New Politics Party Secretary-General and PAD spokesperson Suriyasai Katasila says the red shirts’ protests at Rajprasong cause damage to the economy and society, and cannot be compared with the PAD protests which were justified. Calling on Abhisit to take legal action, he is concerned that Bangkokians will take things into their own hands.
PAD protest on Rama I Rd, in front of Siam Square and Siam Paragon (adjacent to the Rajprasong Intersection), on 29 March 2006
According to ASTV-Manager, Suriyasai said that the red shirts’ closure of the Rajprasong intersection was meant to pressure society rather than the government, because it damaged the economy and society. But this cannot be compared with the PAD protests, which were in a different context. The PAD’s actions were justified, as Thaksin’s nominee governments were illegitimate and unacceptable.
‘There’s no victory in sight for the red shirts’ protests now. Their leaders are just pleasing themselves by venting anger for the big boss, being aggressive, making disturbances and threatening society. I don’t believe that this will lead to victory. Having occupied the Rajprasong intersection, the leaders might be perplexed as to what to do next. [From Monday on,] the red-shirt leaders will be under stress, because Bangkokians might seek ways to let out their frustrations. This is worrying. It’s no use for red-shirt leaders to distort facts to attack the PAD. And what do they want from the PAD? The PAD is not the government. Their relentless attacks against the PAD now reflect the ‘Wengness’ of the leaders who are implanting bias and hatred, not knowledge and understanding, among the masses,’ Suriyasai said.
He warned the red-shirt leaders and the Pheua Thai Party, as ‘the owner of the mob’, that victory achieved with hatred never lasted long. And they should not hope ever to come back to rule Thailand after a House dissolution, because people who feel that they gained power through making threats have the right to oust them. The Thai Rak Thai and Palang Prachachon parties were governments but they could not rule, because they lacked legitimacy.
The facts about the PAD’s protests, especially the seizures of Government House and the airports, have been distorted. The PAD, in fact, did not close down Suvarnabhumi Airport; it was ordered closed by Serirat Prasutanont, Director of the Suvarnabhumi Airport Authority, an action suspected to be malfeasance. Serirat is a relative of UDD leader Veera Musigapong, Suriyasai said.
He said Abhisit and the government should not let the situation take its own course and always be on the defensive. That would encourage the protesters to continue to harass the public.
‘The government has to stop its divide and rule practices. Don’t let the people feel so distrustful to the point that they have to do things on their own. The government has to take all legal measures [..] to cope with the unrest. Now people are beginning to say they hate Thaksin and are bored with Abhisit.’
