New Mandala

From The Nation:
Privy councillor Surayud Chulanont yesterday conceded that the 2006 coup had not been able to put politics back on course as anticipated and that two years had lapsed with continuing turmoil.”The political divide persists, and parties concerned should take part in forging reconciliation,” he said, marking the second anniversary of the September 19 [...]

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The further problem for the decay of Samak’s legitimacy is that if he clings on, he gives the military greater justification for stepping in and throwing out his Government.
After the fiasco of a military-led interim government in 2006-07 that was unable to create conditions that would prevent another Thaksin-like government arising, the army, in particular, [...]

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Hosting a TV cooking show = GUILTY!
Staging a coup and tearing up a constitution = NO PROBLEM!

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In a bid to find ways to solve the ongoing political chaos, Samak government agreed on Thursday to conduct “public referendum,” Culture Minister Somsak Kietsuranond said Thursday.  He quoted Prime Minister Samak Sundaravej as saying that the referendum is the best solution to the problem. … Earlier People Power Party’s MP Suthin Klangsaeng said earlier [...]

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Picture 1: On the front page of the Manager newspaper of August 29, the PAD’s two core leaders, Sonthi Limthongkul and Chamlong Srimuang, confirmed that “[We will] fight, not retreat!”

Picture 2: Before I posted my contribution to New Mandala on August 29, I had come across news that police had retaken Makkhawan Bridge and cleared [...]

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By now, Srithanonchai’s touchingly domestic scenes of the political standoff in Bangkok may be a thing of the past.
The crack down has begun. What bought this about can be debated later. For coverage, as usual, Bangkok Pundit is the best English language source.
So far there has been plenty of rough and tumble, but even the [...]

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On January 13, 2006, Sonthi Limthongkul led 3,000 protestors from his rally site in Lumpini Park to Government House. A few hundred of them entered the compound. At that time, this action shocked many observers. They thought that Sonthi had gone too far in his attempt to bring Thaksin down.
Two and a half years later, [...]

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The question is whether the military would go along with such a game plan. The latest military reshuffle, signed by Samak on Tuesday, has further strengthened Gen Anupong Paochinda, the Army chief, as the most powerful figure in Thailand. Whichever side he picks, that party will win in this power play. But at the moment, [...]

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Not everything can be analysed rationally but it is possible that the brinksmanship of the People’s Alliance for Democracy (PAD) is part of a well-considered strategic push.  Stepping back from the cut and thrust of protest tactics we thought it worth reflecting on the ambitions that have drawn the PAD into its attack on the [...]

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Picture 1: Sondhi Limthongkul on the front page of his newspaper, Manager (August 26, 2008). The headline screams, “Beat the enemy!” or “Win the battle!” The line above reads, “Beating the war drum to oust the government - PAD exuberant.” Below are his PAD lieutenants, amongst them Chamlong Srimuang (left), and Somkiat Phongpaiboon (second right), [...]

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