People's Alliance for Democracy
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The People's Alliance for Democracy (PAD) (Thai: พันธมิตรประชาชนเพื่อประชาธิปไตย; also called the National Liberation Alliance - กลุ่มพันธมิตรกู้ชาติ, the National Liberation Party - พลพรรคกู้ชาต, and the Yellow Shirts - คนเสื้อเหลือง) was a coalition of protesters against Thaksin Shinawatra, Prime Minister of Thailand. Its leaders included media-mogul Sondhi Limthongkul, politician Chamlong Srimuang, and General Saprang Kalayanamitr. It was one of the chief players in the Thailand political crisis from 2005 to 2006. Composed mostly of middle-class Bangkokians, the PAD established its own political party, the Mass Party, and dissolved itself shortly after the military coup that overthrew Thaksin.
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[edit] Origins and leadership
The People's Alliance for Democracy 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 February 8, 2006 [1] with a five person central committee consisting of:
- Sondhi Limthongkul
- Chamlong Srimuang
- Activist Phiphob Thongchai
- State enterprise labor leader Somsak Kosaisuuk
- University lecturer Somkeit Pongpaibul
Besides the five leaders, ten other 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.
Junta leader Saprang Kalayanamitr was also a key figure in the PAD.
[edit] Supporters
PAD protestors initially consisted mostly of middle to upper-class residents of the capital, but then quickly expanded to include supporters from all areas of the country. 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 Santi Asoke Buddhist sect (led by Thaksin's former mentor Chamlong Srimuang) and followers of the highly revered Udornthani temple abbot 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 intermittently camped out for days, weeks and months outside Government House in Bangkok. As well, they protested in various provincial capitals throughout the country.
[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. On 5 March 2008, the PAD leadership gave a press conference indicating that it was preparing to counter Thaksin-instigated inroads into the judicial process in Thailand designed to abrogate charges against the former premier. This announcement was clarified by another PAD press conference on 12 March where all PAD founders, except Chamlong Srimeung who was repoortedly abroad, indicated that there would be a major PAD conference on 28 March 2008 at Thammasat University. A renewed strategy of protests against the Thaksin nominee government of Samak Sundaravej is expected to come out of the scheduled PAD 'summit.'
[edit] Demand for royal intervention
After several times firmly denying that he would do so,on 24 February 2006 Thaksin nonetheless dissolved Parliament just a year after being re-elected. He then called for new House elections on 2 April 2006. In 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 speech on April 26 dismissed the notion, saying "Asking for a Royally appointed prime minister is undemocratic. It is, pardon me, a mess. It is irrational."[2]
However, the King intervened on 26 April by terming the latest elections undemocractic and ordering the court system to resolve the political crisis. A week later, the Supreme Court disqualified the results of the April election and later jailed the election committee which had been found to be in collusion with the ousted premier and his interests.
[edit] Launch of 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]
[edit] Dissolution
On September 21, 2006, two days after the military coup led by Gen. Sonthi Boonyaratglin, the PAD announced that it had ceased activities as its goal to see Thaksin's regime toppled had been accomplished.[4] The PAD, however, added a caveat by indicating that should the need arise, the PAD would reestablish itself.
[edit] Re-establishment
The People's Alliance for Democracy has been re-established in Thailand and is currently running anti-government protests in Bangkok. The last demonstration , May 30th, 2008 and attracted more than 8,000 people.
[edit] PAD Announcement
PAD Announcement : Purge of Thaksin Regime and the Nominee Government[2]
PAD Announcement : Stance towards Government’s Move to Disperse Rally[3]
[edit] See also
- Thailand political crisis 2005-2006
- Sondhi Limthongkul
- Thaksin Shinawatra
- Thailand legislative election, 2006
- Thaksin Shinawatra $1.88 billion deal controversy
- Politics of Thailand
[edit] References
- ^ The Nation, King the only hope for end to deadlock, say PAD protesters, 26 March 2006
- ^ The Nation, HM the King's April 26 speeches (unofficial translation), 27 April 2006
- ^ The Nation, New parties sprouting already", 17 May 2006
- ^ People's Daily Online, Anti-Thaksin alliance dissolved, 21 September 2006
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