On Dec 19, about 1,000 people from the civil society groups led by the NGO Coordinating Committee on Development (NGO-COD) gathered in front of parliament to demand that the National Legislative Assembly (NLA) stop passing laws.  They formed a human chain trying to block entrances to parliament, while hundreds of police and anti-riot troops were deployed inside and outside the premises, and security was tightened.

Activists of several organizations including state enterprise labour unions, slum dwellers, people with HIV/AIDS, and students had been successful on Dec 12 when they climbed the fence, stormed into the parliament building, and almost reached the chamber where the NLA was meeting.  The NLA's afternoon session on that day was eventually cancelled due to the pressure.

This time, barricades were put up and police cars were parked to prevent the activists from approaching the fence of the parliament compound, forcing them gather on the other side of the road in front of the zoo.   

Around 9.45 am, the protesters moved to the main entrance to parliament to hang a banner reading ‘Non-violence.  Human chain.  Stop dangerous bills' on the fence near the main gate.

AIDS Access Foundation Director Nimit Tien-udom called on NLA Speaker Meechai Ruchuphan to come out to meet with the protesters to discuss the bills that were being considered, while the protesters chanted "Meechai. Come out!"  Nimit said the NLA Speaker had said that they should have come to meet and talk, but when the people came to submit a petition on Nov 29, Meechai did not come out and told them to come on Dec 12 instead.  And on Dec 12, Meechai did not come out either.  

Nimit said that the NLA was going to consider that day the Patent Cooperation Treaty, and make a decision to enter the Paris Convention on Industrial Property Protection, sidestepping Article 190(3) of the 2007 Constitution that obliges parliamentary approval for international agreements.  Meechai said it was just signing up to membership with no need to inform the public and Thailand would benefit from the PCT, according to Nimit.

However, in the morning session the NLA approved the UN Convention on Anti-corruption 2003 with 136 votes for and one abstention.  The votes on the PCT and the signing of the Paris Convention were postponed.  The 21 bills on the agenda for that day included the autonomy bills for KMIT Lat Krabang, Chiang Mai and Chulalongkorn universities, the Labour Protection Bill, the Nationality Bill, and the Alcohol Beverages Control Bill.

Foundation for Consumers manager Saree Ongsomwang told demonstrators that the NLA must scrap the State Enterprise Privatization Bill that allows the government to sell anything.  Formerly, the NLA said that the civil sector could attend meetings of the committees, but when the people voiced opposition, they were not allowed to sit in on the meetings.  Saree said now she had no idea how the bill had developed.

Representatives of Southern Alternative Agriculture Network also called on the NLA to stop considering the National Agricultural Council Bill.  The constitution stipulates the establishment of a Farmers' Council, but the NLA was passing a law that involves agro-business, with inadequate representation of small farmers.  The farmers will write their own bill, they said.

About 3.45 pm, NGO-COD Chair Jon Ungphakorn announced that the demonstrators decided to continue their protest over the next two days, Dec 20-21.  On Dec 20, the Internal Security Bill is supposed to be on the agenda, the bill that most violates civil liberties and freedom, and which is most opposed by the people.  He said the protests would adhere to the principle of non-violence.

Meanwhile, the three autonomy bills for KMIT Lad Krabang, Chiang Mai, and Chulalongkorn universities were passed, and would take effect once published in the Royal Gazette.     

In late afternoon, the NLA decided on the agenda for Dec 20, which includes deliberations of the contentious Internal Security Bill and Water Resources Bill, among others.

The protesters folded their leaflets into paper airplanes and launched them into the parliament.  From time to time they pretended they were going to climb the fence by placing ladders and throwing hooks tied with ropes to rock the gates, while making noises, and the police were made to move to control the situation.

Finally, Jon said to the crowd that they would come again the next day.  As long as this junta-installed assembly still shamelessly passes laws that violate rights, they vowed to fight to the end.

"It doesn't matter if we succeed or not.  But this is a just fight.  The media and the public understand us.  This assembly was appointed, so it wouldn't listen to the people.  It only listens to its boss, the boss who staged the coup on Sept 19, 2006.  When the elected House is in place, we will be collecting signatures to revoke those laws," Jon said.

Related news:

Straight to the Point : A personal explanation of the invasion of parliament

NGOs to close parliament again, against 8 bills

Anti-National Legislative Assembly: ‘shameless' NLA, ‘unabashed' NGOs

Enough is enough!

Historic incident: Closure of the 'Shameless Assembly'

Translated by Ponglert Pongwanan