Thaksin Should Not Overlook The P A D Lesson

[webfact]

BURNING ISSUE

Thaksin should not overlook the PAD lesson

Avudh Panananda

The Nation

BANGKOK: -- The man in Dubai should carefully assess the two Pitak Siam rallies, one held on October 28 and another scheduled for November 24, if he is to avoid putting Thailand as well as its political system at risk.

Thaksin Shinawatra appears to be the real target of anti-government messages, even though Pitak Siam leader Boonlert Kaewprasit has billed his street protests as an integral part of the opposition movement to Prime Minister Yingluck.

The Pitak Siam critique of the flaws of populism, such as the rice-pledging scheme, corruption, cronyism and ill-gotten gains amassed by government supporters, is nothing but a rehash of stories circulated by the People's Alliance for Democracy before the 2006 coup to oust Thaksin.

In 2005, the pro-Thaksin camp shrugged off the PAD as a gang of political bullies seeking change through undemocratic means. Thaksin saw his immense popularity as an invincible shield for his government.

In the final days of his leadership, he became a globetrotter seeking the support of the international community to safeguard Thai democracy.

The power seizure happened, however. And for the past six years, Thaksin has been trotting the globe in an attempt to find his way back home.

Thaksin, Yingluck and their supporters may see a repeat downfall if they refuse to factor in their opponents.

Just like the politically fatal mistake made by Thaksin in ignoring the PAD, Yingluck happens to be busy cultivating international ties in the weeks ahead of a showdown with Pitak Siam.

In the previous rally, Pitak Siam protesters surged to about 20,000 at the Royal Turf Club.

For the protest next Saturday, Boonlert said he would aim to mobilise a million protesters at the Royal Plaza. Security authorities have estimated a turnout of up to 30,000 people.

The rally site and adjacent areas, including Rajdamnoen Avenue, could not hold more than 80,000 people.

Due to the design of the plaza, a crowd of 20,000 to 30,000 people would show an impressive picture as viewed through camera lenses.

In February 2005, the PAD chose the plaza to kick off its street protests to remove Thaksin. Likewise, Pitak Siam might be expecting its plaza rally to achieve a similar momentum to that of the PAD's in order to root out the Thaksin's legacy.

When the PAD spearheaded the opposition movement against the Thai Rak Thai-led government, the then ruling party countered by portraying the yellow shirts as undemocratic forces.

When the PAD again resumed street protests in 2008, two governments, led by Samak Sundaravej and Somchai Wongsawat, tried to crush, rather than reason with, the opposition movement.

When the red shirts descended on the streets, the Democrats failed to engage them in talks in order to address their grievances.

Fast-forward to the present. Pitak Siam has been protesting against corruption and populism. And in its rebuttals, the ruling Pheu Thai Party is voicing suspicion about a pretext to derail democratic rule.

While Pitak Siam and the government are trying to point the finger at one another for harming democracy, the two seem to have let a mutual suspicion cloud their judgement on finding common ground to settle their differences over populism and charter rewrite.

If the rival camps insist on their way or the highway, then politics would veer off course with untold damage to the country.

It is perhaps time for Thaksin to pick up the phone and start talking to his opponents, starting with Boonlert. What is the point of wielding his popularity when he could not live in his own home?

-- The Nation 2012-11-13

[renaissanc]

I doubt if Thaksin will compromise with anyone. Everyone has to bow to his demands and policies.The conflict can only worsen, unfortunately.

[DocN]

I doubt if Thaksin will compromise with anyone. Everyone has to bow to his demands and policies.The conflict can only worsen, unfortunately.

Correct me if I am wrong, but the last time this country "bowed", was when the PAD blocked 3 international airports until the PM stepped down!

After that, it was democracy at work aaaaaaaaaaaall the way!

[Chrisswe]

For god sake ignore ignore this PAD and Boonlert witch is s disaster for Thailands future and global reputation.

[whybother]

I doubt if Thaksin will compromise with anyone. Everyone has to bow to his demands and policies.The conflict can only worsen, unfortunately.

Correct me if I am wrong, but the last time this country "bowed", was when the PAD blocked 3 international airports until the PM stepped down!

After that, it was democracy at work aaaaaaaaaaaall the way!

The PM (Somchai) didn't "step down". The party was disbanded and the executives banned.

[OzMick]

I doubt if Thaksin will compromise with anyone. Everyone has to bow to his demands and policies.The conflict can only worsen, unfortunately.

Correct me if I am wrong, but the last time this country "bowed", was when the PAD blocked 3 international airports until the PM stepped down!

After that, it was democracy at work aaaaaaaaaaaall the way!

My red shirt g/f says it was a "judicial coup" but you blame PAD. Are you reading an "Alternate History of Thailand" published by Red Presss?

[DocN]

I doubt if Thaksin will compromise with anyone. Everyone has to bow to his demands and policies.The conflict can only worsen, unfortunately.

Correct me if I am wrong, but the last time this country "bowed", was when the PAD blocked 3 international airports until the PM stepped down!

After that, it was democracy at work aaaaaaaaaaaall the way!

My red shirt g/f says it was a "judicial coup" but you blame PAD. Are you reading an "Alternate History of Thailand" published by Red Presss?

No I am not!

I couldn't care less for the reds!

I just happen to be of the opinion, that there may be more than just one thing happening at a certain point in time and that many things lead to a certain result!

Sorry...I didn't start my comment with the words "Thaksin bad...everybody else gooooood"!

[khunken]

I doubt if Thaksin will compromise with anyone. Everyone has to bow to his demands and policies.The conflict can only worsen, unfortunately.

Correct me if I am wrong, but the last time this country "bowed", was when the PAD blocked 3 international airports until the PM stepped down!

After that, it was democracy at work aaaaaaaaaaaall the way!

My red shirt g/f says it was a "judicial coup" but you blame PAD. Are you reading an "Alternate History of Thailand" published by Red Presss?

No I am not!

I couldn't care less for the reds!

I just happen to be of the opinion, that there may be more than just one thing happening at a certain point in time and that many things lead to a certain result!

Sorry...I didn't start my comment with the words "Thaksin bad...everybody else gooooood"!

No one said you did. But you are implying that the PAD is the only 'bad' group.

The last time the country 'bowed' as you put it was when Thaksin's red shirts occupied the centre of Bangkok. As Ozmick says, you just seem to be trying to rewrite history from the red shirt story book.

[DocN]

When I said " I didn't start...", I meant...maybe I should have done it, so the usual group that is blind on the "yellow"- eye wouldn't have reacted in the usual and expected way!

But to your point: I don't see the PAD as the only bad group! No way! I am just convinced, red or yellow doesn't make much different.

But after the massive and harmful protests of The PAD, Somchai was put out of business by the named "judicial coup" (worth a discussion, for sure). After the Red shirt madness...who bowed and where? There were elections and the Dems had to go by majority vote. Little different, don't you think?

[metisdead]

Nonsense posts have been removed. Nobody is forcing you to read this topic, if it is not of interest to you, move along and find something that interests you rather than post nonsense.

[waza]

It seems that Thaksin never learns from his past mistakes because he never acknowledges that he has made any mistakes. In fact everything is someone elses fault, he ia a true sociopath.

http://www.mcafee.cc/Bin/sb.html

[DocN]

It seems that Thaksin never learns from his past mistakes because he never acknowledges that he has made any mistakes. In fact everything is someone elses fault, he ia a true sociopath.

http://www.mcafee.cc/Bin/sb.html

That would make him no sociopath...just a typical Thai!

[h90]

I doubt if Thaksin will compromise with anyone. Everyone has to bow to his demands and policies.The conflict can only worsen, unfortunately.

Correct me if I am wrong, but the last time this country "bowed", was when the PAD blocked 3 international airports until the PM stepped down!

After that, it was democracy at work aaaaaaaaaaaall the way!

If I recall right the PM DID NOT step down, the government dissolved the PPP for vote buying.

[h90]

It seems that Thaksin never learns from his past mistakes because he never acknowledges that he has made any mistakes. In fact everything is someone elses fault, he ia a true sociopath.

http://www.mcafee.cc/Bin/sb.html

That would make him no sociopath...just a typical Thai!

Come on....there are a lot reasonable Thais and Thaksin is actually Chinese.

[DocN]

It seems that Thaksin never learns from his past mistakes because he never acknowledges that he has made any mistakes. In fact everything is someone elses fault, he ia a true sociopath.

http://www.mcafee.cc/Bin/sb.html

That would make him no sociopath...just a typical Thai!

Come on....there are a lot reasonable Thais and Thaksin is actually Chinese.

Somehow he is also a fish, as life comes from the oceans!

He is Thai and Thais (not 100% of all Thais) are generally great at finding excuses and scapegoats.

[hellodolly]

I doubt if Thaksin will compromise with anyone. Everyone has to bow to his demands and policies.The conflict can only worsen, unfortunately.

Correct me if I am wrong, but the last time this country "bowed", was when the PAD blocked 3 international airports until the PM stepped down!

After that, it was democracy at work aaaaaaaaaaaall the way!

My red shirt g/f says it was a "judicial coup" but you blame PAD. Are you reading an "Alternate History of Thailand" published by Red Presss?

No I am not!

I couldn't care less for the reds!

I just happen to be of the opinion, that there may be more than just one thing happening at a certain point in time and that many things lead to a certain result!

Sorry...I didn't start my comment with the words "Thaksin bad...everybody else gooooood"!

You could always ask the Mods to change it.

You might want to try reading something besides red propaganda.

The next two PMs had to step down for legal reason's.

They mistakenly thought they could do no wrong and carried on like Thaksin had.

Not exactly the sharpest knives in the drawer. One year and they had already forgot what happened to Thaksin because of his illegal actions. They thought they could go back to the good old days and the law would not effect them.

[hellodolly]

It seems that Thaksin never learns from his past mistakes because he never acknowledges that he has made any mistakes. In fact everything is someone elses fault, he ia a true sociopath.

http://www.mcafee.cc/Bin/sb.html

That would make him no sociopath...just a typical Thai!

Come on....there are a lot reasonable Thais and Thaksin is actually Chinese.

Somehow he is also a fish, as life comes from the oceans!

He is Thai and Thais (not 100% of all Thais) are generally great at finding excuses and scapegoats.

O goody a Thai basher defending Thaksin.

Truly the land of smiles.

[nurofiend]

Pitak Siam has been protesting against corruption and populism

...and let's not forget openly calling for a coup.

Madness.