People's Alliance for Democracy

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CDRM leader General Saprang Kalayanamitr and Sondhi Limthongkul at a PAD reunion, 7 January 2007

The People's Alliance for Democracy (PAD) (Thai: พันธมิตรประชาชนเพื่อประชาธิปไตย; also called the National Liberation Alliance - กลุ่มพันธมิตรกู้ชาติ, the National Liberation Party - พลพรรคกู้ชาติ, and the Yellow Shirts - คนเสื้อเหลือง) was originally a coalition of protesters against Thaksin Shinawatra, the former Prime Minister of Thailand. Its leaders include media-mogul Sondhi Limthongkul, Chamlong Srimuang, and former ISOC leader Pallop Pinmanee. It was one of the chief players in the Thailand political crisis from 2005 to 2006. The PAD consists of middle and upper-class Bangkokians and Southerners, supported by the conservative elite, factions of the Thai Army, factions of the Democrat Party, and state-enterprise labor unions. In September 2006, the Council for Democratic Reform under the Constitutional Monarchy overthrew Thaksin's elected government, canceled upcoming elections, and dissolved the constitution. Two days after this military coup, the PAD voluntarily dissolved after announcing that its goals had been accomplished.

The PAD re-established itself after Thaksin-affiliated parties, led by Samak Sundaravej's People's Power Party (PPP), won the 2007 general election. In August and September 2008, PAD members seized the Government House in a bid to pressure the Samak government to resign. They were joined by tens of thousands of supporters, including the Srivichai Warriors - the PAD's paramilitary guards - who barricaded themselves in with barbed wire, bamboo spikes, and an impromptu electric fence. PAD forces also seized airports in Phuket, Krabi, and Hat Yai, blocked off major roads, and stopped train operations across the Kingdom. Armed Srivichai Warriors seized a television broadcaster, the government-owned National Broadcasting Service of Thailand, as well as several government ministries. PAD forces were evicted from NBST headquarters, but they remained barricaded in Government House. Violence between PAD and anti-PAD protesters left dozens injured and one anti-PAD protester dead. Various labor unions supporting the PAD threatened to shut off electricity and water services, although they failed to follow up on their threats. The PAD threatened that its wealthy members could lead a bank run that could destabilize the Thai financial system and economy if the Samak government did not quit. After Samak resigned and was replaced by Somchai Wongsawat, the protests escalated, with thousands surrounding Parliament and using razor wire and barricades to prevent the legislature from meeting. Police used tear gas in an unsuccessful attempt to disperse the protestors, some of whom were armed with guns, machetes, steel pikes, and home-made bombs. Many were injured on both sides. The PAD renounced non-violence and vowed revenge.

The PAD called for the resignation of the governments of Thaksin Shinawatra, as well as Samak Sundaravej and Somchai Wongsawat, who the PAD accused of being a proxies for Thaksin. Sondhi originally proposed Somchai as an acceptable alternatives to Samak. However, when Somchai replaced Samak, the PAD refused to stop its protests, stating, "He has the image of being a crook." Citing the claimed failure of popular democracy in Thailand and the inability of rural voters to elect a favorable Parliament, the PAD has demanded constitutional amendments that would make the Parliament a largely royally-appointed body. It was strongly opposed to Thaksin's controversial but popular populist economic policies and attempts to decentralize political power. It was also opposed to the Samak government's decision to support the Cambodian government in applying for the listing of Preah Vihear as a World Heritage site. The PAD is largely composed of royalists, has regularly invoked king Bhumibol Adulyadej in its protests, and has claimed that its enemies are disloyal to the monarchy. It has openly called for the palace, the military, and Thailand's traditional elite to take a greater role in politics. General Pathompong Kesornsuk, a close aid of Privy Council President Prem Tinsulanonda, appeared in full uniform at PAD protests claiming Prem’s consent and urging his fellow soldiers to follow suit.

Origins and leadership

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Aristocracy and Bangkok's elite flocked to the PAD. Mom Ratchawong Phromchat Sawatdiwat and Benchawan Krachangnet at a PAD reunion.

The People's Alliance for Democracy had its source in weekly public tapings of Sondhi Limthongkul's weekly political talk show 'Muang Thai Rai Sapda' (Thailand Weekly). Attendance grew after the talkshow was dropped by MCOT Channel 9 and Sondhi started webcasting the show on his website. As the tone grew more controversial, the tapings gradually turned into protests against the government. The PAD was formally established on February 8, 2006 with a five person central committee consisting of:

• Sondhi Limthongkul
• Chamlong Srimuang
• Activist Phiphob Thongchai
• State enterprise labor leader Somsak Kosaisuuk
• University lecturer Somkeit Pongpaibul.

Besides the five leaders, ten others were part of the PAD management committee: Pitaya Wongkul, Rewadee Prasertcharoensuuk, Rosana Tositrakul, Chaiwat Sindhuwong, Preeda Tiasuwan, Sirichai Maingam, Suwit Watnuu, Kochawan Chaiyabut, Weerapol Sopa, Ouychai Wata, Pien Yongnuu.

Royalist commentator Khamnoon Sitthisaman, Campaign for Popular Democracy leader Suriyasai Katasila, and Thammasat University law lecturers Banjerd Singkaneti and Prinya Thewanaruemitkul all played prominent roles.

Several current and former employees of Sondhi played a role, including Panthep Puapongbhant, Samran Rodpetch, Kumnuun Sidhisamann, Sarocha Pornudomsak, Anchalee Paireerak, Yuthayong Limlertwatee, and Torpong Sewatarm.

Supporters

PAD protesters initially consisted primarily of middle and upper-class residents of Bangkok. These included prominent socialites (dubbed the "Blue Blood Jet Set" by the Bangkok Post) and some lesser members of the Thai royal family. The PAD's support base expanded to include civil servants, state enterprise labor unions, the urban middle-class, conservative Buddhist groups, and Southerners.

Buddhist groups supporting the PAD included the Santi Asoke sect (led by Thaksin's former mentor Chamlong Srimuang), followers of Luangta Mahabua, and Dhammayuttika Nikaya Buddhists opposed to the appointment of Somdet Phutthacharn as Acting Supreme Patriarch of Thailand.

Ideology

Political ideology

"Representative democracy is not suitable for Thailand," noted Sondhi Limthongkul, claiming that electoral systems have repeatedly elected allegedly corrupt populist governments. Although most of its leaders supported, and in some cases, helped draft the post-coup 2007 Constitution, the PAD has proposed constitutional amendments that would make 70% of Parliament a royally-appointed body, with elections accounting for only 30%. The PAD also proposed "functional democracy" a system of occupational representation whereby the leaders of occupational and social groups would nominate MPs for royal appointment.

Nationalist ideology

The PAD has been described as "hyper-nationalist," and is strongly opposed to what it claims to be erosions in national sovereignty. It was opposed to the Samak government's decision to support the Cambodian government in applying for the listing of disputed Preah Vihear temple complex as a World Heritage site. The PAD proposed that Thailand withdraw from UNESCO, cancel all recognition that UNESCO has ever granted to Thai archaeological sites, and send a high-ranking delegation to UN Security Council members and, in the words of Sondhi Limthongkul, "ask them to choose between Thai or Cambodian friendship." It also called for Thai investors to withdraw from Cambodia, the closure of all 40 Thai-Cambodian border checkpoints, a ban on all flights from Thailand to Phnom Penh and Siam Reap, the construction of a naval base at Koh Kut near the border, and the abolishment of the committee which oversees demarcation of overlapping sea areas and the unilateral declare a Thai marine map.

Economic ideology

In contrast to Thaksin, who often spoke of elevating Thailand to the ranks of the developed world, Sondhi advocates a "reasonable society" with little consumer debt, and not concerned with "how many cars or washing machines" people own. The PAD favors limits on foreign investment, opposes privatization of utilities, and is strongly opposed to foreign investment in Thailand. "Don't impose a free trade, consumer-oriented society on Thailand," noted Sondhi Limthongkul in an interview.

While Thaksin and Samak championed farmers and the rural poor with their "dual-track" economic policies that combined populist perks like universal healthcare with greater participation in the global economy, the PAD are, in contrast, hardline monetarists. They propose interest rate hikes, cutting down spending on the poor, "mega-projects", and squeezing wages.

Protest rallies against Thaksin Shinawatra

PAD demonstrators attend a rally at Democracy Monument, central Bangkok, on the morning of 2nd August 2008.

The PAD led a series of protest rallies cum television shows against Thaksin Shinawatra throughout 2006. For more details, see the full PAD protests against Thaksin Shinawatra article. On 5 March 2008, the PAD leadership gave a press conference indicating that it was preparing to counter Thaksin-instigated inroads into the judicial process in Thailand designed to abrogate charges against the former premier. This announcement was clarified by another PAD press conference on 12 March where all PAD founders, except Chamlong Srimuang who was reportedly abroad, indicated that there would be a major PAD conference on 28 March 2008 at Thammasat University.

Demand for royal intervention

Amid rising political tensions, Thaksin dissolved Parliament on 24 February 2006, just one year after being re-elected. He then called for new House elections on 2 April 2006. In March 2006, the PAD requested the King intervene and remove Thaksin Shinawatra from power. The demands for royal intervention met with much criticism, although the PAD claimed the idea was the only possible peaceful answer to the political crisis. The King dismissed the idea in a speech on April 26, saying "Asking for a Royally appointed prime minister is undemocratic. It is, pardon me, a mess. It is irrational."

The King intervened on 26 April by calling the latest elections undemocratic and ordering the court system to resolve the political crisis. A week later, the Supreme Court disqualified the results of the April election and later jailed the Election Commission.

Launch of the Mass Party

In May 2006, PAD leaders established the Mass Party. Somkiat Pongpaibun, party co-founder, claimed that "Our objective is to campaign against Thaksinomics." The party unconventionally planned not to field MP candidates for the first 5 years, with Somkiat claiming that "If we field MP candidates, we will be trapped in vicious circles of money politics." Other party co-founders included by former Palang Dharma Party leader Chaiwat Sinsuwong and the Campaign for Popular Democracy's Pipop Thongchai.

Dissolution

On September 21, 2006, two days after the military coup led by Gen. Sonthi Boonyaratglin, the PAD announced that it had ceased activities as its goal to see Thaksin's regime toppled had been accomplished. The PAD, however, added a caveat by indicating that should the need arise, the PAD would reestablish itself.

2008 Re-establishment

Main article: 2008 Thai political crisis

The People's Alliance for Democracy has been re-established in Thailand on March 28, 2008 at Thammasat University auditorium. Several issues was raised by the PAD, including the Prime Minister Samak Sundaravej ties to Thaksin Shinawatra, ties between some People's Power Party members and the banned-Thai Rak Thai party, alleged interference to justice system, and attempts to amend the 2007 Constitution.

For the constitution amendment, among the changes proposed was removal of Article 237 which would dissolve a political party if one of the executives was involved in vote buying. Yongyuth Tiyapairat, People's Power Party executive who was also the Parliament president after the election, was being tried for vote buying. Yongyuth was later found guilty by the Supreme Court on July 8, 2008.

For the interference to justice, several key person involving cases against Thaksin and Peolple's Power Party were removed from the post. This includes Sunai Manomai-udom, then Department of Special Investigation (DSI) director-general working in the case about Thaksin's asset concealment charges, Seripisut Temiyavet, then National Police chief who was installed by the coup but is well known for taking on mafias including those in the police, and Chaiwat Changkaokam, then the head of Tambon Chanchawa who was the key witness to Yongyuth Tiyapairat's alleged vote buying.

Demonstration by PAD started on May 25, 2008 at Democracy Monument on Ratchadamnoen Road to protest the proposal for constitution amendment. The rally attracted ten thousand supporters. The plan was to march the supporters from Democracy Monument to the front of Government House. However, the crowd was stopped by large police barrier at Makkawan Rangsan Bridge. PAD settled at Makkawan Rangsan Bridge and staged continuous rally there.

As the rally went on, PAD announced their effort to collect signatures to request removal house representatives and senates who supported the amendment on May 30, 2008. The next day Samak expressed on government-run NBT television channel his intention to dissolve the rally by force. In reaction to Samak's speech, PAD issued announcement against the government's move.

Phra Viharn issue

PAD opposed Noppadon Pattama's move to allow Cambodia to singly apply Preah Vihear Temple as World Heritage Site. As it lies near the Thai-Cambodia border with land surrounding the temple still under disputed, many scholars feared Thailand would lost severeign over the land surrounding the site and preferred the site to be listed jointly between Cambodia and Thailand. It is also claimed that the hidden motive behind the was to exchange for oil and gas concessions for Thaksin. Noppadon proceeded to sign the Thai-Cambodia Joint Communique on June 18, 2008. Thailand Administrative court issue injunction against the action on June 28 and them found the agreement to be unconstitutional on July 8, 2008. However, UNESCO awarded World Heritage Site to Cambodia later on the same day.

Moving the PAD stage

On June 20, 2008 PAD and supporters made through police blockades and successfully gathered in front of Government House, an effort to pressure the government to resign. Both police and PAD declared victory as violence was avoided. However, the Prime Minister was not pleased.

The new PAD stage blocked Phitsanulok and Rama V roads, causing inconvenience to schools in the area. Other problems include loud speaker noise. Teachers and parents of Ratchawinit Secondary School filed lawsuit against PAD, which PAD appealed and lost. PAD moved its stage back to Makkawan Bride on July 8.

Siege of Government House

Sundaravej said "I will never resign in response to these threats.I will not dissolve the House. I will meet the king today to report what's going on." He met with King Bhumibol Adulyadej at Hua Hin palace. For the 5th day, 30,000 protesters, led by the People's Alliance for Democracy, occupied Sundaravej's Government House compound in central Bangkok, forcing him and his advisers to work out of a military command post. Thai riot police entered the occupied compound and delivered a court order for the eviction of protesters. Chamlong Srimuang ordered 45 PAD guards to break into the main government building on Saturday. 3 regional airports remain closed and 35 trains between Bangkok and the provinces were canceled. Protesters raided the Phuket International Airport tarmac on the resort island of Phuket Province resulting to 118 flights canceled or diverted, affecting 15,000 passengers.

Attack by police force

The Samak government has used police force to beat the PAD protesters, despite Samak’s claims that he will “never resolve with violence”.

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PAD protesters fighting an anti-PAD protestor

The Public Service International has condemned the Samak government for using "violent measures" on the protesters who claimed that they were unarmed.. The PSI released a statement to condemn the Samak government for using police force to "hit, kick, and step on" the "unarmed protesters of PAD including children, women and senior citizens" . However, most journalists on the scene reported that the some protesters were armed. In the police report, items like ammunitions and golf clubs were found amond the supposedly unarmed protesters.

The injured civilians filed a lawsuit against police brutality. This consequently caused the Civil Court to reject the petition from the Secretariat of the Prime Minister to remove the PAD protesters from the Government House .

Wide spread protests

Protesters also blocked the entrance of the airports in Krabi and Hat Yai (which was later re-opened). Police issued arrest warrants for Sondhi Limthongkul and 8 other protest leaders on charges of insurrection, conspiracy, unlawful assembly and refusing orders to disperse. Meanwhile, Gen. Anupong Paochinda stated: "The army will not stage a coup. The political crisis should be resolved by political means." Samak and the Thai Party ruling coalition called urgent parliamentary debate and session for August 31.

Clash between PAD and Anti-PAD

On 31 August, Metropolitan Police chief Pol Lt Gen Asawin Kwanmuang was transferred to an inactive position. He was the person in charge of PAD protests in Bangkok and flavored soft approaches to avoid clash and bloodshed. The matters was then transferred to deputy police chief Pol Gen Jongrak Juthanont. PAD spokeman expressed fear that this would lead to violence by police force against PAD.

Anti-PAD protesters clashed at PAD protesters, prompting the government to establish a State of Emergency.. Dozens were injured, and one anti-PAD protester was shot and killed. .

Government House as a protest site

Government House and the area around it became an open air market during the months-long protest and seizure. A variety of stalls selling clothing, food, Buddhist amulets, a variety of second hand goods opened up due to the inability of city officials to collect stall-site rental fees. The PAD put up posters with photos of a woman who PAD security forces claimed was a prostitute after they found condoms in her purse. Mounds of garbage piled up in Government House, bras were left to dry from bushes in the lawn, and the lack of sanitary facilities caused a stink to envelop the compound. A Matichon journalist found glass pipes used for smoking methamphetamine (commonly known as "ICE") being sold a short distance away from PAD-leader Chamlong Srimuang's tent. The journalist noted that the pipes were a popular product and that many people tried out the pipes before making their purchase.

Arrest

On October 5 and 4, 2008, respectively, Chamlong Srimuang and rally organiser, Chaiwat Sinsuwongse were detained by the Thai police led by Col. Sarathon Pradit, by virtue of August 27 arrest warrant for insurrection, conspiracy, illegal assembly and refusing orders to disperse (treason) against him and 8 other protest leaders. At the Government House, Sondhi Limthongkul, however, stated demonstrations would continue: "I am warning you, the government and police, that you are putting fuel on the fire. Once you arrest me, thousands of people will tear you apart." Srimuang's wife, Ying Siriluck, visited him at the Border Patrol Police Region 1, Pathum Thani. Other PAD members still wanted by police include Sondhi, activist MP Somkiat Pongpaibul and PAD leaders Somsak Kosaisuk and Pibhop Dhongchai.

Closing off Parliament

In early October, PAD leader Chamlong Srimuang left the protest site to vote in the Bangkok governor elections. He was arrested by police after he left the voting booth and did not request bail. Fellow PAD leader Pallop Pinmanee noted that Chamlong intended to be arrested in order to increase attendance at the PAD's protests.

Thousands of PAD forces soon surrounded Parliament to prevent the Somchai government from announcing its policies to the legislature within 15 days of swearing in, as mandated by the Constitution. The protestors closed off the building with razor wire and steel barricades. At 6.00 am 7 October 2008, police loudspeaker lorries issued a warning that protesters should disperse as they would be attacked, and teargas would be fired. The protesters did not disperse and soon after, police at Ratchawithi Road and Pichai Road shot a barrage of teargas grenades. Police and clashed with protestors. Many were injured on both sides. Eventually the doors to Parliament could be opened for the attending legislators. PAD forces later regrouped around Parliament. After the government had made its policy statement to the legislature, police again clashed with PAD forces as they had blocked the gates to Parliament. The clashes continued into the night.

Several protestors lost their hands and legs, although it was not clear whether these injuries were caused by tear gas rounds or the ping-pong grenades. A PAD protestor, Angkhana Radappanyawut, was killed. The head of Ramathibodi Hospital's Forensic Medicine Department found that the injuries that she sustained were unlikely to be caused by tear gas rounds, but could have been caused by an ping-pong explosive. PAD members drove a pickup truck into a crowd of police, injuring several. A car bomb was exploded outside the headquarters of the Chart Thai party, a member of the government coalition, killing the driver, brother-in-law of PAD leader Somsak Kosaisuk. The PAD renounced its claimed policy of non-violence and vowed revenge.

Afterwards, Doctor Kasem Tantipalacheeva from the Somdet Chaopraya Institute of Psychiatry issued a statement where he and the psychiatrists of the Institute called the actions of the Prime Minister "evil" and refused to provide medical care to police. Doctor Suthep Kolcharnwit of the Chulalongkorn University Faculty of Medicine along with several doctors from Chulalongkorn Hospital also refused to provide medical care to police injured in the clash, and urged doctors of other hospitals to boycott police as well.

Media

2005-2006

The PAD is supported by the Sondhi Limthongkul-owned Manager Media Group, including Manager Daily newspaper and the ASTV satellite television channel. Sondhi had originally co-hosted a political talk show called Muangthai Raisabdah on MCOT's Channel 9. Sondhi's pro-Thaksin views (in a 23 September 2003 broadcast, he noted that Thaksin was "the best prime minister our country has ever had.") started changing in 2004 after the government fired Sondhi's banker, Viroj Nualkhair, from Krung Thai Bank for incurring too many bad debts. In September 2005, Sondhi allegedly made repeated disrespectful on-air references to King Bhumibol Adulyadej. Among these references was a claim that the government's 2004 appointment of Somdet Phra Buddhacharya as acting Supreme Patriach of Thailand in place of the critically ill Somdet Phra Yanasangworn contravened the prerogative of the King. After discussions with King's principal private secretary, Arsa Sarasin, MCOT executives cancelled the program. Sondhi took his increasingly anti-Thaksin talkshow on the road, broadcasting via satellite (through his NEWS1 ASTV channel based out of Hong Kong) and webcasting via the website of his Manager Daily newspaper. Talkshow sites, including Sanam Luang and the King Rama V equestrian statue, became magnets for the PAD crowds.

After the 2006 military coup, the military junta ordered broadcaster MCOT to cover weekly tapings of Muangthai Raisabdah. Sondhi was also given a slot on the junta-run National Broadcasting Service of Thailand's Channel 11 where he hosted Yam Fao Paendin, a pro-junta, anti-Thaksin talkshow which made accusations of excessive government spending at Suvarnabhumi Airport.

2008

During the 2008 political crisis, armed masked PAD forces broke into the government-owned National Broadcasting Service of Thailand and seized control of the television station. The television broadcast of the morning news program briefly showed pictures of PAD forces breaking into the gates of the station before blacking out for several hours. NBST employees were threatened with violence and forced out of the station. Police eventually regained control of the building and arrested 80 of the raiders, seizing guns, knives, golf clubs, and drugs. The raiders were charged with causing damage to public property and illegal possession of weapons and drugs. Later in the same day, hundreds of hundreds of PAD members, led by Amorn Amornrattananon, again seized the NBST station. Police eventually regained control of the station. The Southeast Asian Press Alliance and the Thai Journalists Association condemned what it called the "mob attack" on the station, and noted that the unjustifiable and went against the principles of democracy, free flow of information, and fair play that the PAD themselves have claimed to justify their illegal act.

Journalists at PAD-controlled Government House reported that they were intimidated, pelted with water bottles, and attacked with a metal pipe. Their vehicle was also attacked. The Nation journalist Samudcha Hoonsara reported that PAD leaders incited hostility towards outsiders, particularly journalists. Journalists also reported that PAD members masturbated in front of them and defecated in front of their Government House working space. Channel 9 news crew were attacked after the PAD claimed their news reporting was biased toward government. The PAD limited media access to Government House claiming that the media might be undercover policemen or anti-PAD groups in disguise.

See also

• Thailand political crisis 2005-2006
• Sondhi Limthongkul
• Thaksin Shinawatra
• Thailand legislative election, 2006
• Thaksin Shinawatra $1.88 billion deal controversy
• Politics of Thailand
• Democratic Alliance Against Dictatorship

External links

• People's Alliance for Democracy Online Network