Political Crisis In Thailand
By James Kitfield
Noppadon Pattama
Former Thai foreign minister
Long accustomed to viewing Thailand as a stalwart Asian ally and favored tourist destination, Americans can be forgiven for confusion over the recent news out of the country. A two-month anti-government protest by the "red shirts" of the United Front for Democracy Against Dictatorship (UDD) recently paralyzed Bangkok. In May, the government responded with a crackdown that left scores of protesters dead. Those deaths damaged the standing of sitting Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva, whose government claims the protests were organized and bankrolled by exiled prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra. Thaksin was ousted in a military coup in 2006. Even while offering to end the political crisis with a vague reconciliation plan, Abhisit has called for Thaksin to be extradited to Thailand to face terrorism charges.
This week, Thaksin's former foreign minister and current lawyer and adviser, Noppadon Pattama, was in Washington for talks with U.S. officials. National Journal spoke with him about the tense situation in Thailand. Edited excerpts of their interview follow.
NJ: What did the "red shirt" protesters of the UDD, whose strongest support comes from the rural poor, hope to accomplish by bringing Bangkok to a standstill for nearly two months?
Noppadon: The core disagreement comes from the feeling of the red-shirts that they have been deprived of their political rights. Today in Thailand there is a double standard in every sphere -- social, economic and legal. When the "yellow shirts" (of the People's Alliance for Democracy) protested against Thaksin, for instance, they took over the international airport. Yet no charge was ever filed against them. After only a few days of protests against the current government by the red-shirts, however, criminal charges were brought against them. Then the government ordered the military to disperse the protesters with heavily armed soldiers, causing the deaths of almost 100 people and injuring almost 2,000 more. But the fundamental complaint of the red-shirts is that they reject the military coup of 2006, and they can no longer tolerate this double standard and inequality that exists in Thailand.
NJ: What is their chief demand of the government?
Noppadon: Because the current government was formed by back-room deals, under significant pressure from the army, the red-shirts see this government as illegitimate. They are thus demanding the dissolution of parliament and fresh elections that will allow the people to decide the next government. It is not for Thaksin that they really fight, but rather for true democracy.
NJ: The Thai government accused Thaksin and his family of bankrolling the red-shirt protests. Is that true?
Noppadon: Thaksin morally supports the red-shirts because he feels they are fighting for true democracy. It would be wrong, however, to conclude that he has been bankrolling the red-shirts. Since he has also been falsely charged with terrorism, I'm afraid I can't clarify that situation in any more detail. Anything I said could potentially jeopardize his case. I can say that his family has met with Thai authorities to explain all money withdrawals from their bank accounts, and their legal representatives are clarifying the situation.
NJ: Will the red-shirts respond to Prime Minister Abhisit's offer of reconciliation talks?
Noppadon: Certainly Thailand cannot continue like this, and we desperately need to bridge our political divisions with real reconciliation talks. But Prime Minister Abhisit is only using the offer of reconciliation as a tactic to buy time. What we propose are national peace talks that include all major political factions and hold out the real possibility of reconciliation. Such a reconciliation agreement should immediately abolish the current state of emergency, guarantee the freedom of the press, uphold the independence of the judiciary, and call for a new general election sooner rather than later. Whoever wins that election will be respected as the legitimate leader of Thailand. Such a comprehensive reconciliation agreement is the only way to bridge the political divisions in Thailand.
NJ: What are you asking of the Obama administration?
Noppadon: I had hoped that the United States would be more engaged with Thailand at this time of political crisis. It would be helpful if the Obama administration urged the Thai government to open a political dialogue among all the competing parties so we can reach a real reconciliation. We think that would make Thailand a stronger ally to the United States.
Responded on July 2, 2010 4:24 AM
David Bell
The difference between the 'Yellow' PAD demonstrations and the 'Red' UDD demonstrations is clear; the PAD did not have an armed wing.
There is plenty of video and photograhic evidence showing 'Red Guards' armed with weapons ranging from catapults and knives to handguns and automatic weapons.
In addition, there were over 80 grenade attacks against civillian and military targets during the two month protest. The Red Shirts were not targetted by a single grenade.
On 10th April, Col Romklao was mysteriously assasinated while conducting manouevres to disperse the Red shirts from one of their protest sites.
Finally there is a mountain of video evidence of UDD leaders exhorting violence and destruction of property. When the Red Shirts were finally dispersed (allowing Bangkok civillians the right to work, travel and live peacefuly for the first time in 2 months), 39 buildings were set on fire regardless of whether they were occupied or not.
'Double Standard'? Not hardly, you need to compare like with like.
Responded on July 2, 2010 5:33 AM
David Brown
agree fully that the USA should support the Thai peoples legitimate demands for free and fair elections
as part of this effort the USA should assist the Thai people by supporting their request for international observers to assist in the analysis and prosecution of criminal actions during the recent protests
most importantly the USA should assist by requiring that all parties, especially the active and retired military forces in Thailand respect the mandate of freely elected governments and
under control of successive elected governments, all then currently active military personnel should be banned from involvement in any legal and illegal businesses in Thailand or elsewhere
the USA should cease their funding under any guise that directly or indirectly assists the Thai military in any operation internal to the country of Thailand
Responded on July 4, 2010 4:08 AM
chaam jamal
The difference between the yellow and red protests is that the reds continued to escalate the violent nature of their protest until they crossed the line from protest to armed rebellion and a complete breakdown of law and order. It would have been a gross failure to govern had any government put in that situation not put that rebellion down with overwhelming military force in the public interest. Thailand's crackdown was surely more legitimate than a similar use of force by the USA in the attack on the Branch Dravidians in Waco, Texas where many lives were lost. The sequence of events that led to the crackdown does not portray a government that is intolerant of dissent but one which, if anything, was tolerant to a fault to have allowed the mayhem and lawlessness to get as far out of hand as it had. It is clear to me that the forces behind the red protest that were moving the pieces were pushing for a crackdown to discredit the government even as they played with the lives of the street protesters they commanded. In the end they got what they wanted but the extreme measures that...
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The difference between the yellow and red protests is that the reds continued to escalate the violent nature of their protest until they crossed the line from protest to armed rebellion and a complete breakdown of law and order. It would have been a gross failure to govern had any government put in that situation not put that rebellion down with overwhelming military force in the public interest. Thailand's crackdown was surely more legitimate than a similar use of force by the USA in the attack on the Branch Dravidians in Waco, Texas where many lives were lost. The sequence of events that led to the crackdown does not portray a government that is intolerant of dissent but one which, if anything, was tolerant to a fault to have allowed the mayhem and lawlessness to get as far out of hand as it had. It is clear to me that the forces behind the red protest that were moving the pieces were pushing for a crackdown to discredit the government even as they played with the lives of the street protesters they commanded. In the end they got what they wanted but the extreme measures that were necessary to get there show a much greater respect and tolerance of dissent and of the citizens's right to protest than anyone had anticipated.
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Responded on July 9, 2010 9:25 AM
Pomjuk Pakwan
PAD did not have an armed wing?
PAD was lead by Gen. Chamlong Srimuang the former secretary of Gen. Prem Tinsulanonda who is currently the Head of His Majesty’s Privy Council.
So I guess you are right PAD did not have an armed wing. Only PAD is formed by the armed forces.
Responded on July 9, 2010 10:11 AM
Pomjuk Pakwan
How the military used PAD?
The military used PAD to capture of government house for 3 months. And the military responded to the Thai Rak Thai Party, People Power Party and Pheu Thai Party governments the same way the military took down the Philippines’ former priminister Marcos: by in activity.
Note: The 3 parties: Thai Rak Thai Party, People Power Party and Pheu Thai Party are the same party with 3 incarnations after dissolved by the military dependent court.
At the end PAD captured both Bangkok Airports causing trillion bath with of economic damage. Nearly 3 years after closing the airports, no one has been charged with the terrorist acts.
Responded on July 12, 2010 11:14 AM
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please the government should try to make peace in thailand,because of the last crisis foreigners are unable to do business or trade in thailand.i love thailand so much and will be unhappy to hear about problem again.moreover the government should try to listen to it citizens and solve some of there problems for peace to rain.Thanks and God bless the people of thailand.From isiodu chinedu fortune,a political scientist,Nigeria citizen.
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