Special Report: Taking their cases to the masses

[Lite Beer]

SPECIAL REPORT
Taking their cases to the masses
Hataikarn Treesuwan
The Sunday Nation

Major political parties take to the streets to get their message out

BANGKOK: -- The country's two major political parties have taken to the streets to woo public support for their policies. It appears both parties began adopting this approach after observing the success of anti-government street protests by the red shirts and yellow shirts, which led to the premature end of four administrations.

Starting in May last year, the opposition Democrat Party followed in the footsteps of the red shirts and yellow shirts by launching its "Reveal the Truth" rallies. The plan was to hold the rallies in each of the country's provinces. This was followed four months ago, by the governing Pheu Thai Party's series of rallies called "Pheu Thai: For the Future of Thailand". So far, it has held nine such rallies.

Democrat MP Satit Wongnongtaey, the rally's project manager, said the party needs to get the message across to the public that the government has a hidden agenda in pushing the amnesty bills - namely to whitewash former premier Thaksin Shinawatra's wrongdoings.

"The government always maintains half-truths using those media channels it can control. We need [the rallies] to speak directly to the people and spread the truth," Satit said. "It's better than a press conference or a debate in the House. It's a lively, dynamic approach and we have unlimited time."

He claimed that each Democrat rally attracted an average of 10,000 people. The highest number recorded was 40,000, in Prachuap Khiri Khan, Satit said.

The weekly rallies are the brainchild of former Democrat secretary-general Suthep Thaugsuban. According to Satit, key Democrat figures meet every Wednesday to discuss details of the next rally. Seven to eight Democrats speak at such events, including party leader Abhisit Vejjajiva and Suthep himself.

The Democrats have held 56 weekly rallies spread across all four regions of the country. They have even staged rallies in provinces dominated by the red shirts.

According to Satit, a group that calls itself "Ayutthaya's former red shirts" helped the Democrats stage rallies in many of the central provinces. "They also helped us persuade trouble-making red shirts to leave our rally site," he said.

Satit also defended his fellow Democrats against allegations their roles are changing from being MPs to becoming "street activists". Even Democrat chief adviser Chuan Leekpai, a vocal supporter of the parliamentary system, has become a frequent speaker at the weekly rallies.

"Khun Chuan still performs his duty in Parliament - 100 per cent. His standpoint has remained unchanged," said Satit. "We, the Democrats, still believe in the

parliamentary system. But can we still trust in the system when the majority does not listen to anyone?"

Pheu Thai, which began its street campaigns almost a year after the Democrats, denied that its rallies were aimed at countering those of the opposition party.

Adisorn Piengket, a key speaker at Pheu Thai's rallies, said they were not aimed at bringing the red shirts together to protect the government. "We only want to promote the government's work and counter the views of the opposition," he said.

"We don't care much about the Democrat rallies," Adisorn said, adding that the Pheu Thai rallies were held in provinces where it had a strong support base, such as locations for the planned high-speed railway lines.

However, the rallies were sometimes held in places where the ruling party was heavily attacked. "We chose Phitsanulok province because it's a political base of a Democrat MP [Warong Dechgitvigrom] who always attacks the government," Adisorn said.

The mastermind of the Pheu Thai rallies is the party's secretary-general, Phumtham Wechayachai, who also selected five to six people as key speakers at each rally, according to Adisorn. "We have maintained more than 10,000 audience members at each rally," he said.

However, a researcher who helped organise a reconciliation forum in 2011 said the political parties' street rallies could lead to further political conflict.

Mathus Anuvatudom, from the Office of Peace and Governance at King Prajadhipok's Institute, said the rallies were one-sided - only looking at those issues of interest to their supporters.

"If both parties are sincere about creating harmony, they should join the same forum, with academics acting as mediators," Mathus said.

"Over the past two years, the reconciliation efforts have been hopeless. I think the opposition may believe that everything the government does is aimed at bringing Thaksin home. Yet, many government actions also reinforce the opposition's notion. This is a reason why the Democrats and Pheu Thai go their separate ways," he said.

Mathus's concerns appear to be well-founded. Adisorn said Pheu Thai's next goal was to hold its "Pheu Thai Meets the People" rallies in every province, while the Democrats will hold a "Reveal the Truth" rally in Bangkok from August 4 and 6, in the run-up to the parliamentary debate on an amnesty bill on August 7. The goal of the rally is to pressure the government to withdraw the draft law, said Satit.

-- The Nation 2013-07-28

[NongKhaiKid]

PTP's prospectus forget to say that red shirts will be on hand for Democrat rallies to ensure no lies are told

[tomross46]

I see that the PTP have only had 5 rallies across the country. I do not understand, the Red Shirt rallies do they count as PTP rallies. Are the red shirts the enforcers of the party, they are the storm troopers

[Baerboxer]

It must be interesting to go to the PTP rally and listen to the speakers upate on government performance. What do they do after those 30 seconds? Does the boss Skype in?

Edited July 28, 2013 by Baerboxer

[slipperx]

Given the backwardness of society in Thailand, perhaps rallies are the way to get ones point across and educate the people as to your point of view.

Unfortunately the two parties have almost nothing in common with each other and the extreme corruption within the political and justice systems here mean that the politics are directed at maximising the individuals profit rather than any more altruistic notion of governing the country for the benefit of the country.

It would be great to see a bi-party rally between the two sides but i think everyone knows that would end in a riot as Thais are not the best mindset at listening and thinking about another persons viewpoint. Therefore such a rally would be counter-productive.

However, televised debates between political leaders or minsters and their counterparts would be a fantastic idea as it would give an opportunity for both sides to question each others motives and explain their own ideals.

It does not seem very likely the characters involved have either the acumen nor the personal maturity or capability of holding a debate which would likely result in a slanging match rather than something mature and enlightening.

And there folks is the reason for the plight of the country - an ignorant, self-serving egotistical and largely immature set of leaders and politicians who, with the corrupt agendas are pulling the country backwards while their neighbours are embracing foreign investment and knowledge to better themselves.

Thailand needs some new leaders of the calibre of Abhisit, who comes across as man of some intellect, even if you disagree with his agenda or politics, I see no one in the Pheu Thai to compare, though there may be some. Unfortunately the ignorant are not the most well placed to understand intelligence, preferring immediate satisfaction of a few hundred baht now for a vote to an increasingly better life through proper governance over years. The latter takes some intelligence to understand and that is one thing in short supply in Thailand.

[Robby nz]

The reds are indeed on hand at the Dems meetings.

Like in these photos where they were blocking the main entrance to the venue and making as much noise as possible in an a (vain) attempt to disrupt (make sure the truth was told) the meeting.

The red shirt noise machine blocking the main gate with the police standing by.

The police did however protect the back entrance where people could get in.

As you can see there were only a few of then but it only takes a small piece of <deleted> to leave a big smear.

Note the friendly gent in the red hat in the foreground throwing something at the police.

[nicknostitz]

The Nation's claim that the Democrat Party rallies have an audience of more than 10 000 people is completely exaggerated. Also the statement of viewer rating of the different medias of both the Red Shirt media and the pro-Democrat Party medias (100 000 Red vs 1 Mio. Democrat) is not verifiable as none of the medias mentioned are independently audited.

I have been to at least ten of their rallies, and on average there are several hundred people to at most a bit more than one thousand people attending. Yesterday's rally next to the Emporium peaked at about a thousand during Abhisit's speech, before and after his speech the audience was about 500 to 600 people. About the same numbers attended last week's rally at Laksi monument, where the Democrat Party decided to rally a few hundred meters next to a Red Shirt encampment (no incident occurred).

There will be more of their rallies in Bangkok in the next 10 days or so. On the 31st they will be at Chong Nonsri BTS station, at the fourth in Bangsue, and at the 6th at Laksi's Turakit Bandit University.

[mikemac]

The Nation's claim that the Democrat Party rallies have an audience of more than 10 000 people is completely exaggerated. Also the statement of viewer rating of the different medias of both the Red Shirt media and the pro-Democrat Party medias (100 000 Red vs 1 Mio. Democrat) is not verifiable as none of the medias mentioned are independently audited.

I have been to at least ten of their rallies, and on average there are several hundred people to at most a bit more than one thousand people attending. Yesterday's rally next to the Emporium peaked at about a thousand during Abhisit's speech, before and after his speech the audience was about 500 to 600 people. About the same numbers attended last week's rally at Laksi monument, where the Democrat Party decided to rally a few hundred meters next to a Red Shirt encampment (no incident occurred).

There will be more of their rallies in Bangkok in the next 10 days or so. On the 31st they will be at Chong Nonsri BTS station, at the fourth in Bangsue, and at the 6th at Laksi's Turakit Bandit University.

You will never have the same big numbers at a Democrat rally. They are there because they genuinely want to be there, not because they are being paid to be there.

Take away the 500 baht a day "incentive" and watch the numbers drop at the redshirt terrorist rallies.

[LuckyLew]

I went to few times to see the red shirts rallies

They are not rallies

If is people standing on stage

Yelling into a microphone

and people sitting in the ht sun listening

I made me think of a cult ...

[rijb]

The Nation's claim that the Democrat Party rallies have an audience of more than 10 000 people is completely exaggerated. Also the statement of viewer rating of the different medias of both the Red Shirt media and the pro-Democrat Party medias (100 000 Red vs 1 Mio. Democrat) is not verifiable as none of the medias mentioned are independently audited.

I have been to at least ten of their rallies, and on average there are several hundred people to at most a bit more than one thousand people attending. Yesterday's rally next to the Emporium peaked at about a thousand during Abhisit's speech, before and after his speech the audience was about 500 to 600 people. About the same numbers attended last week's rally at Laksi monument, where the Democrat Party decided to rally a few hundred meters next to a Red Shirt encampment (no incident occurred).

There will be more of their rallies in Bangkok in the next 10 days or so. On the 31st they will be at Chong Nonsri BTS station, at the fourth in Bangsue, and at the 6th at Laksi's Turakit Bandit University.

You will never have the same big numbers at a Democrat rally. They are there because they genuinely want to be there, not because they are being paid to be there.

Take away the 500 baht a day "incentive" and watch the numbers drop at the redshirt terrorist rallies.

Actually, it's because the Serpent of Slytherin (Suthep) might be there. And the Slytherin house has a negative reputation.

PS: Before you crackpots go crazy, I'm not a red fan either.

Edited July 28, 2013 by rijb

[Robby nz]

One reason the Dems do not get more to their meetings Nick could be the intimidation shown in my previous post.

A reason the reds get more is that they bus people around the country to make it look like they have support.

A rest stop off the main highway for convoy of red shirt buses led by 2 utes decked out in red shirt and PT insignia going somewhere from somewhere.