‘Them or us’
Nattaya Chetchotiros and Pradit Ruangdit
The People’s Alliance for Democracy (PAD) is betting its future on Tuesday’s showdown with the government with confidence that Prime Minister Samak Sundaravej and his cabinet will be toppled.
Calling today’s showdown “the last whistleblow”, Sondhi Limthongkul, one of the PAD leaders said: “If we fail this time, we’ll quit and surrender the country to them. When people don’t care about us, we won’t have to care about them. Let others take over the country.”
But the group, which has staged the protest rally since May 25, will face defiance from the prime minister, who refused to bow to any move outside parliament to force him to step down.
The government came to power legally and the only way to remove it from power should be through parliamentary means, Mr Samak said.
“As prime minister, I am duty-bound to keep law and order in the country. Demonstrations must be kept within legal limits. If they go beyond those limits, the law enforcers will take action,” Mr Samak said.
Mr Sondhi expected 300,000 PAD supporters to turn up today but police estimated the rally would draw only tens of thousands.
The PAD’s strategy is to paralyse the administration and the country. It includes the seizure of Government House and all ministries along Ratchadamnoen avenue , disrupting two airports in Phuket and Hat Yai, and blocking roads, according to Mr Sondhi.
“Today’s protest is an extraordinary one. We will do everything possible to make sure the state mechanisms stop working. But we will not do anything to cause trouble to the people,” Mr Sondhi said.
A unit of about 100 Arintharat commandos have now been sent in to secure Government House.
Mr Samak called the PAD’s actions unreasonable and said they could hurt the country’s economy.
“People have started to panic. This is too much. But I will try my utmost to be patient,” he said.
He confirmed that the cabinet meeting would proceed as usual today despite the rallies and denied suggestions the government would resort to violent means to break up the rallies.
Jatuporn Promphan, a People Power party MP, ridiculed the PAD’s claimed final campaign, saying it was simply an attempt to make an early exit from their activities.
Metropolitan police chief Pol LtGen Aswin Kwanmuang said police would not block protesters’ movements and would help manage traffic flow.
“Police units will be in place to facilitate movement, not to break up the rally,” Pol Lt-Gen Aswin said.
Police spokesman Pol Maj-Gen Surapol Thuanthong said the national police chief has told officers to be patient in the face of the demonstrations.
Special Branch police chief Pol LtGen Thiradet Rodphothong said people from Chon Buri would form the largest number of demonstrators in Bangkok.
The protest would be joined by 2,000 to 3,000 staff of the Provincial Electricity Authority, according to Phien Yongnoo, chairman of the labour union of the Metropolitan Electricity Authority.
But Sirichai Mai-ngam, chairman of the labour union of the Electricity Generating Authority of Thailand, said the PAD leaders have not yet approached them to join today’s protest.
“We will wait to see the situation before making any move,” he said.
