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8/8/2019 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.
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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.
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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
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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)
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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)
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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
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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.
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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
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Thank you so much for your
attention!!