On 25 May 2009 the People’s Alliance for Democracy (PAD) lavishly celebrated the decision to found their political party in the sports stadium in Thammasat’s Rangsit campus. There were marches by the various PAD chapters of the different provinces in folkish costumes, and a large show re-enacting the sanitised history of their protests of last year, which went on despite the heavy downpour. About 30,000 PAD members attended the event. The theme was overwhelmingly dominated by strongly royalist and nationalist symbolism. Of course their opponents, the Red Shirts and the Thai Rak Thai and People Power Party governments were also criticised, but with much less intensity than usual. All 5 core leaders attended, alongside many celebrities as well. Painter Vasan Sittikhet spoke on the stage, and also Sondhi’s son Jittanart Limthongkul. The 7 October 2008 teargas victims were present as well. The atmosphere was celebratory similar to the pre-coup PAD, their guards were not visibly armed and threatening like during last year’s protests. It was also unusual how easy we journalists could mingle with the PAD VIPs, the standard phalanx of Naclop Srivichai blocking access was not present yesterday.
It is still not really clear what their demands for New Politics actually mean in practical terms. Nationalism, royalism, and demands for “clean politics” are not enough for a policy, and it remains to be seen how the many different, partly opposing political backgrounds can work together. Protests to be against something are one thing, but parliamentary politics are another matter. The founding of a political party seems not to be as undisputed as the event may suggest. Several mid-ranking PAD members I spoke with are still uneasy about the decision. An argument that came up was that they saw the PAD more as a way to check the government than a possible power in parliamentary politics.
One thing is sure though — the PAD is still a force to be reckoned with.
13 responses so far ↓
1 Dickie Simpkins // May 27, 2009 at 7:40 pm
Nice report Nick, as always!
Their whole event looked not badly staged, and the fact that they did not get too ‘angry’ is also quite a good move for them politically.
But why do they have to demean “red shirts” and show them as bought by money? Kinda counter-productive, don’t you think?
Politically, to remove their ‘yellow shirt’ to go with ‘green’ as a political party in my mind is a good move as it allows them to decouple their foray into politics with their street protesting.
Personally, I do not believe the PAD will do well in the short-term, but if they are really able to ‘clean up’ politics, remain idealistic and be a leader in clamping down corruption as well as being a bottom-up political party, this will in fact bode well for Thailand as a whole.
Am I that naive to believe what I wrote in the above paragraph will happen? Well, no. It ain’t gonna happen, Sondhi L. will try to make money immediately.
2 Sidh S // May 27, 2009 at 8:34 pm
Thanks again Nick! Felt almost like being there as they say.
Without a clear platform, they can easily fizzle like Palang Dharma before them. It seems that they are also adopting the ‘green’ color and, possibly, the Green Party platform.
Will the Reds eventually form a party of their own to? Surely the more progressives in the Red crowd cannot continue to piggy back on PMThaksin’s popularity. On an interesting note, Pheu Thai still remains ‘leaderless’ in parliament:
http://nationmultimedia.com/breakingnews/30103756/Pheu-Thai-cancels-plan-to-elect-new-leader
3 antipadshist // May 27, 2009 at 10:24 pm
@Dickie
exactly ! in fact I see their move from yellow to “salad” (yellow-green) T-shirts as nothing else but a clever move to generate more funds, since now all their followers will have to buy the new color cloth. LOL
4 David Brown // May 27, 2009 at 11:00 pm
is Pheu Thai holding off on appointing office holders because it could be dissolved again and they dont want to lose yet another talent?
or could they have a leader in the house that is not counted as an officer of the party?
5 Nick Nostitz // May 27, 2009 at 11:42 pm
“Dickie Simpkins” and “antipadshist”:
I have to disagree there. Many believe that Sondhi is just in for the money and his own advantage. That may have been the initial reason to break from Thaksin in 2005, but i very much doubt that this is still so. The PAD has a clear ideology (though not very clear policies), and Sondhi is very much a man on a mission, with his own vision for Thailand’s future.
I would not underestimate the potential of any of the two major groups – Red Shirts and PAD. Both are still in a process of growth in ideology, strategy and mass appeal, and will continue to change the face of Thai politics.
6 Somsak Jeamteerasakul // May 27, 2009 at 11:51 pm
I appreciate that Nick tries to be even-handed as much as possible in dealing with the PAD. But for me, frankly, the whole show/parade was so pretentious, so juvernile, a kind of ‘thrown-back’ to the PAD leaders and activists’ student days! It’s like watching the recent insipid “Chula-Thammasat Traditional Football Mactch’ parades. If anyone interested and can read Thai, here my take :
http://www.sameskybooks.org/board/index.php?showtopic=31390&st=0
I do think their first day meeting was at least more interesting. I watched the live broadcast of the meeting all day, the whole 7-8 hours! But even this, I got the impression that it noticably lacked ‘fire’ or real passion, not least Sondhi himself (granted that he might not fully recover yet). It’s noticable that during their speeches both days, leading PADs used rather ‘cheap trick’ in the public rally speech handbook a lot more than they used to. (E.g. asking audience to shout some slogan, or ‘yes’/'no’ responses. This’s a sure sign of the lack of much substance in the speeches.)
For my take on the first day (in Thai), see
http://www.sameskybooks.org/board/index.php?showtopic=31324&st=0
7 Somsak Jeamteerasakul // May 28, 2009 at 12:02 am
In case anyone think I’m too biased in my judgement, let me add that during the PAD 193 days protest rally last year, I wathed their live broadcast everday, hours at time. And no matter severe criticism I had of their aims, methods, politics, etc., I always thought they provided quite ‘interesting show’ most of the time. But this 2-days ‘founding PAD party’ conference really lacked true passion, true political direction – and it showed in almost all aspects of the conference, from leaders’ speeches, to stage shows, to participants’ comments, etc. I also have the impression from reading comments on some webboards by PAD sympathizers that their enthusiasm wasn’t quite that great either.
8 Jack Russell // May 28, 2009 at 3:00 am
More brain-washed idiots in yellow and red shirts. Do you guys actually find anything worth debating about any of these parasites?
9 nganadeeleg // May 28, 2009 at 9:36 am
I also have the impression from reading comments on some webboards by PAD sympathizers that their enthusiasm wasn’t quite that great either.
I take that as a good sign – I prefer them to leave the fanaticism for the football:)
10 NoName // May 28, 2009 at 2:21 pm
Dear Nick,
According to the infomation checked on this consultant company’s page…
http://www.cot.co.th/detail.php?ProjectID=98
30,000 people packed in Thammasat Rangsit main stadium seems not possible since its capacity is only for 20,000 seats! Thank you again for your great report
11 Nick Nostitz // May 28, 2009 at 3:19 pm
“NoName”:
Yes, i am aware of the fact that the stadium seats only 20 000 people.
But there were also many people outside the stadium in the surroundings. Another few thousand people were also inside the arena during the march of the provincial chapters of the PAD in the later afternoon.
Of course the crowd thinned rapidly when the heavy downpours began.
What also should not be forgotten is that possibly millions all over the country watched the event on ASTV.
12 NoName // May 28, 2009 at 9:21 pm
Thank you for your clearify Nick
I just hope the PAD learnt something of their past too and hope their millions are still out there for them when they need them too.
13 antipadshist // May 29, 2009 at 5:11 pm
@Nick #5
well, I was talking only about T-shirts, politics aside.
of course it is not only making money for Sondhi – or perhaps more exactly not only making money ONLY from T-shirts (but also aiming at “frying bigger fish” – getting more money – when and IF the new PAD party will get some MP seats and bargaining leverage in coalition gov. and therefore entitled to certain size piece of the “cake” – not to mention IF PAD party leader – Sondhi? – becomes a PM – OH! THEN it will be a good dough ! )
however whether you agree or disagree – the fact remains that to be able to wear NEW Yellow-green shirts PAD congregation will have to buy those new clothes – wouldn’t they? or do you think kind uncles Chamlong and Sondhi are gonna give away FREE T-shirts.
so, I was commenting on this single point – on selling MORE T-shirts.
and it is a good fund-rising trick, I must admit.
PAD politics though I won’t discuss just yet – will wait a bit longer for them to define and clarify them better. although Michael H. Nelson yesterday has already provided quite a good overview.
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