Suthep civil disobedience move 'bit unreasonable'

The Nation has been monitoring social media to see how people are responding to Suthep’s demands. 

Business owner Piyawan Anan believes these actions were possible with the exception of suspending corporate tax, adding that all goals can be achieved if people unite. 

Danupol Siamwalla said this call for action was partially right and partially wrong, as it was based on civil disobedience. He said that in order for it to work, Suthep should implement it on a step-by-step basis, starting with the strike and using corporate tax non-payment as the last step to pressure the government. 

Narudom Roongsiriwong, an executive director at ECOP, said Suthep’s four actions were not reasonable, especially when it came to not paying corporate tax. He said not paying tax was illegal and the three-day strike would only damage the economy. “What he is asking us to do is illegal,” he said. 

Presit Klong-Nguluerm, chairman of the Thai Electronic Publishing Club, also said not paying tax was illegal and pointed out that the illegal amnesty bill cannot be fought using illegal means. “It is not the right thing to do.” 

Pravit Chattalada said he did not think these actions would address the country’s problems. “I don’t think Suthep has come up with a serious proposal to fix the country’s ills. It’s more like using fire to get the followers pumped up. Political and national leaders’ actions are normally serious and precise. So let’s see if they come up with better suggestions that would be worth following,” he said.

Sorawis Jumnansilp said the three-day strike would affect the economy, not paying corporate tax was illegal and blowing a whistle at government officials was just bad manners. “Blowing whistles at a rally is acceptable, but calling on us to suspend the corporate tax is like calling on us to break the law. We are against the amnesty bill, because we do not want anyone to break the law. So why are they asking us to do illegal things?” Sorawis asked. 

Rtkill Pich said he only agreed with one point – hanging the Thai flag at the front gate. 

Attapol Lertlum said the only way Suthep’s call can be followed is if corporations agree to take action against the government. 

DJ Suharit Siamwalla, who once ran for the Bangkok governor’s post, said he was going to stop protesting for now, but will keep his eyes open until the bill is actually killed. 

Meanwhile, many Facebook users have removed anti-amnesty bill signs from their profile pictures and there appear to be fewer photographs of the rallies being posted on social media – probably because many have achieved what they set out to do – getting the Senate to reject the controversial bill.