<p>Many Thais hope that the political crisis that began at the end of 2005 and has dragged on until today can end with the parliamentary elections on 23 December 2007. These have an important role in pushing the military back to the barracks and leading the country back to a democratic system.</p>

<p><span>First of all, I would like to express my appreciation to all Thai</span><span>s for the overwhelming turnout in the Sunday polls, no matter what parties you voted for. In this election, in my opinion, the economic policies of the competing parties were not so much of an issue, because almost all parties just followed those of the disbanded Thai Rak Thai Party. Rather, political reasons seemed to be the deciding factor.</span></p>

<p><span>What a shame for the &lsquo;honourable</span><span> assembly of good people' to pass the Internal Security Act just three days ahead of the general elections, while protesters of the bill went back home to rest.</span></p>

<p><span>Two members of our group had a chance to listen to political science and law professors giving comments about the upcoming election on the 23 December. The speeches made us feel weird as if there is something stuck in our throats.</span></p>

<p>It should come as no surprise that Thai police are considering charges against nonviolent activists who scaled Parliament&#39;s fence December 12 to confront the &#39;Shameless Assembly&#39;.</p>

<p><span>What happened last Wednesday and is going to happen tomorrow can be called position C, at which point they have turned against the junta-installed NLA and questioned its legitimacy.</span></p>

<p>I am sure many people read or watched the news about the &#39;&#39;peaceful&#39;&#39; invasion of parliament last Wednesday at noon by around 100 demonstrators led by myself. This resulted in the meeting of the National Legislative Assembly (NLA) being suspended by the Chair. I am well aware that our actions did not meet with the approval (to say the least) of the majority of the media and probably the majority of society. </p>

<p>Thailand is a middle income country with a majority of the working population employed in the industrial and service sectors. No longer are the days when most of the population were provided basic food and housing security by the land they owned and worked on. With our rapid economic growth over the past two decades has come ever increasing income disparities between rich and poor, urban and rural populations. </p>

<p><span>Wanida Tantiwittayapitak</span><span>, aka &quot;Mod&quot;, was a fighter for justice and a prominent leader of people&#39;s movements. The following lecture delivered at the 1997 vividly explains her feelings and deep commitment toward the causes of the poor. </span></p>

<p><span>An adviser to the Assembly of the Poor (AoP) since the early &#39;90s, &#39;&#39;Mod&#39;&#39; Wanida Tantiwittayapitak is a dedicated social activist well-known both in Thailand and in the global social justice movement. Many Thais regard her as an incessant troublemaker who devotes her energies to inciting rural communities to protest against the authorities with never-ending demands for their rights.</span></p>

<p>The conflict about the planned construction of the smelting plant had reached a dead end after a year-long dispute on the wetland.&nbsp; A panel had been formed comprising representatives of the National Human Rights Commission, provincial authorities, and local people, but it had been ignored by the company.&nbsp; Now the local people had come to a definite conclusion to reject the planned smelting plant.</p>

<p><span><span>This week my</span></span><span> organisation</span><span><span>, the Thai NGO Co</span></span><span>-coordinating</span><span><span> Committee on Development, which represents the common views and objectives of Thai NGOs and people&#39;s networks involved in community and social development, will be waging a campaign for the immediate closure of the National Legislative Assembly appointed after the 2006 military coup.</span></span></p>