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On 19 June at 6.09 pm, a gathering of about fifteen individuals at the Siam Centre mall near BTS Siam Station was seen holding placards on political issues.  They claimed to be a group of people with diverse views, not related to any political group.  A statement, where each demonstrator wrote one line, explained their intention to see the society transcend political limits to build an independent political space.

The individuals gather peacefully, with each holding a placard and flashlight, before dispersing at around 7.30 pm.  Questioned by a Prachatai journalist, a group member said that the same kind of gathering will take place at the same time next week to show their perspective on the current political situation.  

The group is known as “Flash Mob”, a ‘gathering’ without any demands or intentions to oppose anyone.  It is done only to represent collective action.

The first flash mob gathered on 3 June 2001 when 100 individuals gathered around a salesperson of a carpet shop in Macy’s famous department store in Manhattan, in the United States.  It was understood among the demonstrators that if the salesperson asked them where they are from, they were to give the same reply that they are from a rural community in the northern New York State and that they were there to buy ‘love carpet’ for the community, indicating that the decision to buy a carpet was approved by the 100 individuals.

 

 

Statement



A call for participation in thinking for the common good
to break free from the “yellow-red” divide and from violence

“Politics separates people into two poles.”
.....
“We do not want to see violence, coups d’état, and hatred.  If we all hated against one another, there would be no love.”
“We just want peace and love for each other.  Although we have different thoughts, please understand”.
“We want genuine democracy, not only an illusion.”
“We want to create a space where arguments can be made peacefully and productively.  But in the current conflict between the government and the People’s Alliance for Democracy (PAD), politics has become an arena of ‘massacres’ on each side.  We believe that apart from the yellow and red groups, there are also orange, green, purple, blue, dark red, and light yellow which want to use this platform productively.  Please give us some space.  From the rainbow nation.”

.....
I believe that “the politics that is relevant to people’s lives is not power politics, but should be where there is genuine space for the people.”
We can build and create a political space for ordinary people, so that the word ‘people’ will not be abused by VIP persons for their own interests.”
“The problems in Thailand can be solved by democracy.  The PAD should stop creating a pretext for another coup.  The government should not use violence to solve the problem.  The people must decide their future by themselves.”

.....
“The freedom and welfare that Thais have today is the result of the ‘struggles from the people in the past’, which we should appreciate.  I, as a younger person in today’s generation, want to be involved and retain participatory democracy in a peaceful way.”
“We invite those who want to express their thoughts and feelings to come out.  You can decide how you want   problems to be solved according to what you see as a principled society.”
“Sovereignty belongs to us.  Please come out and declare for yourself what kind of society you want to live in. Do not let others decide by abusing your rights.”

....
“I want everyone to be mindful and examine how we and our emotions are related to the current situation.  And what is the path that leads to peace and equality”.


To transcend the limits that control us and to build a free political space
Peoples Group at 6.09 pm
 

 

Translated by Pokpong Lawansiri

 

 
 
Source
<p>http://www.prachatai.com/05web/th/home/page2.php?mod=mod_ptcms&amp;ID=12593&amp;Key=HilightNews</p>
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