ANALYSIS: Hardliners expelled after damning peaceful approach and calling for new leaders
18/03/2010
Nauvarat Suksamran
Bangkok Post
The decision by the United Front for Democracy against Dictatorship to sever ties with army specialist Khattiya Sawasdipol and Surachai Danwattananusorn highlights disunity in the pro-Thaksin Shinawatra camp.
The camp is divided into three factions. One is led by Veera Musikhapong, Jatuporn Prompan and Natthawut Saikua and is organising the present demonstration. Weng Tojirakarn, Arisman Pongruengrong and Suporn Atthawong are in this group.
The others are a group led by Maj Gen Khattiya, with ex-military officer Gen Panlop Pinmanee, a Puea Thai Party member, as his close ally, while the Daeng Siam (Red Siam) faction is led by Mr Surachai and supported by Jakrapob Penkair and is a splinter group of the UDD.
Mr Veera, Mr Jatuporn and Mr Natthawut decided to expel Maj Gen Khattiya and Mr Surachai from the UDD because of conflicts over tactics.
Maj Gen Khattiya and Mr Surachai do not believe in the UDD's peaceful approach and think the concept of non-violence being used at the rally will not bring about any change to society. In their opinion, change can only be achieved through radical means.
The peaceful rally has been opposed by the factions led by Maj Gen Khattiya and Mr Surachai from the very beginning.
While the three UDD leaders have talked about their achievements through non-violent means, Maj Gen Khattiya has been calling on the red shirts to lay siege to parliament to press MPs to rush to amend the constitution and then form a new government. Mr Jatuporn has described that idea as "absurd".
In addition to his opposition to peaceful protest, Mr Surachai, a former member of the now defunct Communist Party of Thailand, has lost patience with the three and criticised them for a lack of direction and poor strategies for the rally. Maj Gen Khattiya and Mr Surachai also want the three to quit as UDD leaders and called for other changes to the UDD's leadership.
"They no longer have leadership skills. They don't listen to anyone," said Mr Surachai, adding his faction was on the way home from Ratchadamnoen Avenue.
With ties to the factions led by Maj Gen Khattiya and Mr Surachai now severed, Mr Veera, Mr Jatuporn and Mr Natthawut will have to prove that their approach is working as planned.
The rally enters its fifth day today with no sign the government will accept their demand for the House to be dissolved. The blood spilt at Government House, the Democrat Party and the house of Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva cannot put any pressure on the administration.
But the rift in the ranks of UDD leaders will have adverse consequences on the red shirt movement.
The three UDD leaders continue to believe that by dragging out the rally for as long as possible with ample financial assistance to keep the protest running as crucial factors, their demands will eventually be achieved.
They are banking on fresh protesters to arrive and that will need help from Puea Thai MPs and local politicians to mobilise supporters from the provinces to travel to Bangkok.
Mr Veera, Mr Jatuporn and Mr Natthawut have a mission to prove to the radical factions that their peaceful approach will work out.
As for ousted former prime minister Thaksin, nobody knows what he thinks about the conflict among his supporters. He keeps others guessing as to whether he accepts the decision by the three UDD leaders to sever ties with Maj Gen Khattiya and Mr Surachai. Thaksin did not mention it in his video link last night.
18/03/2010
Nauvarat Suksamran
Bangkok Post
The decision by the United Front for Democracy against Dictatorship to sever ties with army specialist Khattiya Sawasdipol and Surachai Danwattananusorn highlights disunity in the pro-Thaksin Shinawatra camp.
The camp is divided into three factions. One is led by Veera Musikhapong, Jatuporn Prompan and Natthawut Saikua and is organising the present demonstration. Weng Tojirakarn, Arisman Pongruengrong and Suporn Atthawong are in this group.
The others are a group led by Maj Gen Khattiya, with ex-military officer Gen Panlop Pinmanee, a Puea Thai Party member, as his close ally, while the Daeng Siam (Red Siam) faction is led by Mr Surachai and supported by Jakrapob Penkair and is a splinter group of the UDD.
Mr Veera, Mr Jatuporn and Mr Natthawut decided to expel Maj Gen Khattiya and Mr Surachai from the UDD because of conflicts over tactics.
Maj Gen Khattiya and Mr Surachai do not believe in the UDD's peaceful approach and think the concept of non-violence being used at the rally will not bring about any change to society. In their opinion, change can only be achieved through radical means.
The peaceful rally has been opposed by the factions led by Maj Gen Khattiya and Mr Surachai from the very beginning.
While the three UDD leaders have talked about their achievements through non-violent means, Maj Gen Khattiya has been calling on the red shirts to lay siege to parliament to press MPs to rush to amend the constitution and then form a new government. Mr Jatuporn has described that idea as "absurd".
In addition to his opposition to peaceful protest, Mr Surachai, a former member of the now defunct Communist Party of Thailand, has lost patience with the three and criticised them for a lack of direction and poor strategies for the rally. Maj Gen Khattiya and Mr Surachai also want the three to quit as UDD leaders and called for other changes to the UDD's leadership.
"They no longer have leadership skills. They don't listen to anyone," said Mr Surachai, adding his faction was on the way home from Ratchadamnoen Avenue.
With ties to the factions led by Maj Gen Khattiya and Mr Surachai now severed, Mr Veera, Mr Jatuporn and Mr Natthawut will have to prove that their approach is working as planned.
The rally enters its fifth day today with no sign the government will accept their demand for the House to be dissolved. The blood spilt at Government House, the Democrat Party and the house of Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva cannot put any pressure on the administration.
But the rift in the ranks of UDD leaders will have adverse consequences on the red shirt movement.
The three UDD leaders continue to believe that by dragging out the rally for as long as possible with ample financial assistance to keep the protest running as crucial factors, their demands will eventually be achieved.
They are banking on fresh protesters to arrive and that will need help from Puea Thai MPs and local politicians to mobilise supporters from the provinces to travel to Bangkok.
Mr Veera, Mr Jatuporn and Mr Natthawut have a mission to prove to the radical factions that their peaceful approach will work out.
As for ousted former prime minister Thaksin, nobody knows what he thinks about the conflict among his supporters. He keeps others guessing as to whether he accepts the decision by the three UDD leaders to sever ties with Maj Gen Khattiya and Mr Surachai. Thaksin did not mention it in his video link last night.
3 comments:
Red Shirts people must do more than bloods....bombs attack!!
Dear all Red Shirts,
If bloods didn't scared Abhisit Gov'ts, you all must used all weapons intead...CIVIL WAR!!
correction = Red Shirts people, you all must used weapons instead...bombs attack!!
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