PAD Threatens New Protests

[Gaybutton]

The articles do not say whether the latest protest threats would involve a renewed takeover of the airports, but if the voting doesn't go their way on Monday, then those of you traveling to and from Thailand need to be prepared for that possibility.

 

The following appears in the BANGKOK POST:

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PAD Warns of More Protests

 

SURASAK GLAHAN

 

The People's Alliance for Democracy (PAD) announced yesterday it will renew its protests if Puea Thai, formed to accommodate MPs of the disbanded People Power party (PPP), returns to lead the next coalition.

 

The Puea Thai party, struggling to take the lead in forming a new government against the Democrat party, hopes tonight's phone-in speech by deposed prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra will reverse the political tide.

 

Parliament will convene on Monday to vote on a new prime minister.

 

The PAD, which staged a six-month protest against the PPP-led coalition, called off its demonstration after the Constitutional Court dissolved the PPP and its coalition partners - the Chart Thai and Matchima Prachathipataya parties - for electoral fraud on Dec 2.

 

A group of former PPP MPs under the Newin Chidchob faction and most former PPP coalition partners have pledged to back the Democrat party in forming a new government.

 

Having campaigned against Thaksin and the PPP, the PAD leaders said they would not accept a government with the Puea Thai party in it, no matter who was prime minister.

 

"If our call is rejected or ignored, we will carry out moves appropriate to the situation," the PAD said.

 

Although the PAD did not back the Democrat-led alliance, the group did not oppose the idea.

 

It said it would monitor the switch of administrative power to see "whether there will be actions taken against the Thaksin regime". Core PAD leader Maj-Gen Chamlong Srimuang declined to say if the group would again close airports if the Puea Thai party is in the next government.

 

The PAD said it should be given the credit for bringing political change.

 

Maj-Gen Chamlong denied, however, that his group always intended to help the Democrats come to power.

 

The PAD does not support any particular party but what happened recently could be considered a result of its campaign, he said.

 

If the Democrats succeed in forming the government, the PAD would not seek any favours from it.

 

The group's demands include scrapping huge investment projects initiated by the Samak Sundaravej government.

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And this, from THE NATION:

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We'll Block Any New Thaksin Puppet : PAD

 

By The Nation

Published on December 13, 2008

 

Chamlong Says Movement Has No Plan for New Party

 

The People's Alliance for Democracy yesterday issued a statement threatening to revive street protests if the Pheu Thai Party pushed through a coalition alliance, in any shape or form, or managed to install a puppet prime minister.

 

"The PAD absolutely opposes the installation of a Pheu Thai puppet prime minister or any prime minister allowing Pheu Thai to be part of the coalition government," it said in the statement.

 

It lashed out at alleged attempts to offer monetary incentives for MPs to vote in favour of the Pheu Thai-led coalition.

 

It also vowed to keep monitoring the situation with the aim of derailing any effort to pave the way for the return of former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra to politics.

 

PAD spokesman Suriyasai Katasila said the incoming government should urgently tackle 13 issues.

 

The issues include the prosecution of anti-coup activists, including former PM's Office minister Jakrapob Penkair on a charge of lese majeste and reaffirmation that the charter rewrite will not veer off to whitewash Thaksin's wrongdoing.

 

The government should expedite wrapping up the backlog of graft cases, including the alleged land scam in Buri Ram involving the family of faction-leader Newin Chidchob, in spite of his about-face to support the Democrat-led coalition, Suriyasai said.

 

He also called for an immediate cancellation of the diplomatic passport issued to Thaksin and a speedy prosecution of culprits involved in the October 7 violent crackdown.

 

PAD co-leader Chamlong Srimuang dismissed the speculation about forming a political party based on the sentiment generated by PAD-led street protests, arguing that the PAD could as it was pushing for changes that major parties were unable to accomplish.

 

Chamlong said the PAD would try to keep alive its popular movement by holding a meeting about once a month so as to allow its supporters to keep in touch with one another.

 

He said litigation relating to PAD-led street protests would proceed under prescribed procedures, dismissing concerns that the PAD would pressure the Democrat-led government to interfere with the legal proceedings.

 

PAD co-leader Somsak Kosaisuk said he suspected police might try to frame the PAD. It was, for instance, suspicious, that police had uncovered explosives at Government House several days after the PAD vacated and handed over the compound.

 

PAD co-leader Somkiart Pongpaiboon said he anticipated no message of significance from today's phone-in by Thaksin. There is no point in hyping up Thaksin's remarks, he said.

[Guest lvdkeyes]

I certainly hope they will not allow the airports to be taken over again. The old adage applies: "Fool me once, shame on you. Fool me twice and shame on me."

[Guest GaySacGuy]

I feel that any additional bad news out of Thailand could be the straw that broke the camel's back. This country needs some good news, a good baht to dollar/Euro/etc ratio, and perhaps some lower airfares. The gays will probably continue to travel to Thailand, but the average traveler has a lot of choices, and bad news from here could take Thailand off their list.

[Guest fountainhall]

The articles do not say whether the latest protest threats would involve a renewed takeover of the airport

 

Personally I think this can never happen again - barring a terrorist strike. The government (whatever one materialises), the business sector and, more importantly, the army have seen the extrardinary damage the airport closures did to the country. Were there even a whiff of a protest, I am certain we will see tanks at all access roads.

[Guest GaySacGuy]

Personally I think this can never happen again

 

I have to say that I disagree with you. I agree that the damage was great, but I don't think that any more action would be taken today, than last time. There is no one who will take responsibility, and they definitely want to keep their own hands clean. To prevent another blockade, someone will have to get their hands very dirty!!

[Gaybutton]

I'll give you two reasons why I believe another takeover could happen. The first is because even though it wasn't anything close to this extent, the airport siege wasn't the first time the PAD managed to cause airports to close.

 

The second is because I fail to see who even has the capability to stop them. I don't think the Bangkok police are prepared to handle tens of thousands of protesters. Also, by the time the police finish arguing over who has jurisdiction the whole thing would be over anyway.

 

I doubt that the military would intervene. Who would they be intervening for? The PAD is anti-Thaksin. So is the military. The military threw out Thaksin in the first place. Why would they intervene to dislodge the very group that supports their own position? As for what would happen to the economics of Thailand, I don't see anything to support the idea that the military concerns itself with that.