Somkiat Pongpaiboon

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Somkiat Pongpaiboon in a seminar

Somkiat Pongpaiboon (สมเกียรติ พงษ์ไพบูลย์) was a Professor at Nakhon Ratchasima Rajabhat University, Nakhon Ratchasima Province, Thailand. Now, He became a member of the Thai House of Representatives in 2007 from Democrat Party and a leader of the People's Alliance for Democracy, and the co-founder of the Mass Party. Somkiat is an advocate for the poor and a major critic on Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra.

Activism and key works

Somkiat claims to have been investigated three times for organizing protests for poor farmers against government officials and politicians.^{[citation needed]} In one interview he mentioned

"In one investigation, they told me that I was supposed to spend my time in school rather than organizing a rally against the government. I spoke right back 'in their faces' that I have never seen any professors who spend their teaching time hanging out with politicians being investigated.

Somkiat claims to have written many academic papers and provided many academic researches regarding social development and strategy to counter poverty.^{[citation needed]} He is also a regular contributor to many newspapers and magazines.^{[citation needed]}

The People's Alliance for Democracy

In February 2006, Professor Somkiat Pongpaiboon was selected to be one of the five leaders of People's Alliance for Democracy (PAD). Somkiat represented the Thai academic community.

Somkiat Pongpaiboon is said to be a charismatic public speaker.

The Mass Party

In May 2006, Somkiat and other PAD leaders established the Mass Party. Somkiat 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.^[1]

References

↑ The Nation, "New parties sprouting already", 17 May 2006

2005–2006 Thai political crisis

Main events	Key persons and organizations

Prelude 1997 Constitution of Thailand South Thailand insurgency Thaksinocracy Weekly Thailand Report Incident Corruption in the Suvarnabhumi Airport project Sale of Shin Corporation to Temasek Holdings Main events Finland Plot August 2006 Bangkok car bomb 2006 coup d'état Elections February 2005 April 2006 October 2006 (cancelled) December 2007	Thaksin Shinawatra Prem Tinsulanonda Military junta Sonthi Boonyaratglin Saprang Kalayanamitr Ruangroj Mahasaranon Interim civilian government 2006 Interim Constitution 2007 Constitution of Thailand People's Alliance for Democracy (PAD) Sondhi Limthongkul Chamlong Srimuang Somkiat Pongpaiboon Somsak Kosaisuuk Pipob Thongchai National United Front of Democracy Against Dictatorship (UDD) Veera Musikapong Jatuporn Prompan Jakrapob Penkair Nattawut Saikua Kokaew Pikulthong

Persondata
Name	Somkiat Pongpaiboon
Alternative names
Short description	Thai politician
Date of birth
Place of birth
Date of death
Place of death

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