FRIDAY, March 29, 2024
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Be determined to push for true democracy: Sulak

Be determined to push for true democracy: Sulak

NOTED social thinker Sulak Sivaraksa called on Thai society yesterday to learn from the past and have strong determination in revolutionising the country for a “true democracy”.

Sulak spoke at a seminar at Thammasat University on the 85th anniversary of the Siamese Revolution, saying the revolution would truly return to Thai society if there was a strong intention to step past dictatorship and capitalism and move towards democracy.
As such, he called on the ruling National Council for Peace and Order (NCPO) to return to where it came from in order to allow a return of true democracy to Thai society.
Some successors of the People’s Party, which revolutionised Siam 85 years ago joined the seminar yesterday. They included Lt Col Buddhinart Paholpolpayuhasena, son of Phraya Phraya Paholpol-payuhasena, the party’s leader.
The bloodless revolution on June 24, 1932, launched parliamentary democracy in Thailand, but the eight and a half decades since then have been punctuated by frequent military coups, including the latest one in 2014 that brought in the current government.
Sulak said yesterday society must learn from the past and confront the truth. It should also dare to speak to those in power – to help them see the truth and not get lost in illusion. 
He asked if it was appropriate to lay hope on one person or group. Coup-makers in the past, he said, were under an illusion that they were better than others, when in fact the essence of democracy was people having freedom and liberty in various aspects of life, such as freedom of expression.
Buddhinart, meanwhile, said he was proud of the People’s Party for risking their lives to bring democracy to Thai society. This was because they believed that power belonged to the people.
Meanwhile, police yesterday detained a man who attempted to install a mock-up of the missing historical plaque marking the Siamese Revolution at the Royal Plaza.
The man, identified as Ekachai Hongkangwan, said he wanted to reinstall the plaque at the same spot but was picked up by police and taken to a military compound, Prachatai online news agency reported.
A police officer contacted by the agency said they had not charged Ekachai but only detained him for “some talk” for an understanding of the situation.
The venue was secured yesterday as the police have banned political activities there following the junta’s ban on political gatherings.
On Wednesday, the Metropolitan Police said it would keep a close eye on any activities planned for June 24, which marks the 85th anniversary of the revolution in 1932. 
Police said they knew of at least five activities expected to take place in Bangkok on the day, besides academic seminars by experts and students. But the police made it clear they would not allow political activities at the Royal Plaza, where the 1932 plaque was embedded to mark the revolution. The plaque has been missing since April, and has been replaced by a “Na Sai” plaque, inscribed with ultra-royalist messages. Police said the Plaza was due to be cleaned in the morning and live music would be played there in the evening.
In a related development, student activist group Serinonsi, of Kasetsart University, joined their fellows in commemorating the 85th anniversary of the Siamese Revolution yesterday.
The group issued a statement to express their gratitude to the People’s Party who revolutionised Siam, while denouncing the ruling government for allegedly using excessive force to suppress the people and destroying democracy.
The group also expressed their support to those who stand up for liberty while opposing any use of excessive force by the government to suppress the people. They also asked the government to return democracy to the country quickly following the will of the People’s Party. Representatives read the statement before dispersing.
 

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