Vol. 72/No. 48      December 8, 2008

PAD supporters had been occupying Government House in Bangkok since August 26 to press their demand that the government resign. PAD leaders accuse the ruling People’s Power Party of being a puppet of former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra, who was overthrown in a military coup in September 2006.

PAD was formed that same year and is backed by powerful figures within royalist and military circles. It has mobilized thousands of middle-class Thais into the streets, accusing Thaksin of corruption and vote buying in rural areas. The PAD says the election process gives too much weight to rural toilers, who it describes as “ignorant.” The party advocates having only 30 percent of parliament directly elected by the people, with the remainder appointed.

Thaksin, a wealthy businessman, formed the Thai Rak Thai (Thais Loves Thais) party in the wake of the 1997 financial crisis in Asia. His party won the 2001 elections with promises to relieve the crisis in the countryside. Two-thirds of Thailand’s 65 million people live in the countryside. Many grow rice for the export market. Thailand is the largest rice exporter in the world.

Thaksin sought to consolidate support among rural toilers by creating a program known as the 1 million baht (US$30,000) village fund. Under the program villagers could apply for low-interest loans. They also benefited from cheaper health care and some land redistribution to the landless.

At the same time the Thaksin government escalated attacks on Malay Muslims fighting for autonomy in southern Thailand, leaving an estimated 1,700 people dead. In Thailand 94 percent of the population is classified as Buddhist while in the south it is 80 percent Malay Muslim.

Since the coup Thaksin has been living in exile to avoid corruption charges. In October of this year he was found guilty by the Thai courts and sentenced in absentia to two years in jail.

Immediately following the 2006 coup against Thaksin the military received backing from Thailand’s king, Bhumibol Adulyadej, the official head of state. The king’s status is reinforced by the constitution, which bans criticism of the monarchy.

In Washington, the coup was met with condemnation since Thaksin was a staunch supporter of the U.S.-led “war on terrorism.”

After 15 months of military rule new elections were held in December 2007. The majority voted to restore Thaksin’s renamed PPP to the government, led by Thaksin’s political ally Samak Sundaravej.

This September Samak was dismissed from office by the courts for violation of the constitution when he accepted payment for appearing on a TV cooking show. He has been replaced as prime minister by Thaksin’s brother-in-law, Somchai Wongsawat.  
 
 
Front page (for this issue) | Home | Text-version home