PAD members agree to set up political party
PAD leaders at Thammasat University
Members of the People’s Alliance for Democracy (PAD) yesterday voiced their support for the establishment of a political party in a bid to establish the so-called “New Politics” in Thailand.
Several ten thousands of PAD members yesterday rallied at the football stadium of Thammasat University’s Rangsit Campus to mark the first anniversary of last year’s 193-day-long protest against the attempts by the then governments to amend the kingdom’s constitution and to dissolve a special agency investigating alleged corruption cases against former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra.
During the evening session of the rally, the PAD members were asked by one of their core leaders, Somsak Kosaisuk, to stand up and cheer if they agreed with the idea of forming a political party and if they opposed the constitution amendment. They stood up, clapped their hands and cheered loudly for two minutes.
Another core leader Sondhi Limthongkul, who late last month survived an assassination bid in Bangkok, told PAD members that the establishment of such a political party is considered as a long-term intellectual investment of the group and the supporters should get themselves ready for the party formation.
PAD coordinator Suriyasai Katasila said that the structure and organisation of the party should be ready for further discussion within three months.
He said, “The party leader has not yet been chosen. We must listen to the voice of the member, as well as (carefully considering) the name of the new party. We must wait for the group’s resolution.”
On May 25 last year, PAD members began their protest at the Democracy Monument to protest against the constitution amendment, but later went on to protest against other allegedly ill intents of the then governments to help Thaksin in corruption cases on streets.
The PAD protesters later gathered near the Government House and eventually stormed into the Government House compound on August 26 before prolonging their sit-in till the end of the protests on December 3 after the Constitutional Court dissolved the country’s ruling People Power Party (PPP) and two of its coalition partners on charges of electoral fraud stemming from December 2007 general election.
However, some PAD protesters have rallied to the country’s two main airports, Suvarnabhumi Airport and Don Mueang Airport, on November 25, forcing the airport authority to announce the closures of the two airports.
The term “New Politics” has been continuously used by PAD leaders and members since last year’s rally as the new horizon in Thai politics when politicians have high level of ethics and truly devote themselves to the people, the nation and the monarch.
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