Chulalongkorn Network in Honour of Morality-led Democracy has sent an e-mail urging people to join its rally at Chatuchak Park; any shirt colour will do, except red.  A group of NGOs has released a statement to oppose a House dissolution, and urge the government to solve their problems first.  Key persons of both groups have been active supporters of the PAD.    

According to an ASTV-Manager report on 7 April, Asst Prof Dr Tul Sitthisomwong, coordinator of the Chulalongkorn Network and the Network of Silent Forces, said that he realized that everybody had been frustrated by and suffered from the red shirt protests.  So he wanted to organize people who share the same view to oppose the House dissolution and the protests.

‘The activity [on 9 April] is a continuation of the pink shirt demonstration on 2 April, when we met and shared our views.  I was collecting signatures to oppose the House dissolution, and the [pink-shirt] group of Tree-dao Aphaiwong was interested in joining.  So we came up with the idea of holding a forum for the people’s sector to express opinions.  We’ve sent e-mails to call the attention of the silent groups of people, and the e-mails have been forwarded further.  Those who are interested can come to share their frustrations and troubles caused by the protests,’ Tul said.

The e-mail is addressed to the so-called ‘silent forces’ who are frustrated, stressed, and anxious about the future of the country, and invites them to join the rally at Chatuchak Park on 9 April, 4PM.  They can wear any colour, except red.

A group of NGOs under the name Network to Press for Solutions to the Problems of Community Rights released a statement in opposition to a House dissolution.

They said a House dissolution would not solve grassroots communities’ problems.  Instead, they proposed that the government should tackle their specific problems in 1-3 months, including, for example, land rights and infrastructure problems, the environmental impacts from Map Ta Phut and gold mines in certain provinces, dam projects on the Mekong River, etc.

They also proposed that the government should set up a committee to hold hearings on political reform which would involve all sides, including the state, the private sector, academics and communities.

Both Tul Sitthisomwong and Sutthi Atchasai, coordinator of the group of NGOs, have been active supporters of the PAD.  Sutthi is also an executive board member of the New Politics Party.