Mass rally to last until Thaksin quits
By David Ogan
Billed as the largest public demonstration since May 1992, the massive People’s Alliance for Democracy rally kicked off at Sanam Luang yesterday, and organizers swore to continue demonstrating until Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra leaves office.
The crowd, estimated to be more than a hundred-thousand strong, chanted “Thaksin Get Out!” throughout the day, as leading PAD members and celebrated public figures took the stage to denounce Thaksin.
Crowds began arriving at the western side of Sanam Luang, next to Thammasat University, in the early afternoon amid thick police security.
Among the first to arrive were several thousand monks and adherents of the Santi Asoke Buddhist sect, led by Maj-Gen Chamlong Srimuang at around 1pm.
However, the vast majority of demonstrators arrived after 4pm – the official start time.
Several artists recited on stage folk songs with cutting anti-Thaksin lyrics for more than an hour. Among those who spoke were academics, social thinkers, poets and former politicians.
The crowd cheered loudly when Chaiwat Sinsuwong, who led the Palang Dharma party when Thaksin was still a party member, went up on stage to explain why the caretaker prime minister should step down.
“I think is he very lonely now,” said Chaiwat. “For the past five years, Thaksin has accumulated wealth and power at the cost of his morality. He now needs to step down because his administration has caused so much damage to the country.”
Chaiwat even suggested that Thaksin should quit on health grounds. “The moment he resigns, Thaksin will feel his torment lift from his chest,” he said.
The second speaker to take the stage, former education minister Chingchai Mongkoltham, who has been opposing the government’s attempt to transfer schools to local authority control, defended the right to publicly denounce Thaksin.
“We are practising the purest form of democracy today,” he said. “If our demonstration today is wrong, as the government is claiming, then our Constitution has no meaning.”
Chingchai said the dissolution of the House of Representatives by Thaksin last Friday was a ploy by the prime minister to hold onto power.
“Opposition parties are now unable to counter the government,” he said. “It is a very crafty tactic by the prime minister.”
Chingchai said that dissolution of Parliament should only take place when their is a rift between the legislature and the executive.
“But when government leadership is questioned on moral grounds then the prime minister should resign.”
To loud cheers, Chingchai said he was confident the rally would succeed in ousting Thaksin.
“No tyrant in the entire history of the world has ever succeeded in opposing the will of the people,” he said.
When Maj-Gen Chamlong took the platform, he apologized for Santi Asoke’s late conversion to the anti-Thaksin cause, but vowed to stay to the bitter end.
“Now the Dharma Army has arrived,” he said. “Our group is very strong and is well-trained. We arrived here barefooted and do not eat much and will sleep here tonight.”
However, the loudest cheers were reserved for Thaksin’s staunchest critic, Sondhi Limthongkul, who spearheaded the first anti-Thaksin rally on February 4 at the Royal Plaza. He was relentless in his attack on the premier.
“He is a liar that only wants to save his own skin,” Sondhi said.
Suriyasai Katasila, a PAD founding member, told ThaiDay that the protest would last the distance.
“We are prepared if the rally drags on,” he said. “We are committed to our position until Thaksin resigns.”
By David Ogan
Billed as the largest public demonstration since May 1992, the massive People’s Alliance for Democracy rally kicked off at Sanam Luang yesterday, and organizers swore to continue demonstrating until Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra leaves office.
The crowd, estimated to be more than a hundred-thousand strong, chanted “Thaksin Get Out!” throughout the day, as leading PAD members and celebrated public figures took the stage to denounce Thaksin.
Crowds began arriving at the western side of Sanam Luang, next to Thammasat University, in the early afternoon amid thick police security.
Among the first to arrive were several thousand monks and adherents of the Santi Asoke Buddhist sect, led by Maj-Gen Chamlong Srimuang at around 1pm.
However, the vast majority of demonstrators arrived after 4pm – the official start time.
Several artists recited on stage folk songs with cutting anti-Thaksin lyrics for more than an hour. Among those who spoke were academics, social thinkers, poets and former politicians.
The crowd cheered loudly when Chaiwat Sinsuwong, who led the Palang Dharma party when Thaksin was still a party member, went up on stage to explain why the caretaker prime minister should step down.
“I think is he very lonely now,” said Chaiwat. “For the past five years, Thaksin has accumulated wealth and power at the cost of his morality. He now needs to step down because his administration has caused so much damage to the country.”
Chaiwat even suggested that Thaksin should quit on health grounds. “The moment he resigns, Thaksin will feel his torment lift from his chest,” he said.
The second speaker to take the stage, former education minister Chingchai Mongkoltham, who has been opposing the government’s attempt to transfer schools to local authority control, defended the right to publicly denounce Thaksin.
“We are practising the purest form of democracy today,” he said. “If our demonstration today is wrong, as the government is claiming, then our Constitution has no meaning.”
Chingchai said the dissolution of the House of Representatives by Thaksin last Friday was a ploy by the prime minister to hold onto power.
“Opposition parties are now unable to counter the government,” he said. “It is a very crafty tactic by the prime minister.”
Chingchai said that dissolution of Parliament should only take place when their is a rift between the legislature and the executive.
“But when government leadership is questioned on moral grounds then the prime minister should resign.”
To loud cheers, Chingchai said he was confident the rally would succeed in ousting Thaksin.
“No tyrant in the entire history of the world has ever succeeded in opposing the will of the people,” he said.
When Maj-Gen Chamlong took the platform, he apologized for Santi Asoke’s late conversion to the anti-Thaksin cause, but vowed to stay to the bitter end.
“Now the Dharma Army has arrived,” he said. “Our group is very strong and is well-trained. We arrived here barefooted and do not eat much and will sleep here tonight.”
However, the loudest cheers were reserved for Thaksin’s staunchest critic, Sondhi Limthongkul, who spearheaded the first anti-Thaksin rally on February 4 at the Royal Plaza. He was relentless in his attack on the premier.
“He is a liar that only wants to save his own skin,” Sondhi said.
Suriyasai Katasila, a PAD founding member, told ThaiDay that the protest would last the distance.
“We are prepared if the rally drags on,” he said. “We are committed to our position until Thaksin resigns.”
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