Some red shirts feel it's time to go it alone

Some suggested it’s time for the red shirts to carry on the fight by themselves after Thaksin told them to place national reconciliation above all. 

“His speech was self-centred. People didn’t clap hands for him. When Thaksin spoke, he didn’t consider the significance of the day and kept talking about himself,” said Vipar Daomanee, a former Thammasat University lecturer and a red-shirt member of the Turn Left group. Vipar said that more reds clapped their hands for Thaksin’s personal lawyer Robert Amsterdam who addressed the crowd about bringing those who committed crimes to justice. 

Vipar believes no one will be made accountable for the deaths in April and May 2010 as Thaksin will guarantee immunity to the perpetrators in exchange for his return to Thailand as a free man. The same fate will befall the issue of the lese majeste law as the Pheu Thai government will definitely not do anything about it despite the desire by many red shirts to see it amended or even abolished, said Vipar. 

“Ordinary reds must differentiate themselves from their leaders as the leaders have fallen behind them politically speaking, and tend to follow Thaksin. Progressive reds might have to campaign by themselves more without relying on leaders,” Vipar added. 

Sri-atta Pitavee, a member of the Red Siam group whose leader Surachai Darnwattananusorn is in jail on lese majeste charges, said the speech by Thaksin reminded her that only the International Criminal Court (ICC) and not the Thai judicial system could be counted upon to address the death of more than 90 people. 

She said her group was still trying to push for the release of prisoners of conscience such as Surachai, or Voice of Taksin magazine editor Somyos Prueksakasemsuk, but recognised there’s only so much that Pheu Thai politicians can do. “There’s nothing that surprised me [about Thaksin’s speech]. But some ordinary reds may not be able to swallow it,” she said, in reference to Thaksin’s call to place national reconciliation above all else. 

More accommodating to Thaksin’s speech was Chainarin Kularb-am, a committee member of the red-shirt Network for Democracy. He said there was nothing surprising about it. 

Chainarin said red shirts must understand that getting Thaksin back as a free person is a priority for the ruling Pheu Thai party and added that the call bringing the perpetrators in 2010 to justice will not die – even with Thaksin back in Thailand. It could even gather more momentum once Thaksin returned. “The old power clique is afraid of that,” said Chainarin. 

Chainarin admitted however that as far as the move to amend the lese majeste law goes, it is hard to expect even red-shirt leaders to push it. Chainarin actively opposes the lese majeste law and said Pheu Thai might reconsider the issue if enough people support the move. 

Red shirt co-leader and Pheu Thai MP Korkaew Pikulthong said he accepts all criticisms against Thaksin by red shirts but added that they have differing reactions to Thaksin’s speech, however. “Reds are a diverse bunch of people,” Korkaew pointed out. 

As for the lese majeste law and red-shirt detainees under the law, Korkaew said there’s nothing Pheu Thai can do about the judicial branch. “I don’t think we can tell them what to do,” he said, adding that reds should understand that the Pheu Thai party has resolved to not touch the lese majeste law. 

Thida Thawornseth, UDD chairwoman said Thaksin “was just playing his role” in his video link. She said the red shirts would go ahead calling for justice and a really democratic constitution.