Quote:VISIT THE ANTI-JUNTA RALLY
Written by stilee

I just came back from Bangkok today and I am a little tired. However, after watching the special interview of the ousted Prime Minister Mr. Thaksin in Phoenix TV just now, I decided to write something…

Last year I visited the anti-Thaksin rally site, accompanied by a senior police officer. The scene of the rally still leaps up vividly before my eyes. When I passed through the crowd and stood in the midst of the rally, my tide of thought was rising up and down. There were people chanting, listening to speeches, shouting…booths were set up to sell t-shirts, paintings and other anti-Thaksin related theme products. There were also distribution of banners and provision of free drinks and food for the protestors. To my surprise, the rally seemed commercialized and was more like a carnival. It was indeed a shocking and unforgettable experience.

Today, I am in another rally, the anti-junta rally in Sanam Luang. The crowd apparently significantly less than the rally last year. There were no booths, no free drinks and food, only high-spirit protestors listening to speeches and responding with applause and shouts once in a while. Many of the protestors wore headbands that read “CNS get out”. There were police and security officers standing by to ensure the situation kept under controlled.

One of my friends Rat, who is an architect from Chiang Mai, told us a lot of interesting stories. According to him, after the clash in May 1992, death squads were sent out to liquidate or kill protesters. Police just triggered their guns towards the protestors and his brother was among those who were shot dead. He had personally driven the car towards the police and the police fired at him with many shots but luckily he managed to have a narrow escape.

On the way returning to the hotel by cab, my friends were eager to talk about the political situation in Thailand. It was said that there were many anti-junta people including students and businessmen being arrested in the North, that the small business owners suffered because of no orders, that there were also many soldiers stationed in different areas to be on alert of any sign of disturbance, that there was no media freedom at all currently, there all these were just out of personal jealousy and retaliation, that there are more corruptions going on, the only difference is that it will be corruption with no development. The taxi driver also joined in the conversation, saying that the mafia and drug sellers were currently eager to move because their number one enemy had gone…

I only listened quietly to the elders’ conversation. Like many others, I’d been in this country for some years. There are beauties and faults of this country. It is not better nor worse than my own country, it is just different and I am attached to it, as I see that I will have my life going on here. True or false, the country is being hurt now and I only wish that the country recovers as soon as possible.

During the interview, the words that impressed me the most is that, Mr. Thaksin had said something which made me feel sad. He said he missed his home and his country. I can feel this …only think about it when one day we travel overseas and suddenly we cannot go back to our home...This I totally sympathize with him.
Thai-Blogs

I found this while scouting around it's a few days old but has some interesting thoughts. I'll also post an article from the Chiang Mai mail.

Quote:Petition drive by ex-TRT members irks military

Saksit Meesubkwang - Chiang Mai Mail

Ex-members of Thai Rak Thai Party in Chiang Mai and Lamphun provinces will continue their petition drive to collect one million signatures despite attempts from the military to derail their efforts. Former MPs in the North launched a signature campaign at the Statue of Three Ancient Kings in the old city but the military quickly moved in and removed their tented set-up.

Two former MP candidates of Thai Rak Thai party (TRT) Surapong Towichakkul and Julaphan Amonwiwat said people were eligible to exercise their rights by providing their signatures. They also claimed that their actions were lawful in accordance with the current temporary constitution.

Members of the banned political party are seeking an appeal to the recent Supreme Court ruling but the 33rd Military Circle Royal Thai Army decided that a petition requesting His Majesty the King to grant amnesty to the 111 members of the Thai Rak Thai party was not proper.

Colonel Patinun Saihasadi, Deputy Commander of the 33rd Military Circle Royal Thai Army, said the military disagreed with the activity to collect the names since it might somehow bother the HM the King. The political activity run by TRT in Chiang Mai was acceptable if it was not against the public order or adding to the restless situation in the country.

“Although the operation to collect the name lists was to comply with the democracy, an appeal to the King was still not suitable”, he noted.

The military has been keeping close tabs on the movements of the ex-TRT members in Chiang Mai in order to protect them and keep public order.

The former MP’s added that they will continue their campaign from the former headquarters of the TRT party office in Chiang Mai.