Supoj Wancharoen reports on the politics of catching a cab
Taxi driver Wilai Boonsuk from Yasothon province shows his badge supporting the anti-government People's Alliance for Democracy. His stance is in contrast to many taxi drivers, who back the government. |
Passenger warning: Check your taxi driver's ideology before making political comments! The current political turmoil has affected all areas of Thai life, and the passenger seat of a taxi is no exception. Two years ago, a group of taxi drivers formed a pro-Thaksin Shinawatra club. They fixed ''We love Thaksin'' stickers to the rear of their cabs and joined pro-Thaksin gatherings which were held to counter the People's Alliance for Democracy (PAD) during the campaign to oust him.
The group is still active today, but many of them have replaced their pro-Thaksin stickers with ones that read ''We love the PPP''.
These drivers congregate at the United Front of Democracy against Dictatorship (UDD)'s rally at Sanam Luang and have called themselves ''UDD Taxi Club''.
Passengers who are opponents of Mr Thaksin and/or the People Power party (PPP) tend to avoid discussing politics with these drivers to avoid any unpleasant incidents.
However, such passengers now have a chance to enjoy like-minded political chat with taxi drivers, thanks to the establishment of the ''PAD Taxi Club''.
Chairman and founder of the pro-Club founder Prasopchoke Kachawong said the idea for the group came after several passengers complained of being badly treated by taxi drivers who support the government.
Some of them had been kicked out of cabs by drivers unhappy with their criticisms of the ousted prime minister or the ruling PPP.
''Demonstrators wearing the PAD's symbols, such as a yellow shirt, headband or scarf with Ku Chart (Salvage the Nation) branding have been affected the most,'' said Mr Prasopchoke.
''It is difficult for these people to find a taxi home from the demonstration venue because a lot of pro-government taxi drivers will refuse to take them.''
''So, I and my fellow taxi drivers who back the PAD thought that we should do something to help the supporters,'' he said.
They wanted to make sure that PAD supporters joining the street demonstration at Makkhawan Rangsan bridge could travel safely, without being verbally insulted or kicked out of their ride home.
Mr Prasopchoke's idea received strong support from the PAD's leaders, who helped promote the group and urged drivers to become members through the alliance's radio station.
According to Mr Prasopchoke, the group now has around 1,500 members.
The pro-PAD taxis park near the demonstration site every day from around 7pm and rotate their stands to ensure there is enough supply for the demonstrators.
The PAD Taxi Club proved crucial over the past month when the alliance resorted to mobile protests. Demonstrators also enjoyed discounted fares on runs to Suvarnabhumi airport the day Noppadon Pattama, the then-Foreign Minister, returned from the World Heritage Committee meeting in Canada which granted Cambodia's request to list the disputed Preah Vihear temple on the Thai-Cambodian border.
''Our club was formed purely to support the PAD, but we later found that it brought us more income too,'' said Mr Prasopchoke.
''We don't have to waste our time and fuel running around the city searching for customers. We only wait here at the PAD rally site to pick up passengers. We now earn over 1,500 baht during the night shift, comparing to less than a thousand baht earned by non-member drivers,'' he said.
However, the drivers don't mind taking passengers who are against the PAD, said the club's chairman.
''Everybody has the right to think differently,'' he said.
Meanwhile, Chinawat Haboonphad, who heads the UDD Taxi Club, shrugged off the growing number of pro-PAD taxi drivers.
''Our group has over 8,000 members now. We are still strong and believe in Mr Thaksin,'' he said.
Mr Chinawat admitted that some pro-Thaksin taxi drivers had poorly treated passengers who objected to criticisms of the ousted prime minister.
''It's their right [to clash with passengers], but not all of us do that,'' he said.
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