“Everywhere I hear the sound of marching, charging feet,” Mick Jagger crowed in STREET-FIGHTING MAN and those lyrics were echoed by the thousands of PAD protesters in Bangkok. These demonstrators charged into government buildings and blockaded airports in an all-out effort to force PM Samak to resign from office. Labor leaders called for nation-wide strikes, but most Thais want a return to calmer times. The wily old politician nicknamed ‘Big-Nose’ responded by declaring emergency measures against unauthorized gatherings in the Thai capitol to avert the threat of mob rule or ‘god moo’, however the police seem unwilling to use excessive force to dislodge the PAD protesters. Samak sought aid from the military to prevent further clashes between rival factions which have resulted in violence, but once the army left for dinner at the barracks the more numerous PAD forces resumed their positions with the elite showing their face from within Mercedes sedans. They had hoped that the unions would come out on their side, but on Wednesday nothing happened other than waht was supposed to happen. People went to work.
Still the PAD leader say they will continue the confrontation until Samak resigns.
“We will be here. There are not enough prisons to detain us.”
The army has vowed to stay on the sidelines and the commander promised at a news conference, “I can assure every person that the Thai police and military will not use force against any civilian by any means. If the military uses force to stage a coup, it will create a lot more problems.”
Samak isn’t happy about their decision and has publicly wondered by he is being portrayed as a ‘bad guy or ‘toon chon’.
His support of the deposed leader Thaksin has earned him this title.
Where is the love?
Thai mai lak Thai?