PAD trying very hard to remain a force in Thai farce

LET IT BE

PAD trying very hard to remain a force in Thai farce

Published: 28/01/2011 at 03:18 AM
Newspaper section: News

The People's Alliance for Democracy has been at centrestage of national politics since 2005 through protest rallies to overthrow the government of then prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra. It successfully brought about the military's coup d'etat of Sept 19, 2006 and Thaksin's long exile. The PAD was also instrumental in destroying the legitimacy of the government of Thaksin-backed People Power Party - which handily won the general election of 2007 - by occupying Government House and forcing the closure of Suvarnabhumi Airport.

PAD leader Sondhi Limthongkul knows that his leverage to power lies with street mobs and not with organised politics.

However, successive administrations which were in alliance with the PAD in getting rid of Thaksin and his influential network, both the post-coup interim military government of Gen Surayud Chulanont and the present Democrat-led coalition of Abhisit Vejjajiva, never shared enough political power with the PAD. Some PAD affiliated personalities were appointed to the interim Parliament, the constitution drafting committees and subsequently as senators under the new constitution. At the same time, many projects were wheeled out. However, altogether they were considered marginal compared to what the military men and politicians divided among themselves.

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About the author

: Writer: Suranand Vejjajiva; Position: Contributor

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browser
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Discussion 10 : 28/01/2011 at 08:00 PM10
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Khun Spiceman # 8 - Well, at least one good thing has come from this, and that is your very extremist views regarding all aspects of what is happening in America ( and your efforts to somehow tie it in with the Thai experience ) is pretty explicitly apparent. But you clearly believe in what you say. If you really believe the Tea Party adheres to just American values, then there is not much I can say. And if you really, really doubt Obama's nationality, then I suggest that these comments are so off the wall as to undermine almost every point you are trying to make. The National Enquirer this is not. And I've yet to see any such article in the Bangkok Post.
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wantmyony
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Discussion 9 : 28/01/2011 at 07:35 PM9
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So the music did not stop playing,alas everyone has to keep dancing until they all drop dead. This cycle of political fighting will continue for another generationor or 2. They already missed the boat to advance to developed status by 2020 when the throw out thaksin, it was thailand only fully elected completed democratic government. No government is perfect even for the US or UK, they will always be some changes to tweak the system, incremental improvement. US took 250 years to be competent today, asian countries dont expect to do the same in 20 years.
PAD has a very limited shelve life just a bread, it gets moldy if not eaten early. UDD too is like a can of peanut butter but it last longer.
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spiceman
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Discussion 8 : 28/01/2011 at 07:00 PM8
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Khun browser #5, the Tea Party patriots transcend all political parties, races, genders, and etc. Their goal is to return the US to its founding principles, limited Govt & individual liberty, as written in the US Constitution based on the love for their country. I highly question your "18%" figure. Can 18% of the Americans cause the "Shellacking" in the US House of Representative?

By the way, Obama must produce his birth certificate, in order to be on the ballots in 2012, State of Arizona and many others states have just passed the law to check the eligibility of all presidential candidates. Yesterday, the Governor of Hawaii said Obama's birth certificate didn't exist in Hawaii. Well, things are now getting a bit more interesting in the US.
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fma
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Discussion 7 : 28/01/2011 at 05:16 PM7
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Depressing, but accurate analysis.
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rpt777
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Discussion 6 : 28/01/2011 at 03:12 PM6
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quote: The final say will rest with the military and the elite establishment: how they evaluate the changing political landscape and how best to protect their own personal interests.
There is nothing new there and Thailand is not a democracy as the military has been overthrowing governments for its own ends for over 50 years.
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browser
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Discussion 5 : 28/01/2011 at 02:28 PM5
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Discussion 3 : Spiceman - You liken PAD to the Tea Partiers in the US( and you use the word " Patriot " with it - so clearly you're a fan of the movement). The Tea Party movement is a highly reactionary and radical movement, that applies to some 18 % of the American population. So the parallel with the PAD may make sense from that point of view. Yet both movements are clearly appealing to only a small, yet vocal, segment of the population. Comparing Obama with Aphisit is probably not meant as a compliment from your point of view, but I can assure you it is seen as a compliment by many others.
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peterl
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Discussion 4 : 28/01/2011 at 12:46 PM4
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Fascinating analysis of the current state of Thai politics.
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spiceman
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Discussion 3 : 28/01/2011 at 09:28 AM3
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Khun luvclick #2, PADs have been fighting for the truth of what's right & wrong, and the Constitution, against anybody, Takky, Samug, Somchai, and now, Aphisit. They certainly earned my respect for their willingness to fight to uphold, preserve, and protect the Constitution, against all enemies, both foreign and domestic, including ones of their own, like Aphisit and Kasit. Someone has to do the heavy lifting, don't you think?

In the US, there are Tea Party patriots who are spectacularly revolting against Obama, so PADs are Thai Tea Party patriots, doing the same against Aphisit. I don't think it's a mere coincidental that both Obama & Aphisit belong to Democrat Party.
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luvclick
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Discussion 2 : 28/01/2011 at 05:49 AM2
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Bloodshed might not be avoidable if PAD keeps bringing down the nation.
To me the outsider.... PAD is double standard.
- PAD closed airport. It was ok.
- PAD closed street. It was ok.
- PAD do whatever they wants. It is ok.
Another hand, Red-shirt protected & rally ... Shooting to kill... no wonder there were lots of
water-melon (Soldiers green uniform + support red shirt ).
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spiceman
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Discussion 1 : 28/01/2011 at 04:19 AM1
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Finally there is a real force that stands up for what is right and what is wrong, and the Rules of Law.
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PAD trying very hard to remain a force in Thai farce | Bangkok Post: opinion