Spirit of Songkran brings respite from stand-off

[Lite Beer]

Spirit of Songkran brings respite from stand-off
The Sunday Nation

Tourists from neighbouring countries, mostly Malaysia and Singapore, take part in a water fight during yesterday

BANGKOK: -- As nation soaks in the festivities, political rivals prepare to take the centre stage after uneasy truce

An informal Songkran truce appears to have been observed by those involved in the ongoing political conflict.

The Songkran Festival officially begins today though celebrations for the traditional Thai New Year started in many places yesterday - the first day of a holiday period ending Wednesday.

Foreign tourists at Bangkok's Khao San Road, dubbed the backpackers' capital of the world, took part in water fights with locals and fellow visitors yesterday.

In Songkhla's tourist and business district of Hat Yai, many foreign visitors - mostly from Malaysia, Singapore and Indonesia - mingled with locals at a "midnight Songkran" festival that runs until today.

The Songkhla office of the Tourism Authority of Thailand estimated that foreign tourists would generate revenue of at least Bt300 million this Songkran.

A festive mood reigned all over the country, even in the restive southern border region. Soldiers armed with assault rifles stood guard at public places in Narathiwat while young locals splashed water at one another.

The anti-government People's Democratic Reform Committee (PDRC) is holding Songkran celebrations at its protest site inside Lumpini Park.

PDRC leader Suthep Thaugsuban announced that the group had no plans to rally outside the compound during Songkran. Protesters in colourful clothes took part in water fights.

At the PDRC protest site on Chaeng Wattana Road, which is led by monk Phra Buddha Issara, people took part in activities including a religious ceremony performed by Buddhist monks. Younger participants also joined a traditional water-pouring ceremony for the elderly.

Meanwhile, the Student and People Network for Thailand's Reform (STR), another anti-government group, holds its Songkran celebration from today at its protest site outside Government House.

Many protesters at the site have returned home to the provinces to celebrate the festival with their families.

STR coordinator Uthai Yodmanee said the activities were aimed at relaxing protesters during this festival, adding that the celebrations would run until Tuesday.

A Ferris wheel and a carrousel were installed at the site yesterday.

The ruling Pheu Thai Party's deputy spokesman, Anussorn Iamsa-ard, said it was good for all the conflicting sides to have a "truce" during Songkran although it was possible that "the confusion" would resume after the holiday. He said the party proposed seven measures to "bring back happiness" to the Thai people after Songkran.

These include holding a new election soon, the independent agencies working straightforwardly, the military not becoming a political tool for the anti-government group, and national reform through constitutional means. The opposition Democrat Party, meanwhile, asked Pheu Thai and Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra to sincerely respect the law as a present for the country during Songkran.

Democrat spokesman Chavanont Intarakomalyasut said that Pheu Thai should also propose to the public its plan for reforming Thailand, adding that the party had completed its national reform plan in seven aspects.

-- The Nation 2014-04-13

[Fryslan boppe]

"An informal Songkran truce appears to have been observed by those involved in the ongoing political conflict"

Spoken as if there was a generic 'political conflict' instead an attempt to usurp the votes of the electoral majority and impose a 'Civilian Dictatorship".....Advancing those objectives is not a "stand-off"........That implies a balance of opposing forces, when it is most certainly not the case.....They would like to make it appear, that this Lumpini group somehow equates to the millions of voters who they are seeking to disenfranchise.

The fact that the self-serving coup-advocacy group at Lumpini, pretending to be against the elected Govt., know they cannot advance their cause during this event, cannot be categorized as some sort of pause in normal "ongoing political conflict"

That is merely an effort by their supporters to add a veneer of standardization. As if what they are doing is perfectly normal.

There is nothing 'standard or normal' about an attempt to nullify the governing choices of an electoral majority by a minority. Trying to displace Electoral and Parliamentary Democracy with a "Civilian Dictatorship".....seasonal celebrations notwithstanding.

Discussed in benign terms as in this 'happy' article, doesn't obscure the reality.

Edited April 13, 2014 by Fryslan boppe

[mrtoad]

Give it a rest Robert, and take a day off.

[Robby nz]

These include holding a new election soon, the independent agencies working straightforwardly, the military not becoming a political tool for the anti-government group, and national reform through constitutional means. The opposition Democrat Party, meanwhile, asked Pheu Thai and Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra to sincerely respect the law as a present for the country during Songkran.

So there we have PT's priorities.

An election with no reforms held under the present system of intimidation, bribes and refusing to let other parties campaign in red heartland thereby ensuring a return to power.

Sort out the independent agencies so they no longer bring down verdicts against them.

Arrange for the military to be a political tool of PT.

Then prevaricate about reforms and call them unconstitutional.

The unsaid parts are, an urgent return to amnesty, as much money borrowed out of budget as possible.

Interesting to see the Dems have completed a reform plan, we await to see what it covers.

Sutheps group are also working on reforms, we also await details.

There are also many other groups including ministries that have put forward reform plans.

That leaves only one body who have made no attempt to address reforms.

[crazydrummerpauly]

Since the pick-of-the-day is for some reason 'Locked', i'll make the point here : Shouting about 102 deaths in the first 2 days of Songkran is sensationalising the Norm. At approximately 20,000 road-deaths a year (nobody knows the true number because of the weird way they are counted in LOS) - 102 is bang on the normal average. 20,000 -:- 365 = 54.79 per day x 2 days = 109-ish. Couldn't we have just one Songkran where the accident-figures are not the focus of hysteria ?

Edited April 13, 2014 by crazydrummerpauly

[soalbundy]

it brings respite from the stand off while we read about the hundreds of dead and injured from this typical Thai holiday (i prefer the bombings and shootings,its safer and not so many casualties)

[northernjohn]

Not to be a wet blanket on this political accident leaning thread. BUT

Does any one know if Suthep participated in the water fights or just got a sprinkling?