PAD leaders will no longer lead rallies
People's Alliance for Democracy (PAD) leaders announced Friday night that they would give up their role in leading political rallies as doing so would only risk them violating their bail conditions and not bring any real changes.
In its "last statement" read by a spokesman at the ASTV studio, PAD said it had proposed that all Democrat MPs resign and join a mass protest led by the yellow-shirt movement to prove their sincerity in introducing an overhaul in Thai politics, which it dubbed "Reform of the Country". However, it said, the Democrats refused to join.
It added that ousting this government would only result in a vicious cycle, as Pheu Thai would be voted in and would return. The Democrats, on the other hand, possibly refused to join PAD’s political reform because it hoped to return to power, it said.
The PAD, a former Democrat ally, said the party was partially responsible for its problems in Thai politics and was an obstacle to the "reform". It said the Democrats should be held responsible for any future problems.
It said PAD leaders had been restricted by court orders during the Democrat-led government.
The PAD may make a return in the future once reform had taken shape to make sure it was finally complete. Manager Daily, its website and the ASTV would continue their operations.
PAD leaders’ decision to quit meant freeing their supporters to select to join in any rallies without having to wait for their decision. Core PAD leaders were present in the studio and took turns to speak their minds to supporters.
The PAD, otherwise known as the yellow shirts, formed in February 2006.
