IN Person
WASSANA NANUAM
Despite warnings from her father of bombs being thrown at anti-government demonstrators, Khattiyaa Sawadipol refuses to stay away from the People's Alliance for Democracy (PAD) protests.
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| Khattiyaa Sawadipol, carrying a T-shirt bearing the abbreviation of the People’s Alliance for Democracy (PAD), poses for a photograph with her father, armyspecialist Maj-Gen Khattiya.Ms Khattiyaa has insisted on joining thePAD protest at Government House despite threats by her father tobomb the protest site. THITIWANNAMONTHA |
This puts her in direct political opposition to her father, Khattiya Sawadipol, known as Seh Daeng, even though she still lives in the same house with the man who is a hardline opponent of the PAD and who has threatened bomb attacks on its rallies.
Maj-Gen Khattiya, an army specialist, has warned of a possible full-scale war at Government House that would include nightly attacks with hand and rifle grenades. That makes his only daughter a target if the threat is carried out.
"I am not afraid. Whatever will be will be," said Miss Khattiyaa.
The 27-year-old legal adviser at Siam Premier Law joined the PAD demonstration shortly after Government House was occupied as she opposes the government's attempt to rewrite the constitution and have a new parliament built in the Kiakkai area where she lives. She was close to the clash site between police and demonstrators during the crackdown near parliament on Oct 7.
She said she does not agree with everything the PAD stood for, but some issues were significant enough for her to join the demonstration. If people have political disagreements but opt not to demonstrate, Thai politics will never improve, she said.
Despite her father's fierce opposition to the PAD, Miss Khattiyaa said he had never tried to prevent her from joining the protests and that she would never be able to persuade him to change his political views.
"Dad has his own way. He is my father, whom I respect. But when it comes to political stances, no one can be forced [to change]," she said.
She lives with her father at their house in the compound of the 4th Cavalry Battalion Royal Guards in the Kiakkai area. Though they live under the same roof, they do not discuss politics.
"At home, my dad is lovely. He always makes me happy. Without mom, I have only my dad left. He is everything to me.
"Despite our differences, we need not fight. We must be open-minded and respect each other's freedom," she said.
Miss Khattiyaa said she only asked her father once not to use force against the demonstrators, following his warning of bombings at the PAD sites.
"If I am going to the demonstration, I will tell him I will be there so that I will be safe," she said.
Maj-Gen Khattiya told her she had to take care of herself at the rally site.
"I told her if she was there, she had to take care of herself. I can't help it if she is hit by a bomb or an RPG.
"I lit a joss stick and told my wife, who passed away four years ago, that the nation was more important than a daughter. I can reproduce another child but the country cannot be reproduced," he said.
Miss Khattiyaa thanked her father for inspiring her to become enthused with politics. She said he had always discussed politics with her and that finally sparked her political interest. She also used to be a secretary to Puea Pandin party leader Suvit Khunkitti.
She said she started going to the rallies with friends who are fellow law graduates from George Washington University in the United States.
Apart from joining PAD demonstrations, she also donates to the ASTV television station that broadcasts PAD protests.
Miss Khattiyaa admitted she was concerned about other people knowing she is Maj-Gen Khattiya's daughter.
"I wouldn't like to join the protest and hear others curse my dad. Naturally I have hard feelings because I am his daughter. I'd just like to be there as an ordinary person," she said.
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