The following pictures were taken on April 8, 2009, around Government House (I did not observe the protest at Prem’s residence). A great many people from many provinces attended the UDD protest. Clearly, it had mobilized considerably more people than the PAD had ever done. However, the mobilization mechanisms have probably been rather different, with the UDD mostly relying on the work of activist groups and locally based politicians. When I passed Dusit Zoo on my way to the protest site, I encountered eight buses organized by Phuea Thai MPs Wuthipong and Thitima Chaisaeng. The text on a red shirt was, “Truth Today Paetriu 52.” “Paetriu” is the informal name of Chachoengsao.
The UDD protest was like a “monarchy-free zone.” I did not see any pictures or symbols relating to it as a motivational resource (nor as a point of attack), except on the front page of one paper on display, which wished Princess Sirindhorn a happy birthday. However, some protestors carried the national flag. They stood in attention when the national anthem was played, ending it with “Chaiyo, chaiyo, chaiyo!” On the same day, the second part of an article by Borwornsak Uwanno appeared in the Bangkok Post praising Thailand’s supposedly unified and unchangeable “culture of paternalistic governance.”
Clearly, the UDD protestors did not share his ideas. Most of them probably respect the king and the nation. But their attack on the “bureaucracy” indicates that the Establishment’s ideology of “Nation, Religion, Monarchy” does not carry any much weight any longer with protesting up-country people (most of them obviously not poor peasants). Riggs’ bureaucratic polity has for some time been gone. It is the concomitant mindset that has survived in the Establishment and the bureaucracy that the UDD attacked.
More immediately, as one protestor pointed out to me, they wanted Abhisit to resign, because he had come to power by using the wrong means. Shortly before he told me this, I heard the speaker on stage setting a 24-hours ultimatum for Abhisit and Prem to resign.
“Overthrow the bureaucracy – for democracy.” Stage near the Royal Plaza.
Even the umbrellas are red!
On the way to the main stage at Government House.
Tent of the famous “Udorn Lovers.”
“Association of people who love and miss Thaksin,” Angthong province.
“We love Thaksin,” Singburi province.
A number of community radio stations advertised their services, pointing to the fundamentally changed importance of means of political mass communication (beyond PAD’s ASTV).
“End Dictatorship”
Sakhon Nakon also has Reds.
Nearing the main stage at Government House – no escape routes in case of danger.
In front of the main stage at Government House.
Fond of Thaksin – but no nice thoughts of Sonthi Lim.
Grass roots people from Angthong love Thaksin.
No nice thoughts for Abhisit and Sonthi Lim.
The Democrats and Abhisit are part of the enemy.
No fond feelings for the Privy Council either.
The “Taksin Warriors” – with Sae Daeng’s web site (www.sae-dang.com).
Red ladies also need bras.
A web-based voice of the Thai people.
Watching the speeches on TV.
16 responses so far ↓
1 The Careful Observer // Apr 9, 2009 at 7:32 pm
Having witnessed the PAD protests of early to mid 2006 and the Red Shirt protests of the last couple of days, they have drawn about the same numbers. About 100,000 people turned out on several occasions during 2006 anti-Thaksin demonstrations. So your statement that the Red Shirts have drawn larger crowds than the PAD had ever done is false.
2 Srithanonchai // Apr 10, 2009 at 4:05 pm
“On several occasions?” What about the politics of claiming far inflated attendance figures? Even The Nation had some calculations at that time contrasting the claims with the physical possibilities of protest sites.
Anyway, I would appreciate if you could provide me, and readers, with the list of events (site and date) you refer to, including their respective attendance figures, for future checks with reports published at that time, and in the interest of historical accuracy.
3 Srithanonchai // Apr 10, 2009 at 4:13 pm
P.S.:
Admittedly, I had the second round of PAD protests (occupation of the Government House compound) in mind when I wrote the incriminated sentence.
4 occasional observer // Apr 10, 2009 at 5:02 pm
The pro-military and pro-PAD The Nation and even Channel 3 have always downgraded the number of Red Shirts demonstrators. Of course they want to tell the public that Red Shirts have smaller number than the Yellow Shirts. The Red Shirts don’t mind this biased reporting because they know for a fact that they greatly outnumber the Sonthi/Chamlong mob.
The Red Shirts also know that their slogan “Daeng Thang Paendin” (Red Throughout the Land) is nearing reality because the silent Red Shirt majority have come out in droves in the streets. Now proud Thais have shown they can also outdo their Chinese counterpart who earlier have the slogan “Tung Fang Hong” (the East is Red).
5 Sidh S // Apr 10, 2009 at 6:29 pm
Fascinating photos Srithanonchai. We eagerly await further Reds photo updates from yesterday (9th April) and today. Have they been able to sustain those numbers? How is this Reds “DaoGrajai” strategy around Bangkok and now also at ASEAN summit at Pattaya planned and managed? Why did they decide to ‘retreat’ from PMPrem’s residence? More reports from the ground please? (and where’s Nick our previous embedded Red reporter?)
From my web browsing, it is interesting to note that The Nation has consistently given the highest estimates of the Red crowd over the weeks. Have they turned Red?
6 amberwaves // Apr 10, 2009 at 6:46 pm
Numbers aren’t everything, but it is clear that PAD crowd figures, even taking the most conservative ones in the Thai media, were always inflated , starting in and perhaps especially in 2006. (The PAD’s claimed figures from the stage, especially last year, were often ludicrous, inflated by a factor of ten or more. I don’t think they were meant to be taken seriously, but were just a tactic to keep up the spirits of the faithful).
There are some pretty generally accepted formulas for working out crowd sizes in a given area, which judiciously applied, can at least provide you with a top end figure of what is physically possible. Careful use of Google Maps facilitates calculations considerably.
In one instance, at least, the Red Shirts have a more or less measurable track record. This would be the 1 Nov. 2008 rally at Rajamangala National Stadium, when the stadium was clearly filled to at least its 60,000-65,000 capacity (empty seats in one section were more than compensated for by the crowd on the field). Some media (deliberately?) used photos taken early in the rally before much of the crowd arrived, giving a misleading impression.
7 Sidh S // Apr 10, 2009 at 8:15 pm
Amberwaves#6. I agree that numbers are not everything. Another factor worth considering is continuity and staying power. Turning up occasionally is probably much less effective than continuously applied pressure across weeks and months of the PAD. This, ofcourse, also depends considerably on financial resources (which, for instance, the Caravan For the Poor protests did not have although they had staying power). Here I suspect PMThaksin and Pheu Thai MPs are holding back as they also have to make sure they have a competitive ‘war chest’ when the elections occur (somewhere between now- Thaksin/PT scenario – and next year Democrat/Phumjai Thai scenario)…
8 nganadeeleg // Apr 10, 2009 at 8:29 pm
Plenty of live online tv seems to be available from the reds stage – this one was up all last night including Thaksin video phone in:
http://www.newskythailand.com/
9 The Careful Observer // Apr 10, 2009 at 10:36 pm
I’m not a PAD supporter, but I was at the 2006 demos, and the 100,000 plus numbers were accurate. It wasn’t the pro-military pro-PAD who were the only ones saying the red shirts had not achieved anywhere near their claimed numbers. Every foreign news agency estimated similar numbers. Only Aljazeera had a higher number, because they quoted red shirt leaders. Funny, but Channel 3 is owned by Thaksin cronies the Maleenont family, so why would they be pro-PAD? Get your facts straight. Yet a Channel 3 reporter was physically attacked by red shirts for saying the numbers in the day time were in the tens of thousands. Yet the posters here never mention it. So much for your noble red shirts. The hypocrisy on New Mandala is pathetic.
10 amberwaves // Apr 11, 2009 at 3:27 pm
Careful Observer: First of all, I don’t believe for a moment that you are not a PAD supporter. But that really doesn’t matter.
Just a few points: I don’t know anyone who reported that the UDD reached their goal, but you seem to give credibility to foreign news agencies, who all gave estimates of 100,000 (attributed to police, in some cases by name).
You say the 100,000 figures for PAD rallies are accurate, can you tell us why you say that? Please try the exercise of measuring Royal Plaza and estimating how many people can fit in (using formulas you can easily find by Googling.)
In stating that the PAD 2006 rallies were 100,000 plus, you leave the impression that their 2008 rallies were less than 100,000, meaning that Wednesday’s Red Shirt rally was bigger than anything the PAD staged in 2008. Would that be correct?
The reason people on the blog don’t highlight the attack on the Channel 3 reporter _ please update us on his condition, BTW _ is that it was widely reported in the mainstream Thai media, and this forum is meant for alternative views and news, not repeating the what is already easily available elsewhere.
You will note that they posted your critical opinions. Want more? Start your own blog. That’s what it’s all about.
11 occasional observer // Apr 11, 2009 at 7:23 pm
As of 3 pm Pattaya time on the 11th, the dialogue-partner leaders thought they had never seen a leader so dumb and inept as Abhisit. The foreign dignitaries from China and others ready to meet their Asean counterparts must be shaking their heads in puzzlement how the current Thai government under an Oxford-educated person has failed to host this important event. Will someone in charge of security like Suthep be held responsible for this fiasco ?
Of course one can also blame Newin for ordering an attack on the Reds first and the Reds dutily responded. For the brave Reds going back to their hometowns for Songkran, I wish all of you three cheers — enjoy your holidays and come back to resume the fight against this illegitimate govt.
12 Srithanonchai // Apr 12, 2009 at 12:47 am
Careful Observer #9
May I repeat my simple request from #2:
“I would appreciate if you could provide me, and readers, with the list of events (site and date) you refer to, including their respective attendance figures, for future checks with reports published at that time, and in the interest of historical accuracy.”
Don’t restrict yourself to voicing your frustration about alledged “hypocrisy” when you could contribute something constructive.
13 Pracha Thipatai // Apr 14, 2009 at 10:21 am
Dear friends of Thailand,
Thank you for caring and following the ‘happenings’ in Thailand.
Please realise that the incident in Bangkok is not a battle between the rich and the poor, which is it made out to look like. This is a battle between the democracy loving people and the Red Shirted people battling for a multi tyrant billionaire who wants his power back at the cost of the innocent rht rural people. They are ‘bought’ to die for him when he himself is nowhere in sight and his wife and children flown out to safety by the second day of the rally.
For the moment I would like to keep my identity secured. Please read what I write and not read into WHO I am.
Peace
14 amberwaves // Apr 15, 2009 at 1:32 am
Pracha Thipatai said: For the moment I would like to keep my identity secured. Please read what I write and not read into WHO I am.
Excuse me, but I don’t really think anyone here actually cares WHO you are.
It doesn’t make your opinion – which is what you are offering – any more or less valuable.
Just thought you should know.
15 Dickie Simpkins // Apr 15, 2009 at 6:23 pm
Amberwaves,
I totally agree with you on the point that it is not important to know the identity of a person to value their opinion.
However, there is a poster on NM who shows up every now and then under the pseudonym of ‘Republican’ who likes to attack prominent academics, politicians, and other players for not taking a more antagonistic stance against the monarchy while he himself hides under a false name… in that case, I believe we can call on the integrity of the opinion (against someone else) when we have no courage to follow our own word.
cheerio
16 Bueng // Apr 23, 2009 at 12:09 pm
Srithanonchai, you rock!
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