Red-Shirt Chairperson Thida Ready To Step Down

[webfact]

Thida ready to step down as caretaker chairperson of DAAD

By THE NATION

Natthawut says differences have been sorted out

Red-shirt chairperson Thida Thawornseth said yesterday she was ready to step down from the position, but any move must be the committee's decision and changing the top post is not an easy process.

Thida conceded that a group of red shirts had called for her to step down while, at the same time, another group asked her to stay. Reports of any change in her position are considered baseless and intended to instigate rifts among the red shirts, she said.

Kanin Boonsuwan, an independent political science academic close to the red shirts, yesterday denied reports that he would be appointed to replace Thida. Although he knows all the red-shirt leaders, none had contacted him for the post.

"If they ask me, I won't accept [the post]. I'm fine here," he said, adding that he hosts a five-minute programme on Asia Update, the red-shirts' TV station. He said he had hosted the programme when it was on PTV before that channel was shut down.

On whether red-shirt leaders should be appointed Cabinet ministers, Kanin said, "It should not be [a condition] that a red-shirt leader should not be a minister. If one is appointed, it would be a practical demonstration of moral support for the red shirts. They would be able to discuss their problems with representatives directly, on matters like the deaths from the demonstration or the bail set for the detained red shirts."

Chinnawat Haboonpad, a leader of the Hard Core Red-Shirts said his group, including Suporn Atthawong and Waipoj Apornrat, had asked Thida to quit. The group saw Thida as too dictatorial, sticking to her own opinion and refusing to listen to others. Chinnawat said Thida at times had behaved inappropriately, such as grabbing the microphone at meetings and hitting the table.

Thida was taking over the red shirts although it is comprised of many factions (groups) that can think differently, he said. She should not have taken over the chair position, claiming her husband's name as a red-shirt leader and a Pheu Thai MP-elect, he said.

"The red shirts appointed Thida as caretaker chairwoman to replace Veera Musigapong to prevent the vacuum while many leaders were detained. But if Thida does not improve her behaviour, red-shirt leaders in the North and the Northeast will move independently. We won't consult with Thida as a measure to pressure her," he said.

MP-elect Natthawut Saikua yesterday admitted there was a rift in the red-shirt movement and insisted it had already been patched up.

"The conflict between red-shirt chairwoman Thida Thawornseth and core leader Chinnawat Haboonpad is considered normal when working with a large number of people," he said.

In the wake of the Thaida-Chinnawat spat on Wednesday, Natthawut yesterday made separate telephone calls to the two to reconcile their differences. He said they now understood one another.

Before Natthawut's intervention, Chinnawat questioned Thida's leadership and demanded her resignation.

-- The Nation 2011-07-08

[OzMick]

Her biggest problem is that she lies so often that even she doesn't know when she's lying.

[animatic]

Her biggest problem is that she lies so often that even she doesn't know when she's lying.

I think she believes her discredited ideology, so when she lies or exaggerates, she doesn't even realize.

The hardcore factions believe only the worst, most over the top lies or exaggerations, and only those. No moderates need apply, you are too weak minded.

Edited July 8, 2011 by animatic

[LindsayBKK]

She is not stepping down, she was pushed out. They don't need a women to make the group look sweet and innocent anymore.

I guess nobody's going to be arrested for burning Central World Plaza, Center One & Big C are they? %$#@&%@ Stinks

[ToffeEFCpower]

Good, about time the old bag did something positive.

[rubl]

Her biggest problem is that she lies so often that even she doesn't know when she's lying.

I think she believes her discredited ideology, so when she lies or exaggerates, she doesn't even realize.

The hardcore factions believe only the worst, most over the top lies or exaggerations, and only those. No moderates need apply, you are too weak minded.

Lying for 'the cause' is not lying, according to red ideology

Edited July 8, 2011 by rubl

[Ricardo]

Her biggest problem is that she lies so often that even she doesn't know when she's lying.

I disagree, I think it's more that she feels the Red-movement ought to be bigger than just Thaksin, and wishes it to move beyond him.

This obviously makes her non-flavour of the month with all those MPs, who have allegedly pre-signed resignation-notes (how democratic !), and those of her fellow UDD/DAAD-leaders who might rely upon funds from overseas. Not to mention, unpopular with He-Who-Thinks And Must-Be-Obeyed !

Yay for Red Democracy, as another poster sometimes says !

Edited July 8, 2011 by Ricardo