UDD: More than a one-man show
Many UDD members were clearly supporters of Prime Minister Thaksin, but they also had other reasons for joining the movement.You will also want to see the case for the defence and the programme of their red-shirted supporters.
The
UDD’s fight against “double
standards”
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Just a month ago, many people expected the “ten dangerous days” before the Supreme Court verdict to be days of chaos, with perhaps a million red-shirted demonstrators attending rallies and marching through the streets of Bangkok.
That hasn’t happened – yet. Instead, leaders of the United Front for Democracy Against Dictatorship (UDD) have been content to stage smaller rallies at various sites around the country to reinforce their key message that double standards exist in this country and that true democracy is still a long way away. The justice system and the political system, they say, all favour the old power elites, headed by the royalists and the military.
Perhaps that is why they have not mobilised their supporters for mass demonstrations before the verdict. To do so would make it seem that their movement exists mainly to support former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra. That is not true, say UDD leaders. Their purpose is not to serve one man, but to bring the country to democracy.
Thus far, the tactics used by the UDD have been peaceful and reasonably effective. Their protests have been well targeted, each pointing to different examples of alleged double standards.
One easy target was privy councillor Surayud Chulanont who clearly had big problems with his land holdings without having been punished. But the UDD has been especially harsh on Privy Council president Prem Tinasulanda whom they believe played a key role in the 2006 coup which ousted Mr Thaksin.
Last month, about 200 red-shirts went to offices of the Privy Council to demand the resignation of both Gen. Prem and Gen Surayud. There they handed a petition and two batches of documents to two council staff in a peaceful rally watched over by 150 police. The documents dealt with alleged encroachment in forest reserve land by the two generals and their associates. The demonstrators then dispersed.
Other protest sites have included the Election Commission where red-shirt leaders demanded explanations for why pro-Thaksin parties had been dissolved but the Democrats have been allowed to escape despite equally serious allegations against them.
They rallied outside National Police headquarters to demand explanations for why People’s Alliance for Democracy leaders haven’t been punished for their occupation of Suvanabhumi airport and they also surrounded Army Headquarters to protest against deputy army commander Prayuth Chan-ocha, whom they accuse of planning to stage a coup.
Now it appears that the promised mass demonstrations will begin after Friday’s court verdict. If, as expected, the Shinawatra family assets are confiscated, the UDD supporters will see this as another glaring example of the unfairness of the current system.
double standard – a rule or standard of good behaviour which, unfairly, some people are expected to follow or achieve but other people are not สองมาตรฐานverdict – a decision by a court of law คำพิพากษา
chaos – a situation in which everything is confused and in a mess ความยุ่งเหยิง, ความสับสน, การจราจล
demonstrators – people who march with other people in public to show that they support or oppose something ผู้ชุมนุมประท้วง
rally – a large public gathering of people to support someone or to protest against something การชุมนุม
United Front for Democracy Against Dictatorship (UDD) – the group originally formed to demonstrate against the 2006 coup and which supported the Somchai Wongsawat government against the PAD and which is now leading the fight against the current government. They are known for wearing red shirts แนวร่วมประชาธิปไตยต่อต้านเผด็จการแห่งชาต
site – a place where something happens or is สถานที่
reinforce – to make stronger เสริมให้แข็งแรงขึ้น
elite - the richest, most powerful, best educated or most highly trained group in a society คนที่มีอภิสิทธิ์ที่สุด
mobilise – to organise a group of people to do something ระดมกำลัง
mass demonstration – a very large public gathering of people to support someone or to protest against something การชุมนุมใหญ่
movement – a group of people who share the same aim and work together to achieve it การเคลื่อนไหวเพื่อวัตถุประสงค์ทางการเมือง
tactics – particular methods for achieving something วิธีการ ไม้เด็ด
effective – producing the result that was intended ได้ผลดี
targeted – intended to attack someone or something ตั้งเป้า, มุ่ง
alleged – claimed to be true although not yet proven ที่ถูกกล่าวหา
Privy Council – the group of appointed advisors to the King of Thailand สภาองคมนตรีไทย
privy councillor – a member of the group of appointed advisors to the King of Thailand องคมนตรี
key – very important ที่สำคัญ
oust – to force to leave a position of power ขับออกจากอำนาจ
resignation – the act of leaving a job permanently การลาออกจากตำแหน่ง
petition – a document signed by a large number of people demanding or requesting some action from the government or another authority การถวายฎีกา,การร้องเรียน
batch - a group of things considered similar in type ชุด, กลุ่ม, พวก
encroachment - gradually covering more and more of an area of land การบุกรุก
associate – someone you work with, especially in a business ผู้ที่มีความสัมพันธ์กัน (เช่น เพื่อน, ผู้ร่วมงาน, หุ้นส่วน)
disperse – (of a crowd of people) to separate and leave in different directions สลายฝูงชน
ElectionCommission – the independent government agency that oversees elections คณะกรรมการเลือกตั้ง
dissolved – officially ended as a group ที่ยุบพรรค
allegation – an accusation; a statement that someone has done something wrong or illegal even though this has not been proved ข้อกล่าวหา