul Sondhi Limthongkul and veteran politician Chamlong Srimuang. It is one of the chief players in the Thailand political crisis of 2005 - 2006. Composed mostly of middle-class Bangkokians, the PAD has recently established its own political party, the Mass Party.

1 Origins and leadership
2 Supporters
3 Criticisms of Thaksin Shinawatra
4 Protest rallies against Thaksin Shinawatra
5 Demand for royal intervention
6 The Mass Party
7 See also
8 References

[edit] Origins and leadership

The People's Alliance for Democracy (PAD) had its source in weekly public tapings of Sondhi Limthongkul's weekly political talkshow Muang Thai Rai Sapda (Thailand Weekly). Attendance grew after the talkshow was dropped by MCOT Channel 9 and Sondhi started webcasting the show on his website. As the tone of the talkshows grew more controversial, the tapings gradually turned into protests against the government. The PAD was formally established on 8 February 2006 [1] with a 5 person central committee consisting of:

Sondhi Limthongkul
Chamlong Srimuang
Activist Phiphob Thongchai
State enterprise labor leader Somsak Kosaisuuk
University lecturer Somkeit Pongpaibul

Besides the 5 leaders, 10 others were part of the PAD management committee: Pitaya Wongkul, Rewadee Prasertcharoensuuk, Rosana Tositrakul, Chaiwat Sindhuwong, Preeda Tiasuwan, Sirichai Maingam, Suwit Watnuu, Kochawan Chaiyabut, Weerapol Sopa, Ouychai Wata, Pien Yongnuu.

Royalist commentator Khamnoon Sitthisaman, Campaign for Popular Democracy leader Suriyasai Katasila, and Thammasat University law lecturers Banjerd Singkaneti and Prinya Thewanaruemitkul all played prominent roles.

Several current and former employees of Sondhi also played a role, including Panthep Puapongbhant, Samran Rodpetch, Kumnuun Sidhisamann, Sarocha Pornudomsak, Anchalee Paireerak, Yuthayong Limlertwatee, and Torpong Sewatarm.

[edit] Supporters

PAD protestors consisted mostly of middle to upper-class residents of the capital. They included prominent socialites (dubbed the "Blue Blood Jet Set" by the Bangkok Post) and members of the Thai royal family. They were joined by academics, students, supporters of the controversial Santi Asoke Buddhist sect (led by Thaksin's former mentor Chamlong Srimuang) and followers of the controversial monk Luang Ta Maha Bua. State enterprise employees who oppose privatization followed, even though most employees of the Electricity Generating Authority of Thailand had early in 2005 supported privatization. Protestors camped out for months outside Government House in Bangkok.

[edit] Criticisms of Thaksin Shinawatra

There are many accusations towards Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra by PAD which include those that were brought by Sondhi Limthongkul before the birth of PAD. Most of these accusations involve major public interest, national security and economic development:

  1. Sangha Racha – Spiritual leader of Buddhism of Thailand
  2. Thaksinocracy
  3. Thaksinomics
  4. Excessive Corruption
  5. Shin Corporation Stock
  6. Privatization of Electrical Generation Authority of Thailand
  7. Unfair business practice of PTT
  8. Media Suppression
  9. FTA
 10. Southern Insurgencies
 11. Corruption through Legislative Process
 12. Intervention into Independent Organization
 13. Conflict of Interest
 14. Nepotism
 15. Obstruction of justice and abuse of power

[edit] Protest rallies against Thaksin Shinawatra

The PAD led a series of protest rallies cum television shows against Thaksin Shinawatra throughout 2006. For more details, see the full PAD protests against Thaksin Shinawatra article.

[edit] Demand for royal intervention

On 24 February 2006, Thaksin dissolved Parliament just a year after being re-elected and called for new House elections on 2 April 2006.

On March 2006, the PAD requested that the King intervene into the political crisis and remove Premier Thaksin Shinawatra from power.^[1] The demands for royal intervention met with much criticism. Yet many people supported the idea as the only possible peaceful answer to the political crisis. The King himself in a speeche on 26 April dismissed the notion, saying "Asking for a Royally appointed prime minister is undemocratic. It is, pardon me, a mess. It is irrational."^[2]

The request for the appointed Prime Minister can also be viewed figuratively as a desparate measure of PAD. The King's speech on April 26th could be considered a royal intervention PAD was seeking. The speech triggered the Court to take active role in solving the crisis.

[edit] The Mass Party

In May 2006, PAD leaders established the Mass Party. Somkiat Pongpaibun, party co-founder, claimed that "Our objective is to campaign against Thaksinomics." The party unconventionally planned not to field MP candidates for the first 5 years, with Somkiat claiming that "If we field MP candidates, we will be trapped in vicious circles of money politics." Other party co-founders included by former Palang Dharma Party leader Chaiwat Sinsuwong and the Campaign for Popular Democracy's Pipop Thongchai.^[3]