People's Alliance for Democracy

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The People's Alliance for Democracy is a coalition of protesters against the government of Thaksin Shinawatra, Prime Minister of Thailand. Its leaders include media-mogul Sondhi Limthongkul and veteran politician Chamlong Srimuang. It is one of the chief players in the Thailand political crisis of 2005 - 2006.

The People's Alliance for Democracy (PAD) had its source in weekly public tapings of Sondhi Limthongkul's weekly political talkshow Muang Thai Rai Sapda (Thailand Weekly). Attendance grew after the talkshow was dropped by MCOT Channel 9 and Sondhi started webcasting the show on his website. As the tone of the talkshows grew more controversial, the tapings gradually turned into protests against the government. The PAD was formally established on 8 February 2006[link] with a 5 person central committee consisting of:

Sondhi Limthongkul
Chamlong Srimuang
Activist Phiphob Thongchai
State enterprise labor leader Somsak Kosaisuk
University lecturer Somkiat Phongpaiboon

Khamnoon Sitthisaman, royalist commentator, and Suriyasai Katasila, of the Campaign for Popular Democracy, have also played prominent roles.

PAD protestors consisted mostly of middle to upper-class residents of the capital. They included prominent socialites (dubbed the "Blue Blood Jet Set" by the Bangkok Post) and members of the Thai royal family[link]. They were joined by academics, students, supporters of the controversial Santi Asoke Buddhist sect (led by Thaksin's former mentor Chamlong Srimuang) and followers of the controversial monk Luang Ta Maha Bua. State enterprise employees who oppose privatization followed, even though most employees of the Electricity Generating Authority of Thailand had early in 2005 supported privatization. Protestors camped out for months outside Government House in Bangkok.

People's Alliance for Democracy

See also