And it goes on and on and on ...

[Flashermac]

THE NATION

27 March 2006

 

 

EDITORIAL: Silom Soi 5 is only the tip of the iceberg

 

Perhaps Thaksin will finally have a clue about public sentiment, now that citizens are confronting him in public

 

Is it all coming down to social coercion? After weeks of vociferous calls by tens of thousands for Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra to "Get Out!", the first time he appeared publicly rattled was yesterday, when, lunching at a food court in Silom Soi 5, he came face to face with three - yes, three - hostile shopkeepers. The well-dressed but stern-looking ladies shouted the same words that have been the hallmark of the present campaign for his resignation, and the effect was surprising. Thaksin looked stunned, then turned a bit pale. He cancelled plans to shop in that area and, whether or not it had anything to do with the incident, abruptly decided to fly back to Chiang Mai, saying he needed a break.

 

Throughout his present crisis, the prime minister has spent much of his time in his personal comfort zones. While Thai Rak Thai political rallies, with enthusiastic supporters shouting "Go, Thaksin, Go!" can be very soothing, they can also delude him. His recent belligerent speeches have not shown Thaksin to be aware of how widespread public sentiment against him has become. He has described protesters surrounding Government House as having been organised or being stupid "mobs" who plan, plot and conspire.

 

When confronted with an impromptu reaction like those of the three lady shopkeepers' when they saw him, Thaksin deemed genuinely taken aback. Shoppers who shouted back their support helped very little, and one reason could be his wife and children experiencing a similar ordeal at The Emporium recently; if the family considered that a one-off incident, then Thaksin's first-hand experience yesterday must have changed that assumption. Those opposed to his rule seem to have found a new way to deal with what they consider his stubbornness: "Okay, if you think you can handle the political pressure, let's see how well you cope with social measures."

 

If only Thaksin could disguise himself and join the protest by the People's Alliance for Democracy (PAD) just once. If only he could open his eyes and see beyond those protest leaders he abhors - the likes of Sondhi Limthongkul and Chamlong Srimuang. The PAD, even though formed by political activists and his opponents, has grown into something more profound and prevailing. It now boasts schoolchildren and their teachers, university students and their professors, leading artists and their fans, those lady shopkeepers and their customers, social thinkers and their followers, and so on.

 

If only he knew how ordinary office workers called their friends and agreed to cancel a party in order to make their voices heard at Government House. If only he could see how working parents take pains making babysitting arrangements so they can add to the "Thaksin Get Out!" chorus. If only he realised how many long-lost friends have been reunited at Sanam Luang or outside of Government House. If only he were aware how many of how these people have sworn to themselves to keep returning until they see the back of him. And if only he understood how many people in Silom Soi 5 and other places he and his family visit wished they had the courage to do the same as those three brave ladies.

 

Until Thaksin accepts this phenomenon and applies this truth to his approach, the crisis will continue to worsen. He blames PAD "propaganda" for the biggest national turmoil in years, while ignoring that he has more powerful media tools at his disposal. Considering his near-omnipresence, it was nothing short of a miracle that suspicion about the Shin Corp-Temasek deal managed to reach so many so quickly.

 

For the sake of our Kingdom, we hope the Silom Soi 5 incident provides a new peaceful weapon for society to wield in this crisis. We hope that we have discovered some sort of truth about Thaksin: that more may be less, and less may be more. Those three ladies may not be able to match the sound of the thunder roaring from Sanam Luang or near Government House, but their impromptu outburst, as far as Thaksin and his family are concerned, may speak volumes.

[Nervous_Dog]

The photo that goes with the story is gREAT!

 

DOG

[Mentors]

THE NATION tonight

 

Police give up after trying to block protesters at Henri Dunant

 

Police set up barricades at the Chalermpao Intersection where Rama I Road meets Henri Dunant but later gave up after police were overwhelmed by protesters.

 

Police set up the barricades at 4:05 pm but protesters simply walked past them on the roadsides and they gave up. Police removed the barricades at 4:20 pm.

 

But when protesters reached the road in front of the Royal Thai Police head office some 200 police form a line of barricade again. But the policemen later removed the barricades and retreated into the head office.

 

The protesters now occupied the Rama I Road up to the Rajprasong Intersection

[samak]

expect more to come in the next couple of days!

both sides have locked themselves into a way of no return and compromise.

it is a gordian knot; probably only if things turn violent, a resolution will be found.

[Neo]

That's kind of the scary part. I think violence is the only way the opposition has a chance to have the King intervene and I get the feeling they are increasingly desperate not to lose face by giving up. Thaksin has given in to everything they wanted. He won his first election, won reelection by a landslide, now the opposition is too scared even put their names on the election ballot they called for because they know they will be embarassed. Both sides are power hungry but clearly only Thaksin will have continued success through democracy. He even offered to delay the elections and other concessions the opposition demands but they replied "it is too late to mend fences", lol. They keep increasing the ante to create tense environments with their protests and it's amazing nothing bad has happened yet. I have to applaud the police for this but I've got to think it can't last forever.

[samak]

for me it is no surprise that nothing bad has happened yet. Police is very cautious and officials let the protesters pretty much do what they want. a move not in sympathy for the protesters! as soon as it turns violent, Thaksin has lost!