By Khaosod English |
<div>On 21 September 2017, the Supreme Court ruled that 13 leaders of People’s Alliance for Democracy (PAD), also known as the yellowshirts, must pay 522 million baht for leading crowds to occupy two Bangkok airports in 2008, <a href="http://www.khaosodenglish.com/politics/2017/09/22/yellowshirt-leaders-fined-522m-seizing-airports/">reported Khaosod English</a>.</div>
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<div>Upholding the decision of the lower court, the court added 7.5 percent annual interest to what the 13 owe Airports of Thailand since Dec.
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<div>ASTV-Manager Weekly Magazine publishes black cover on its latest issue and it will temporarily stop publishing for three weeks as a response to the junta’s intimidation. </div>
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<div>According to Thai PBS, the black cover is to protest against media intimidation by the junta. The magazine will stop publishing for three weeks to “ease pressure” during the investigation by the Press Council of Thailand. </div>
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<div>The junta’s National Council for Peace and Order (NCPO) last week issued Order No.
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<p>The US has developed a project which can emit electromagnetic waves into the atmosphere to be reflected back to the earth to cause ‘natural disasters’ at targeted areas, as a new kind of weapon to destroy enemies, said Panthep Puapongpan, spokesperson for the People’s Alliance for Democracy in an ASTV-Manager television programme on 20 June.</p>
<p>The gathering of royalists in front of the Army Club on Vibhavadi Rangsit Rd on 21 April to ‘recall power from politicians betraying the land’ has been dismissed by ASTV-Manager as an ‘ammat mob’ or a rally by the elite.</p>
<p>Prida Tiasuwan, chairman of the listed jewelry-trading <a href="http://www.pranda.com/www/home.aspx">Pranda Group</a>, has long been a staunch advocate of the cause of the People’s Alliance of Democracy and a major faction of Thai civil society groups. Now with the Siam Samakkhi (United Siam) group, he recently gave an interview with <a href="http://www.matichon.co.th/news_detail.php?newsid=1331033841&grpid=01&catid=01">Matichon Online</a>, reflecting his thoughts about Thai politics.</p>
<p>The US has been behind all the political turmoil in Thailand, including violence in the south, coups, the burning of the country, etc., to create instability so that it can install its military bases to block China’s influence, said Dr Thianchai Wongchaisuwan, a self-styled analyst of global trends and a staunch supporter of the People’s Alliance for Democracy.</p>
<p>Sondhi Limthongkul has revealed a plan by American capitalists to rule Thailand in a bid to exploit natural resources, including oil, in the Asia Pacific region, exposing Nitirat and Prachatai as receiving money from American corporate-backed funders in a conspiracy to overthrow the monarchy. </p>
<p>‘Soldiers, don’t sit still. Come out and seize power. PAD supporters across the country will join the soldiers to seize Thailand back from those scoundrels,’ said Sondhi Limthongkul in a broadcast <a href="http://www.manager.co.th/Politics/ViewNews.aspx?NewsID=9550000009019">programme</a> on ASTV on 20 Jan. </p>
<p>The yellow shirts’ mouthpiece ASTV went off the air late on the afternoon of 17 Oct after it failed to clear debts owed to a Dutch satellite-operating company, but it still can be viewed on the internet and listened to on radio.</p>
By Pravit Rojanaphruk, The Nation |
<p>With rumours swirling of yet another military coup in the pipeline, along with calls from the People's Alliance for Democracy (PAD) for a government that is selected by the palace, one can't help but wonder why so many Thais continue to be so fond of instant political gratification.</p>
<p>Praphan Khoonmee has told the yellow shirts that he will accept any means to let good people govern the country, saying that it is their right to have a better political system. </p>
<p>Sondhi Limthongkul told yellow shirts gathered at their rally site near Government House last Friday night what he would do if he were Prime Minister of Thailand.</p>