<p>Following the decision of the suddenly even-handed Election Commission to call for a re-run of the Bangkok governor’s election, political office holders around the country are looking over their shoulders and wondering if a similar fate will befall them.</p>

<div>&nbsp;</div> <div>Thai Criminal Court on Tuesday ruled that Narin Srichomphoo, an anti-establishment red-shirt supporter, was killed by a high velocity bullet shot by the military.&nbsp;</div> <div> </div>

<p>Well it’s a full house here at the Impact Arena for the live televised debate between Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra and Suthep Thaugsuban, head of the People’s Democratic Reform Committee.&nbsp; There’s a few minutes to go before that starts so I’ll turn to Khun Somchai here.&nbsp; Khun Somchai, explain to the viewers, what is the background to this debate?</p>

<p>Violence again has struck a PDRC protest site, though it appears that for the first time in many months of protest, no external attack was involved. </p>

<p><em>The conservative establishment’s nigh decade-long putsch to turn back the progress of Thai democracy and the empowering advances it has made since late in the last century has backfired on them with epic irony. Their illiberal acts have been designed to demolish popular electoral democracy and return the nation to a state of corrupt and ineffective government open to easy exploitation by the traditional elite.</em></p>

<div>Nawaminthrachinuthit Triam Udomsuksa Phatthanakan School</div> <div>&nbsp;</div> <div>27 January 2014</div> <div>&nbsp;</div> <div>Mr. Suthep Thaugsuban&nbsp;</div> <div>Secretary General of the People’s Democratic Reform Committee (PDRC)</div> <div>&nbsp;</div> <div>Topic: &nbsp;Curiosity and anxiety of an ordinary student</div> <div>Dear Mr. Suthep:</div> <div>&nbsp;</div> <div>My name is Netiwit Chotiphatpaisal and I am a Grade &nbsp;11 high school student with an interest in political news. </div>

<p itemprop="description">Since the Bangkok shutdown operation was launched by the anti-government People's Democratic Reform Committee (PDRC) in a desperate bid to oust the government, many people have taken to assessing the political situation on a daily basis - if not more often - and have kept a close watch on the latest words from PDRC secretary-general Suthep Thaugsuban, caretaker Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra and military top brass. In such a period of crisis, however, we also need to try harder to look at the bigger picture.</p> <p></p>

<div>Thailand’s Democrat Party decided to boycott the February 2 general election. This is not the first time that the party has boycotted general election. Why have the Democrats, the oldest political party in the kingdom, repeated their decision? Will the boycott lead to yet another coup d’état? Prachatai talked to Prajak Kogkirati, a political scientist from Thammasat University.</div> <div> </div>

<p>Both in print and on television, I have warned that the (great) mass (of the people) has already been born in Thailand, and that the mass politics of the people could take two different paths. One path was the expansion of the democratic apparatus and political participation, if the apparatus and various institutions were prepared to adapt. Or the other possible path was the emergence of totalitarian politics. Without a (great) mass (of the people), totalitarian dictatorship cannot be born.</p> <p></p>

<p>The judicial process in Thailand is especially tricky to figure out.</p> <p>Just this week the international media showed pictures of former Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva climbing the many steps of the Criminal Court to be formally charged with murder.&nbsp; Commentators noted that even if prosecution of a PM for a crime of this severity is a first for Thailand, it is very much a selectively political case and few believe there is any serious chance of his future appearances being in leg irons.</p> <p></p>

<div> <div> <div>Protest leader Suthep Thaugsuban on Wednesday called for meetings with high level leaders of the armed forces, the chief of police and leaders of the private business sector in the hope of gaining more allies, while its proposal of an appointed legislative body came under heavy criticism. &nbsp;</div> <div>&nbsp;</div> </div> </div> <p></p>

<p itemprop="description">Did you take part in the fierce argument over whether five million of you folks or a mere 150,000 showed up at the anti-government rally on Monday? I thought it showed insecurity over whether you represent the real majority voice in Thailand.</p> <p itemprop="description"> </p>