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26 February 2006
Rally attracts a who’s who of the discontented
By ThaiDay
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Protesters who are now gathering in Sanam Luang to demand the unconditional ouster of Caretaker Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra come from a broad spectrum of social backgrounds, from well-to-do urbanites to humble disciples of the Santi Asoke Buddhist sect.

The Dharma Army, led by Thaksin’s former mentor, Maj-Gen Chamlong Srimuang, will be there in full force. Chamlong announced on February 19 that Thaksin no longer has the legitimacy to govern the country and that he would lead the Dharma Army to at Sanum Luang.

Then there is a combination of civic groups and activists like the group protesting against the Thai-Malaysian pipeline project, the Alliance of Lower Northern People, the Udon Thani Environmental Preservation Group, the committee of relatives of those who died during the Black May violence and the network of Esarn-Tai for Democracy. The biggest group at the rally will, of course, be the People’s Alliance for Democracy, popularly known as PAD. The roster of rally participants under the PAD umbrella includes:



Activist groups:

Assembly of the Poor

Network on Farmers’ Debt Problems

NGO-Coordinating Committee on Development

Northern Farmers’ Federation

National Artists’ Federation

Alliance for Counsumer Rights and its 27 networks

Slum for Democracy Network

FTA Watch group

People’sChannel.org

Campaign for Popular Democracy

Committee on Media Reform

Thai Action Committee for Democracy in Burma

Reconciliation Commission for Thai Laborers

HIV-Infected People’s Group

Parents’ Network for Educational Reform

Southern Forest Network

Khon Kaen People’s Group for Democracy

Thailand People’s Network Against Corruption

Rayong People’s Network

Surin People’s network

Thailand People’s Network Against Corruption

Esarn People’s Network

Network to protect the Water Supply and Electricity for the Nation and Democracy

Pathum Thani Network

Network of Artists for Democracy

Nakhon Sawan People’s Network

Youth Training Program for Social Development

Thai Labor Campaign

Woman’s Power for the Nation Club

Business Alliance for Democracy

Thai Volunteer Service

Foundation of Heroic Democratic People

FM 92.25

Labor Coordinator

Tonkla Institute

Democracy Confederation

Satun Santi Tham Group

Korat Network for Democracy

Trang’s People’s Alliance for Democracy

Patalung People’s Confederation

Southern Artists’ Alliance

Phupha-Talay

Koh Samet Presevation Group

Environmental Network of Ban Chang

Enviromental Protection Group of Trat

People’s Federation for the Environment

October People’s Group



Labor Unions:

Metropolitan Electricity Authority

TOT Plc

CAT Telecom Plc

Metropolitan Waterworks Authority

Port Authority of Thailand

EGAT Plc

Public Warehouse Organization

Provincial Electricity Authority

Fish Marketing Organization

Government Pharmaceutical Organization

Government Savings Bank

Krung Thai Bank

Thai Airways

Tanning Organization

Marketing Organization for Farmers

Tourism Authority of Thailand

Forest Industry Organization of Thailand

Liquor Distillery Organization

Civil Aviation Training Center

Sports Authority of Thailand

PTT Plc

Expressway & Rapid Transit Authority

Bangkok Mass Transit System Plc

Industrial Estate Authority of Thailand

Thailand Post

Government Pawn Brokers’ Organization

Lampang Labor Federation



Students:

The Students Federation of Thailand

Academic Network for Democracy

Songkhla Students Alliance for Democracy

Khon Kaen Academic Group for Society

Chiang Mai University Student Club

Narasuan University

Khon Kaen University

Ramkhamhaeng University

Chulalongkorn University

Thammasat University

Mahasarakam University

Loei Ratchaphat University

Ubon Ratchathani University

Burapha University

Lanna Indy Media



Academics:

Chai-anan Samudavanija

Pramote Nakhonsap

Rangsan Thanapornpan

Amara Pongsapich

Somkiart Pongpaibul

Thanes Charoenmuang

Prasart Meetam

Lecturers from Suranaree University of Technology

Lecturers from Thammasat University’s law faculty

Lecturers from Sukhothai Thammathirat Open

Lecturers from Silpakorn University

Lecturers from Reconciliation Network for Political Reform

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