Red Shirts and Yellow Shirts and Thai Democracy

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A little background of Thailand

Government Type: Constitutional monarchy

Constitution: Thailand adopted its current constitution following an

August 19, 2007 referendum.

Branches: Executive--King (chief of state), Prime Minister (head of government).

Legislative--bicameral, with a fully-elected House of Representatives and a partially-elected Senate.

Judicial --composed of the Constitutional Tribunal, the Courts of Justice, and the Administrative Courts.



Administrative subdivisions: 76 provinces,including Bangkok municipality, subdividedinto 877 districts,

Political parties: Multi-party system;Communist Party is prohibited.

Suffrage: Universal and compulsory at 18years of age.



People

Population (2009 est.): 67.0 million. (Data based on the ThailandNational Statistic Office and the National Economic and SocialDevelopment Board.)

Ethnic groups: Thai 89%, other 11%. (relatively homogeneous)

Religions: Theravada Buddhist 93%-94%, Muslim 5%-6%, Christian1%, Hindu, Brahmin, other.

population is mostly rural, concentrated in the rice-growing areas of the central, northeastern, and northern regions



Origins and aims and tactics of red

shirts and yellow shirts

In January 2001, telecommunication multimillionaire, Mr.Thaksins Thai Rak Thai (TRT) won a decisive plurality

victory on a populist platform of economic growth anddevelopment.

reelected by an overwhelming majority, sweeping 377 outof 500 parliamentary seats which is , in history of Thailandsince 1932, is the first ever single-party complete victory

Soon after 2nd term began, allegations of corruptionemerged

Peaceful anti-government mass demonstrations grew andhundreds of thousands marched in the streets to demandThaskins resignation. (start of the yellow)



Pressure on Thaksin and his policies by

a group calledthe Peoples Alliance for Democracy (PAD)

PAD not a political party but were a political pressure group formed by

individuals concerned by power wielded by Thaksin and the direction

he was taking Thailand

Had some influential backers including those with links to media, army

and Royal Palace

Supporters of PAD adopted the yellow shirt

The color Yellow show their allegiance to the king, with yellow being

the kings color

Corruption allegations launched against Thaksin

The catalyst for the 2006 coup

The Yellow Shirts



PAD re-emerged early in 2008 in response toelection of a new pro-Thaksin govt

Well-funded and well organized protestsculminated in occupation of BKKs Suvarnabhumi

and Don Muang airports at end of 2008

When Pro-Thaksin govt was disbanded by Thailegal system, celebrated and finally ended

campaign of protests With formation of a new govt came fresh

protests; time from a group that has becomeknown as red shirts



The Red Shirts

Red shirts are angry that former govt that they supported was forced togive up power as a result of a legal ruling by Thai courts

Red shirts called that a judicial coup and a silent coup and they see handof BKKs traditional and elite power base at work including importantfigures in army

PAD movement has powerful friends in high places and red shirts areangry by what they see a collusion (cheating) between new govt and PADleaders who occupied Govt House for months before new illegal sit-inresulted in closure of BKKs two airports.

Further exacerbated by appointment of controversial FM, Kasit Piromya,who openly supported PAD protestors during occupation of BKKs airports

Two dominant groups-

UDD (United Front for DemocracyA

gainstDictatorship) and DAAD (Democratic Alliance Against Dictatorship) arebehind the red shirt movement.

(aims of Red) New Democrat led parliament be dissolved coz notdemocratically elected

Demanding legal action be taken against leaders of PAD movement

To get Mr. Thaksin back home without legal threat





Red Shrits cont. April 2009 Thai political unrest

Up to 100,000 people demonstrated in central Bangkok at the height of the protests. 8 April resign within 24 hours or raise the level of its anti-government protest.

On 04.45 p.m join about hundred taxi drivers who parked their vehicles blocked roads around

Victory Monument

11 April

expanded to Pattaya, the site of an ASEAN summit

protesters eventually stormed the hotel, the summit building. escorted the foreign leaders, leaving from the hotel by the navy ships and helicopters

12 April

Arisman Pongreungrong, the protest leader was detained

Suporn Attawong and protesters attempted on the Prime Minister's life and injured his

secretary general, Niphon Promphan, and Promphan's driver.

13 April used tear gas and fired live rounds from automatic weapons to clear protesters from the Din

Daeng intersection near the Victory Monument

Army later claimed that live rounds were only fired into the air

UDD protesters used hand guns during street protests to defend

14 April

Many protest leaders voluntarily gave themselves in to police



The following is a list of places that

have been set on fire by Red Shirts

1. A commercial building in Bon Kai community Siam Paragon Shopping Complex

2. CentralWorld Shopping Complex

3. Government Savings Bank, Sam Liam Din Daeng branch

4. Metropolitan Electricity Authority, Klong Toei branch

5. Metropolitan Waterworks Authority, Klong Toei branch

6. Stock Exchange of Thailand

7. Siam and Scala Cinemas in Siam Square

8. Bangkok Bank, Asok branch15. Bangkok Bank, Victory Monument branch17. CenterOne Shopping Mall

9. Siam City Bank, Siam Square branch

10. shops in Siam Square soi 5 and 6

11. Mahatun Plaza Building on Ploen Chit Road24. 7-Eleven convenient store, Sam Liam12. Din Daeng branch26. Krungthai Bank, Asok branch

13. Bangkok Bank, Bangjak branch

14. Tesco Lotus Express convenient store, Rama IV branch36. Big C Superstore, Rajdamribranch

(total 36, In addition, three Provincial Halls upcountry were hit by fires inK

honK

aen,Ubon Ratchathani and Udon Thani)



State Response

failing to activate the Internal Security Act

during the summits

Arrested UDD leaders ( legal action still not

taken against leaders of PAD movement )

used force to remove the violent mobs (in BKK

post, it stated live fire zone

recalled its ambassador and expelled

Cambodias





Future expectation

Thailand will soon have to address its daunting question of royal succession

As the army sees itself as the self entitled guardian of Thailands political

future, it will stay for the long haul, though in ways less blatant and more

sophisticated than in the past, such as its effort to codify an elastic authority

under the draft Internal Security Act.

To reach a reconciliation, the government and the opposition may have to

agree

Without accommodation, there will be no reconciliation.

The lower classes have to be educated politically so they learn discipline and

morality, and "upgrade their political demands" to be no longer merely self -

interested but conscious of social and national benefit.

Bridging the gap between the rich and the poor is also suggested. This would

solve the problem

Current breaking news: the Constitution Court dismissed the dissolution

case against the Democrat Party on Wednesday ; Reds reaction to it will be

seen soon.



References:

http://www.state.gov/r/pa/ei/bgn/2814.htm

http://www.suite101.com/content/thailand-in-turmoil-red-shirts-vs-yellow-shirts-a236659

http://www.thaizer.com/politics/who-are-the-yellow-shirts-and-red-shirts/

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/8004306.stm

http://www.apcss.org/core/Library/CSS/APOC/Thailan

d%20in%202009.pdf http://www.bangkokpost.com/news/local/208575/abh

isit-ready-to-face-music



Thank you so much for your

attention!!

Documents

Red Shirts and Yellow Shirts and Thai Democracy