<div>Someone said this is about grabbing power, not reform. I say this is anarchy and oligarchy, not democracy.</div> <p></p>

<div>About 150 Thai academics have on Tuesday denounced the proposal of the anti-government protesters to establish a “People’s Council” and royally-appointed caretaker government as legally impossible and undemocratic.&nbsp;</div> <div>&nbsp;</div> <p></p>

<p>While critics and apologists alike sift through the pronunciamentos of Suthep Thaugsuban, founder, leader, ideologue and sole spokesperson of the Civil Movement for Democracy, in a desperate search for something that is both practical and constitutional, there is one demand of his that deserves study.</p>

<p>It seems they have belatedly recognized that their message wasn’t getting across to a foreign audience.&nbsp; Talk of overthrowing a democratically elected government in order to create a democratic form of government wasn’t exactly the clearest of messages.&nbsp; So the newly mis-named Civil Movement for Democracy has decided to use one of its great strengths – the superior education of its supporters.</p> <p></p>

<div> <div><span>Suthep Thaugsuban, leader of the anti-government protests, said he rejects all kind of dialogue with the government until the “Thaksin regime” is completely eliminated.&nbsp;</span></div> </div>

<div>Following the rising tension in Bangkok due to the anti-government mass demonstration, the European Union and United States has said they were “concerned” with the situation and called on all sides to avoid violence, while Reporters Without Borders (RSF) and Human Rights Watch (HRW) are especially concerned with the safety of the journalists.&nbsp;</div> <p></p>

<p>It is not the first time Thailand has seen anti-Thaksin demonstrations at least twice before: once in 2006 and again in 2008 &nbsp;Still, it is an open secret that Thaksin administers the country from overseas. The leader protest himself admitted on the stage that the Thaksin regime would return despite a fresh election. The question for the demonstrators is obvious: What do they hope for from their rally? How can they literally eliminate the Thaksin regime? Is coup d'etat an option? Prachatai talked with four people who have joined the whistle-blowing demonstrations to explore their thoughts and desires.</p> <p> </p>

<p>On 4 May, in response to the Human Rights Watch report on the government crackdown on the red shirts last year, Deputy Prime Minister Suthep Thaugsuban said that he felt sorry and that the organization should have been impartial and should have checked the facts before saying anything which tarnished Thailand&rsquo;s agencies or the image of Thailand.</p>

<p>During his party&rsquo;s seminar on Koh Samui, Deputy Prime Minister and Democrat Party Secretary-General Suthep Thaugsuban called on the people to help protect the monarchy to prevent civil war.</p>

<p>The Deputy Prime Minister says that the red shirts can hold protests, but warns of legal action if they break the Emergency Decree.</p>

<p>Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva told police that their priority was to protect the monarchy, while Deputy Prime Minister Suthep Thaugsuban raised Prachatai as an example of a subversive website to be tackled.</p>