"The People Power Party is ready to moblilise its 10 million supporters to counter the antiThaksin protests, MP Pracha Prasopdee said on Monday.
Pracha was reacting to the announcement by the People's Alliance for Democracy threatening to revive street protests to oppose the return of former prime minister Thaksin Shinwatra on grounds of the government's tampering with the legal proceedings to help him eluding the law.
"If the PAD becomes active, I plan to confront it by mobilising 10 million People Power supporters," Pracha said.
Although he doubted whether the PAD could attract the crowds to join its street protests, he would not allow PAD leaders to disrupt the restoration of democratic rule, he said."
http://www.nationmultimedia.com/breakingne...newsid=30066390
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Will Thaksin's return trigger street violence ?
Started by Garcia, Feb 26 2008 09:47 AM
3 replies to this topic
#2
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Posted 26 February 2008 - 12:33 PM
"Attempts by anti-Thaksin Shinawatra groups to obstruct the return of the ousted premier on Thursday may be deemed illegal, Interior Minister Chalerm Yubamrung said Tuesday.
Mr Chalerm's statement, although he did not elaborate, came in response to People's Alliance for Democracy (PAD)'s move on Monday to regroup and to try to block or protest the return of Mr Thaksin.
PAD said it did not object to Mr Thaksin's return to the country if he enters a judicial system that is free of interference. But it said his regime interfered in the system so he remained a problem.
Mr Chalerm said he is ready to facilitate the deposed premier if the PAD holds demonstrations. He also said he will receive Mr Thaksin himself at Suvarnabhumi airport. He claimed he had promised voters prior to the Dec 23 election that he would personally welcome Mr Thaksin when he comes home."
http://www.bangkokpost.com/breaking_news/b...s.php?id=126158
Mr Chalerm's statement, although he did not elaborate, came in response to People's Alliance for Democracy (PAD)'s move on Monday to regroup and to try to block or protest the return of Mr Thaksin.
PAD said it did not object to Mr Thaksin's return to the country if he enters a judicial system that is free of interference. But it said his regime interfered in the system so he remained a problem.
Mr Chalerm said he is ready to facilitate the deposed premier if the PAD holds demonstrations. He also said he will receive Mr Thaksin himself at Suvarnabhumi airport. He claimed he had promised voters prior to the Dec 23 election that he would personally welcome Mr Thaksin when he comes home."
http://www.bangkokpost.com/breaking_news/b...s.php?id=126158
#3
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Posted 26 February 2008 - 03:02 PM
Last year I found myself in the middle of one of these PAD protests in Lumpini Park. I was jogging in the park and noticed that there seemed to be more people milling around than usual. They were as usual sitting on the ground, talking and having picnics. It all looked normal. Then all at once they gathered and pulled out hidden banners and head scarfs and began chanting.
I headed for the exit just as a dozen or so trucks with boys in brown in full battle gear showed up. They must have had some advance notice of something and were on the ready to get there that fast. I looked back and many of the banner holders went back to pretending to be on a family picnic.
It was common urban knowledge back then that PAD paid each protestor 100B to attend one of these events, true or not I don't know. I remembor one boy telling me that Thaksin's people paid better for their events.
I headed for the exit just as a dozen or so trucks with boys in brown in full battle gear showed up. They must have had some advance notice of something and were on the ready to get there that fast. I looked back and many of the banner holders went back to pretending to be on a family picnic.
It was common urban knowledge back then that PAD paid each protestor 100B to attend one of these events, true or not I don't know. I remembor one boy telling me that Thaksin's people paid better for their events.
#4
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Posted 27 February 2008 - 12:37 PM
Unfortunately, there are some frightening precedents in Thai history about the violent results that can flow from the return of controversial leaders in exile, leaders from the left or right. Pridi's return from exile in 1933 was the spark that ignited an attempted royalist coup and the brief civil war that ensued eventually led to the abdication of King Rama VII. The return of the exiled dictatator Thanom with apparent royalist support was the catalyst for the Bangkok student riots and ensuing army massacre in October, 1976.
If and when PAD or other anti-Thaksin groups decide to use Thaksin's return as the basis for renewed demontrations, it could well provide the pretext for one side or the other to deploy force, by mob action or army reaction, to maintain effective control of Bangkok. If there is unrest, maybe then we'll find out just what's in that ISOC security law that the junta was so anxious to pass before it surrendered power to the new government.
If and when PAD or other anti-Thaksin groups decide to use Thaksin's return as the basis for renewed demontrations, it could well provide the pretext for one side or the other to deploy force, by mob action or army reaction, to maintain effective control of Bangkok. If there is unrest, maybe then we'll find out just what's in that ISOC security law that the junta was so anxious to pass before it surrendered power to the new government.
