On the afternoon of 4 June 2008, a demonstration of the “Anti-Coup d’État People’s Forum” attracted hundreds of demonstrators. Mr. Surachai Danwattananusorn, or Surachai Sae-Dan, president of the group, said that the convening of this forum came from the discussion held on 27 May among different groups that formerly constituted the Democratic Alliance against Dictatorship (DAAD). The discussion came in response to last week’s clash between a group demonstrating at Sanam Luang and the People’s Alliance for Democracy (PAD).

The People’s Forum does not have a clear leadership structure. It is a loose alliance between different groups such as the Taxi Drivers Association (under the leadership of Mr. Chinawat Haboonpad, the Director of the 92.75 FM Taxi Radio), the 24 June Democratic Group for Democracy (headed by Mr. Somyot Pruksakasemsuk), the White Dove Group, Saturday People against Dictatorship, and others.  Its purpose is to find a space for the gathering of general public, especially gatherings of people at Sanam Luang which have been held to counter the PAD protest. The previous demonstration at Sanam Luang stood a chance of clashing with the PAD.

Surachai said “Our main purpose is to set up a demonstration system so that the protests would not create violence. In the past, the United Democratic Front against Dictatorship (UDD) had campaigned with the people unsympathetic toward the coup. Now we have to show our responsibility by creating an understanding with the people at Sanam Luang, who have been focusing mainly against the PAD. This is to transform the gathering at Sanam Luang to an anti-coup d’état people’s forum. This is because the PAD is only a political tool. Another coup d’état could happen. Therefore, if we can set up Sanam Luang as a main venue for anti-coup gatherings, people can come gather in the future if a coup d’état is staged”.

Surachai further explained the main demands which he has set for demonstrators are: 1. Do not make reference to the monarchy, as the institution has been used politically during the current period; 2. Do not use offensive language that could lead to violence; 3. Do not focus on condemning the government since the government is facing a tough administrative situation now. With these positions, he believed that public tension could be abated to a certain extent. He also confirmed that if there is ever violence in the future, such as the gathering of motorcycle gangs, it will not come from the group.

He also stressed that the major problem in the Thai society in this critical period is that the monarchy has been used politically. Therefore, Thai society needs to be more resilient. He also emphasized that the battle with capitalism must be fought at the moral level of society, not in the production system.

The demonstration in Sanam Luang will be broadcast through www.newskythailand.com, and www.mvnews.net

Jaran established Democracy Foundation and Political School

Mr. Jaran Dittha-apichai, leader of the People’s Committee for the Constitutional Amendment said that although the fewer of urban middle class have been involved in the PAD demonstration than before, the PAD still remains significant because its leaders have high social status, are persistent and explicit, and still largely supported by most of the media. In the same way, the PAD is in a weak position as its call for the ousting of the government is illegitimate since the government has been in power for just three months and it backed down by calling for a referendum on whether the public wants the constitutional amendments or not. Jaran believed that the majority of the public will support the amendments, although the procedure will take a long time. He also said the political situation was unpredictable.

However, he believed that the PAD demonstration will not lead to violence at the level of bloodshed, as the violence at that level will not happen easily. It could happen if there is a coup d’état and the people came out to protest the coup and were violently suppressed.

Jaran also referred to the proposal by Dr. Prawase Wasi regarding the formation of a “national government” if there is a crisis.  He said that the background of it is the idea of supporting a coup d’état since in the past national governments were only formed after a coup d’état had taken place. Therefore this proposal means the same as calling for the military to stage a coup d’état.

He also stated that there will be a press conference on 22 June 2008 regarding the establishment of the “Democracy Foundation”, which he is setting it up. The foundation will have the purpose of 1. serving as a political school to disseminate information on political theories; 2. conducting political research such as on the different obstacles to the development of democracy in Thailand; and 3. campaigning on political issues (i.e. the abolition of laws limiting various rights and liberties). The press conference will be held at the Imperial Tara Hotel. M.L. Nattakorn Devakula will give a speech on democracy building in the perspective of the new generation. There will also be a seminar on the foundation of democratic principles in Thai society by Professor Thanet Apornsuwan.

Translated by Pokpong Lawansiri