EDITORIAL
The People's Alliance for Democracy needs to review its role, having lost an appeal against a Civil Court order for it to clear the street. The court's intervention, prompted by complaints from parents and school children affected by the PAD's noisy protest and road blockade in front of Government House, clearly shows that not all people approve of its actions.
In its ruling on Wednesday, the Civil Court reaffirmed its June 30 order for the PAD to return the road to motorists and to lower the loudspeakers' volume between 7.30am and 4.30pm. Instead of strictly complying with the court's ruling, the PAD has partially retained its road blockade and continues to occupy the road after school hours. It has also announced it will again appeal to a higher court and may go all the way to the Constitution Court to fight the order, citing its democratic right to demonstrate.
Whilst steadfastly adhering to its constitutional rights, the PAD must also know that its protracted demonstration infringes on the rights of others. The protest, aimed at forcing the ouster of the Samak Sundaravej government, enters its 41st day today. The protest has inconvenienced a great many people in the area. Motorists have to take detours to get to their destinations because of the road blockade. School children and teachers at Rajavinit School, which is located right at the protest scene, have trouble concentrating on their studies. The blaring noise became so unbearable that students and parents had to seek the court's intervention to put an end to the PAD's inconsiderate actions.
The simple answer to the PAD's claim to its democratic right is for it to find a new venue to air its complaints against the government. The group already has the ASTV under its control. This network is already being used extensively 24 hours a day to broadcast its protest to TV audiences. If the PAD still believes a public demonstration is a more effective tool to oust the government, it then must find a new location where its protest will not affect other people who want to live a normal life. The PAD used to organise its gatherings at Thammasat University's auditorium and at the dance hall in Lumpini Park. It should go back to either of these places. Its rallies should still attract a large number of supporters if the PAD can continue producing well-grounded allegations against the government and provide justifiable reasons as to why it must go on protesting.
The reason the PAD refuses to easily leave the street is apparently because it believes mob rule is a faster way to bring down the government. The PAD's decision to step up pressure on the administration by moving its protest from Ratchadamnoen Avenue to the present site two weeks ago is testimony to this tactic. Fortunately, bloodshed was narrowly avoided on that day, thanks to the police decision against use of force in controlling the crowd.
The Samak administration may arguably be the worst government Thailand has ever had, but it has come to power through constitutional channels. Therefore, it is fully entitled to the right to govern. The PAD cannot deny the voice of the people who put this government in power. Even if the most serious blunder is committed, the government must be made accountable for its action through established democratic channels, not through threats of a showdown in the streets.
Instead of defying the Civil Court's order, the PAD should accept the injunction gracefully. This can be done simply by obeying the court ruling and saving the judiciary the unnecessary trouble of having to handle its case.
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