Two Peas in a Pod - UDD & Pad

[Bruce551]

Suthep calls on public to avoid PAD protest

Thaksin, Sondhi both as bad, cause disunity

* Published: 29/11/2010 at 12:00 AM

* Newspaper section: News

http://www.bangkokpost.com/news/politics/208581/suthep-calls-on-public-to-avoid-pad-protest

CHUMPHON : Deputy Prime Minister Suthep Thaugsuban is flexing his regional muscle in a bid to thwart a planned rally by the People's Alliance for Democracy.

The Surat Thani MP has asked southerners to avoid a gathering outside parliament by the yellow shirt grouping.

Most protesters joining PAD rallies in recent years have come from the southern and central regions.

Mr Suthep, the Democrat Party's secretary-general, yesterday met local politicians and party members here to discuss the PAD's rally planned for Dec11.

The yellow shirts, which in the past have been a main support group for the Democrats, have vowed to protest against the government's attempt to seek parliamentary approval for the minutes from three meetings of the Thailand-Cambodia Joint Boundary Committee.

Further talks on delineating the border can proceed only after the minutes have been endorsed by parliament.

The PAD has campaigned against the endorsement, claiming it could result in Thailand losing territory to Cambodia.

Mr Suthep told the politicians yesterday not to support the PAD rally.

Rallies by the group and its rival movement, the red shirt United Front for Democracy against Dictatorship (UDD), have caused chaos in recent years, he said.

Both groups have exploited spokesmen in the media such as radio stations, satellite television stations and newspapers to draw public support for their movements and instigate unrest, he said.

"We must be strong and not let the UDD and the PAD misguide people," Mr Suthep said. "Democracy is not about street protests or arson attacks instigated to pressure the government to do what they want."

The rule of law must be respected, he said. Everyone must be treated equally under the law for the benefit of the country, not for particular people such as ousted prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra, the charismatic leader of the UDD, or PAD core leader Sondhi Limthongkul.

The two men are equally bad, Mr Suthep said. (True)

The deputy prime minister dismissed as untrue Mr Sondhi's assertion that Abhisit Vejjajiva was given the prime minister's job because of the PAD's lengthy street protests.

The PAD held a protest last week against the parliamentary debate on constitutional amendments but failed to draw as many supporters as the group had hoped.

[Bruce551]

POST BAG

UDD can out-democrat the Democrats

* Published: 3/12/2010 at 12:00 AM

* Newspaper section: News

I welcome the new UDD leader, Ms Thida Thavornseth, wife of detained Dr Weng Tojirakarn _ provided that she lives up to her reputation as a moderate who does not support violence in solving problems.

Ms Thida Thavornseth, new UDD chief

She says she believes in reason, in using knowledge and peaceful means to push the UDD's cause. Bravo! Such views _ if implemented with full respect for the equal rights of others _ will be fully in line with democratic principles. Out-democrat the Democrats!

Under her, the UDD will campaign against alleged double standards in the judiciary, and again I support her. Why, for example, should it take two years to indict the yellow shirt leaders for terrorism, and just a few months to do the same for the red leaders, on the same charges?

However, to be credible, the UDD must apply the same standards to itself as it does to others. Call for rule of law and for accountability in such cases as the Alpine golf course, the usage of excessive force at Krue Se and the manslaughter at Tak Bai, and the extra-judicial killings of an alleged 2,500 persons during Thaksin's anti-drug war.

Renounce and denounce Puea Thai MP Jatuporn's call for ''Burn, Bangkok, burn'' and expel him from the UDD. Call for Thaksin to submit to the rule of law, and serve his sentence. (Hope this is True)

Khun Thida, ''The superior man is modest in his speech, but exceeds in his actions'' (Confucius). Show us that your actions exceed your words, so that the UDD can truly serve the underprivileged, as it claims to.

BURIN KANTABUTRA