Red-shirts make themselves visible in Chuan's backyard
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TRANG IS OFTEN regarded as the home turf of former Democrat premier Chuan Leekpai, who is now a senior adviser for the party. But red shirts have been active in the southern province for several years, particularly since the bloody crackdown on red shirts
The Trang red shirts became more visible after the Pheu Thai government came to power in July 2011 despite the fact that the four MPs from the province are all Democrats and that no Pheu Thai candidate managed to make a significant dent in the opposition’s popularity.
After Yingluck Shinawatra became prime minister, over 200 red shirts from all districts in Trang held a Buddhist merit-making ceremony for her older brother, the ousted and fugitive former PM Thaksin. Veera Wattanakij, secretary of the Confederation for Democracy in the South was the main organiser.
The group erected signs to congratulate the new premier at several spots, most notably by a road near the Trang-Sikao rail line, which leads to the Pheu Thai Coordinating Centre for the area – a busy spot passed by many motorists every day.
This caused some puzzlement among Trang people, most of whom support the Democrats.
What’s more, there’s also a local red-shirt community radio called “Rose Radio” at FM.97.00 MHz under the auspices of the Trang chapter of the Pheu Thai Party. It has been closely scrutinised by security organisations amid concern about defaming the monarchy and inciting division or conflict, notably during a wave of crackdowns on red-shirt radio stations nationwide.
Rath Poo-klang, a businessman and red-shirt leader in Trang said the objective of Rose Radio was to educate listeners about democracy, rights and liberty, as well as the local economy, and they were willing to face state scrutiny of its content.
The group has received support from red shirts in the Central region and figures like Prasong Buranapong, an adviser to the Confederation of Red-Shirt Villages for Democracy, and others for activities including events when analyses of politics were organised.
Prasong said that as Trang people prided themselves on being democratic, the existence of red-shirts in the province was like a strengthening of democracy.
He maintained that the red shirts were law abiding and believed that Trang people with different political beliefs would not destroy red-shirt signs in the province.
There has been no untoward incident or confrontation so far but it may be a while before Pheu Thai supporters can help elect an MP from the party in such a Democrat stronghold.
Trang MP Satit Wongnongtaey said the red shirts were only a small group in the province. He said they were not threatening. Meanwhile, Rath had always been an opponent of the Democrats and supported any political party that rivalled the Democrats.
