Citizen groups' rally may be a mere fizzle

Earlier this week, it was reported that the PAD had organised this rally to voice its opposition to the ruling Pheu Thai Party’s push for an amnesty law that would benefit ex-PM Thaksin Shinawatra. 

However, PAD leaders Chamlong Srimuang and Piphob Thongchai told the press on Wednesday that they had nothing to do with the rally in question, but were quick to confirm that the organisers of the protest were well within their constitutional rights. 

Boworn Yasinthorn, leader of a group that calls itself “Citizen Volunteers Protecting the Three Institutions”, said that he was one of the organisers and added that other groups involved had joined up to form an alliance called the “Group Demanding Return of Power from Politicians Ungrateful to the Land”. 

Apart from Boworn’s group, the other participating bodies include those campaigning for public control over national resources, subterranean and marine resources as well as broadcasting rights.

According to Boworn, former prime minister Chavalit Yongchaiyudh is serving as chief adviser to the groups, and the rally’s goal is to transform the country into a “full democracy” with the King as head of state.

However, Boworn’s statement was refuted by the alliance, which said Chavalit had nothing to do with the rally because he is linked to the ruling Pheu Thai Party. After all, Chavalit served as deputy prime minister in the short-lived government of Somchai Wongsawat and is now a key figure in the current government. 

Boworn added that the rally had been organised by himself and leaders of the participating groups, namely former Thai Airways pilot Thanit Promsathit, Payap Yangpaksi, Lt-Colonel Rattakhet Jangchamras, Rear Admiral Pattana Jiranant and Sukhum Wongprasit.

After they were prohibited from using the Army Club premises on Vibhavadi-Rangsit Road for political purposes, the organisers have now decided to hold the protest outside the compound. 

They have said that the rally will not focus on constitutional amendments or the amnesty law as speculated, but that the focus would instead be on national resources and people’s sufferings. 

In January 2006, Thanit, one of the organisers, joined a PAD protest against the government of Thaksin Shinawatra and led a group of protesters to storm into Government House, for which he was charged with being involved in an unlawful gathering and causing unrest. 

It is rumoured that Thanit has the backing of “influential people outside the Constitution” for his latest political move against “evil capitalist politicians”.

However, PAD leaders have been told that the rally organised by Thanit and his friends has something to do with a group of opposition politicians. This could explain why the PAD met the press to deny any involvement with the rally. 

It is doubtful if the rally will have much of an impact due to the general lack of interest. The satellite-based television channel Thai TVD, which favours the opposition Democrat Party, plans to broadcast the protest but it is unlikely to win as much public support as the ASTV channel did when it broadcast PAD’s protest against Thaksin in 2006.

A yellow-shirt source said there was a shadow of Prasong Soonsiri, a staunch critic of Thaksin and his “regime”, behind the “independent campaigners”.

Prasong and a group of “Thaksin haters” had rallied against Thaksin in 2005 but failed to attract much support. It was only a year later, when the PAD was born, that the anti-Thaksin movement gained momentum.

It is unclear if Prasong will be a key player in the political drama and PAD leaders may be aware of the real goal behind this rally, but will it test public sentiment toward the government?