PDRC pushes towards a final battle

PDRC pushes towards a final battle

Criticism from all directions hit Suthep Thaugsuban after he announced what he would do should the anti-government movement succeed in unseating the Yingluck government.

The People’s Democratic Reform Committee (PDRC) would take over state power, he said, and as its representative, he would present the name of a new prime minister to His Majesty and countersign the royal approval himself.

The announcement was criticised as a huge misstep. It contradicted what Mr Suthep had publicly promised throughout the five-month long protest. Once Yingluck Shinawatra gave up the premiership, he promised he would end the protest and never accept any political position.

The same day Mr Suthep announced the plan to seize power on Saturday, the pro-government rally led by the United Front for Democracy Against Dictatorship (UDD) took place on Utthayan Road. The failure of the red-shirt movement to meet its target of 500,000 supporters has strengthened PDRC confidence all the more that their victory is nigh.

Caretaker Prime Minister Yingluck, meanwhile, resorted to calling for fair treatment from the Constitutional Court, the National Anti-Corruption Commission (NACC) and the military. That the court had agreed to consider the charge against her, that the NACC had refused to allow more witnesses to defend her role in the rice-pledging scheme, and that the military had turned a blind eye to Mr Suthep’s "treasonous acts" — all these moves raised questions of double standards, she protested.

In the same vein, Pheu Thai also issued an open letter calling on the military, independent agencies, state agencies and the public not to support the PDRC because its intention to seize state power clearly violates the constitution.

When the PDRC rally headed to the Justice Ministry, however, a group of high-ranking officials led by the permanent secretary were there to greet the protesters while expressing general support for bureaucratic reform and anti-corruption measures which form part of the PDRC’s flagship campaigns.

The PDRC also visited the Education, Foreign and Finance ministries, as well as the central bank, to ask for support. It received both a warm welcome and donations to support its cause. Government officials there also allowed the PDRC to put up "No-Thaksin Regime" billboards at their ministries.

In short, the PDRC sees positive signs in its favour everywhere. Apart from support from officialdom, it is also most likely that rulings from the Constitutional Court and the NACC against Ms Yingluck — which will be delivered this month — will not be in her favour.

The government’s battle tactic is to drag out the cases against Ms Yingluck as long as possible. It was why Ms Yingluck asked for 11 more witnesses to testify. The number has been reduced to only three, namely Finance Minister Kittiratt Na-Ranong, Commerce Minister Niwatthamrong Boonsongpaisal, and Deputy Commerce Minister Yanyong Puangrach, because they have all played important roles in the rice-pledging scheme.

These three key witnesses have been scheduled to testify from yesterday until tomorrow. Mr Kittiratt, however, asked for a postponement to April 18 since he has to attend a meeting organised by the World Bank overseas.

The Democrats have protested against the postponement, saying it is only a tactic to buy time. The NACC, however, has agreed to Mr Kittiratt's request.

Some NACC members are of the opinion that the postponement is not necessary since there is sufficient documentary evidence to reach a ruling.

Meanwhile, the 15-day window period that the Constitutional Court has given Ms Yingluck to work on her defence will end next Friday. Both Pheu Thai and the UDD agreed that Ms Yingluck is in a difficult situation. They are certain the outcomes from both the court and the anti-corruption agency will not be in her favour.

The red-shirt movement believes the same. That is why red-shirt leader Jatuporn Promphan has challenged the PDRC to compete with the UDD in mobilising mass rallies after next Friday's court ruling to see who can muster more supporters on the streets.

If the PDRC wins, the red-shirt movement would “give this country” over for the PDRC to rule, said Mr Jatuporn.

Should the red shirts win, the PDRC would also call it quits, said Mr Suthep.

Fierce rhetoric from the UDD and PDRC has put pressure on the Constitutional Court and the NACC. Not surprisingly, next Friday's deadline was moved ahead to April 23 which is the agency’s first meeting after the Songkran holidays.

Since more meetings are needed to reach its final judgement, it is not certain if the court can issue its ruling at its next meeting on April 30.

With postponement being used as a means to lessen rising political pressure, it is possible the PDRC protests, which have now lasted almost six months, will not wrap up soon.

Mr Suthep’s latest bombast about seizing power can be seen as a pressure tactic against the court and the NACC to speed up their work as well as to call for military support. But his strategy to end the battle quickly will most likely be in vain. It is clear the PDRC still cannot achieve a knock-out victory against Ms Yingluck this month.

The longer the protests drag on, the more exhausted the PDRC and Mr Suthep will become. The longest street protest was staged by the People’s Alliance for Democracy for 193 days. It is quite possible this record will be broken by the PDRC as the political game plays on.


Nattaya Chetchotiros is Assistant News Editor, Bangkok Post.

Nattaya Chetchotiros

Assistant News Editor

Nattaya Chetchotiros is Assistant News Editor, Bangkok Post.

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