United Front for Democracy Against Dictatorship

United Front for Democracy Against Dictatorship

Type	Pressure group Political group
Founded	2006 in names 'Democratic Alliance Against Dictatorship' (DAAD)
Key people	Weera Musikapong (President) Nattawut Saikua (Spokesman/Secretary General) Dr. Weng Tohjirakarn (Leader of UDD Peace Unit) Jatuporn Prompan Kokaew Pikulthong
Area served	Thailand
Focus	Dissolve the aristocratic polity
Website	http://www.uddthailand.com/ and http://www.uddtoday.net/

The UDD in 2007

The demonstration of 20 March 2010, on Rama 4 road

Supporters along Rama 4 road wave at the parade on 20 March 2010

The United Front for Democracy Against Dictatorship (UDD) (Thai: แนวร่วมประชาธิปไตยต่อต้านเผด็จการแห่งชาติ; นปช.), whose supporters are commonly called "Red Shirts", is a political pressure group opposed to the People's Alliance for Democracy (PAD), the 2006 Thai military coup, and supporters of the coup. Notable UDD leaders include Jatuporn Prompan, Nattawut Saikua, Veera Musikapong, Charan Ditthapichai and Dr. Weng Tohjirakarn. The UDD allies itself with the For Thais Party, which is currently in office in a coalition government. Before July 2011 national elections, the UDD claimed that Abhisit Vejjajiva's government took power 'illegitimately', backed by the Thai Army and the judiciary. Therefore, the UDD called for the Thai Parliament to be dissolved so that a general re-election could be held. UDD accuses the country's extra-democratic elite — the military, judiciary, certain members of the Privy Council, and other unelected officials — of undermining democracy by interfering in politics.^[1] The UDD is composed of mostly rural masses from Northeast (Isan) and North Thailand, of urban lower classes from Bangkok and of some intellectuals. Although the movement seems to receive support from former Prime Minister in exile Thaksin Shinawatra, not all UDD members support the deposed Prime Minister.^[2]

History

The UDD first formed in 2006 to oppose the military government and the military coup, which overthrew Thaksin five weeks before scheduled elections. UDD organized anti-government rallies during the military government's rule in 2006-2007 and opposed the military's 2007 constitution. The UDD stopped protests after the 2007 general election, which the People's Power Party won. In response to violent anti-government PAD rallies and the Yellow Shirt seizure of Government House in May 2008, the UDD organized counter demonstrations, which would sporadically result in injuries and deaths. After Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva took office, the UDD led major anti-government rallies in April 2009 and in March–May 2010, leading to violent clashes with military forces.

The UDD calls for the replacement of the Ammatayathipatai (อำมาตยาธิปไตย, aristocratic polity) - the system in which palace insiders, the military, and bureaucrats effectively ignore the popular mandate - with an electoral democracy. One of the UDD's favorite targets is Prem Tinsulanonda, the President of the Privy Council. The protests urge the immediate resignation of Prem from the Privy Council. Due to its insistence that palace insiders stop interfering in politics, the UDD has been criticized by the PAD as being an 'anti-monarchist', and even a 'republican' movement, and many Web sites and other media sympathetic to the UDD have been shut down under Thailand's strict lèse majesté laws. UDD leaders and supporters have been jailed under the same laws. The group also calls for the replacement of the 2007 constitution, which was drafted by the military, with the 1997 Constitution.

The UDD as the PAD's opposition: 2008 clashes

UDD supporters have been the anti-PADs since the 2006 coup, when they accused the PAD of supporting the coup. From then on, clashes between supporters of the two groups took place from time to time, such as the clash in Udorn Thani in July 2008. The red-shirted UDD supporters attacked a PAD rally, injuring several PAD supporters. A PAD meeting in Chiangmai, the bastion of Thaksin Shinawatra, was also disturbed.

Before daybreak on 2 September 2008, the UDD supporters rallying at Sanamluang decided to attack the PAD demonstrators gathering on the Makkhawan Rangsan Bridge at Ratchadamnoen Klang Avenue. The ensuing clash left several injured on both sides and one dead on UDD side, causing a weak state of emergency in Bangkok.^[3] The military was called to secure the situation, but not to disperse the demonstrators. The UDD was then seen by the public as the main adversary of the PAD, the red/yellow rivalry becoming significantly evident.

2009 unrest

Main article: April 2009 Thai political unrest

In March 2009, Thaksin Shinawatra claimed via video broadcast to a UDD rally that Privy Council President Prem Tinsulanonda masterminded the 2006 military coup, and that Prem and fellow Privy Councilor members Surayud Chulanont and Chanchai Likhitjittha conspired with the military and other members of the 'Ammatayathipatai' (อำมาตยาธิปไตย - aristocratic polity) to ensure that Abhisit became Premier. Although Abhisit denied the accusations, thousands protested in Bangkok early April demanding that Abhisit resign from the Premiership and that Prem, Surayud, and Chanchai resign from the Privy Council.^[4] Thaksin called for a "peoples revolution" to overcome the alleged aristocratic influences of the Abhisit government.

Pattaya

The UDD protests expanded to Pattaya, the site of the Fourth East Asia Summit. Violent clashes occurred between the UDD and blue-shirted government supporters brought in by coalition partner Newin Chidchob.^[5] The protests caused the summit to be cancelled, leading Abhisit to declare a state of emergency in the areas of Pattaya and Chonburi on 11 April. The protest voluntarily subsided in the afternoon of the same day. Legislation authorizing emergency decrees was originally pushed through Parliament in 2005 by the Thaksin government, provoking charges of authoritarianism at the time by Abhisit.^[6] Under the state of emergency, gatherings of more than five people were prohibited and the press was not permitted to present news which could incite worry.^[7]

Bangkok

As the week-long Songkran (Thai New Year) holiday began, protests escalated in Bangkok. On 8 April 2009, 100,000 UDD demonstrators, rallied at Government House and the nearby Royal Plaza by the evening.^[8] The government decided to declare the State of Emergency in Bangkok and surrounding areas, and military forces were brought into the capital.

Fighting erupted between anti-government protesters, government supporters, and the general population.^[9] At a demonstration in front of Prem's residence, a yellow shirted driver plunged her car into a crowd of UDD protesters injuring several before driving away; she was not arrested.^[10] Abhisit denounced the UDD protesters as "national enemies".^[11] Abhisit also issued a red shirt decree that empowered the government to censor television broadcasts.^[12]

In the pre-dawn of Monday 13 April, Army soldiers used tear gas and fired live and training rounds to clear protesters from the Din Daeng intersection near the Victory Monument in central Bangkok, injuring at least 70 people.^[13][14] The Army later claimed that live rounds were only fired into the air while training rounds were fired at the crowd. However, Human Rights Watch confirmed that there were some cases where the Army fired live ammunition directly at protesters.^[15] The UDD claimed that dozens of protesters died from gunshot wounds sustained during the military's attack.^[16][17] However, the Army later claimed that the wounds were not caused by an M-16, the standard Army rifle. Also on Monday the government ordered the red shirt blocking of satellite news station D Station, an affiliate of the UDD which, at the time, was broadcasting the clashes. Several community radio stations were shut down and searched upon suspicion of supporting the UDD.^[18]

On 21 April, Abhisit declared a "media war" designed to attack the UDD. He also announced the public distribution of millions of VCDs documenting the government's views on the unrest. At the time, the government's emergency and censorship decrees were still in place.^[19][20] The state of emergency, but not the censorship decree, was lifted on 24 April.^[21]

Soon afterwards, Abhisit revoked Thaksin's ordinary passport (Abhisit had revoked Thaksin's diplomatic passport shortly after taking office) and issued warrants for dozens of other protest leaders.^[22]

According to government figures, over 120 people were injured in the unrest, most of them UDD demonstrators.^[23] At least one UDD red shirt protester injured from gunshot wounds sustained during the military's attack in Din Daeng, although the Army claimed the wound was not caused by their standard firearm. The UDD claimed that at least 6 demonstrators were killed in the unrest and their bodies hauled away by the military, although the Army rejected the claim.^[24] The dead bodies of 2 UDD protesters were found floating in the Chao Phraya river, their hands tied behind their backs and their bodies badly beaten, although police had yet to conclude whether their murders were politically motivated.^[25] Abhisit aide Satit Wongnontaey claimed that Red-shirted protesters shot a person dead and injured two others when residents of the Nang Lerng Market came out to criticise the protesters; however, no arrests were made and there was a lack of evidence to back his claims.^[26] The Bangkok Metropolitan Administration estimated that it had incurred 10 million Baht (approximately 300,000 USD) in property damages, including 31 damaged and burned buses.^[27] But, the Federation of Thai Tourism Industry estimated that the damage to the tourism industry could be as high as 200 billion Baht (6 billion USD) and resulting in 257,000 jobs lost.^[28]

Prior to a gathering of the Red Shirts planned for 30 August 2009, the Prime Minister approved the establishment of the Center for the Administration of Peace and Order (ศูนย์อำนวยการแก้ไขสถานการณ์ฉุกเฉิน (ศอฉ.) CAPO) to draw up plans and measures to prevent and end any violent incidents that may occur by ill-intentioned groups.^[29]

2010 protests

An assembly held by United Front for Democracy Against Dictatorship, near Chit Lom Station, Bangkok.

Thai Type 85 APCs during 2010 Thai political protests

CentralWorld after the fire on 19 May 2010

Main article: 2010 Thai political protests

Abhisit's government expected major UDD-led unrest immediately following the announcement of the Supreme Court's verdict on Thaksin Shinawatra's asset seizure case, despite the UDD's announcement that they would not protest the verdict. Major protest suppression measures were enacted, and security was increased throughout the nation. Despite the government's warnings, the UDD did not protest the verdict but instead announced that they would hold a large-scale protest in Bangkok on 14 March calling for elections.

Abhisit increased security measures to suppress the 14 March protests. In the days prior to the protest, more checkpoints were set up to inspect protester caravans entering Bangkok, especially those coming from UDD strongholds in the North and Northeast, with orders to detain any protesters with weapons. A government/military situation room for monitoring the protest, officially called the Peace-keeping Operations Command, was established at the 11th Infantry Regiment in Bangkhen.^[30] Pro-government elements in the Northeast issued threats to deter people from leaving for the capital.^[31]

Abhisit claimed to have received intelligence that there was a terrorist threat of sabotage taking place on 14 March. The UDD denied Abhisit's allegations and dared him to reveal any evidence backing his claims. Suthep claimed that the UDD protesters planned to "besiege government offices and residences of important figures, like Privy Council President Prem Tinsulanonda."^[32]

On 9 March, Abhisit imposed the Internal Security Act from 11–23 March.^[33][34] A 50,000-strong security force was deployed on Bangkok.

As of Friday 12 March, police and military checkpoints set up along all main routes leading to Bangkok to inspect UDD protesters for weapons being carried into the capital. The police issued a warning that bus operators transporting people to Bangkok without official permission could have their concessions revoked.^[35] Five bombs exploded in Surat Thani, a Democrat Party stronghold, in the early morning of 12 March.^{[citation needed]} Nobody was injured or killed. It was not clear who was behind the bombings. No arrests were made.

The protests on Sunday 14 March were the largest in Thai history, and were peaceful.^[36] However, Thailand's free-to-air TV channels, all controlled by the government or military, claimed that there were only 25,000 protesters in the main protest site at Phan Fah Bridge.^[37] On Tuesday, UDD protesters announced that they would be collecting 10 milliliters of blood from volunteer protesters and pouring the blood in a symbolic sacrifice at Government House and other sites in Bangkok.^[38] These public blood rituals were a highly effective publicity stunt and drew widespread attention to the protests. However, critics have said that the UDD's association with blood tarnished the movement's efforts to keep its campaign ‘clean’ and may have discouraged potential supporters.^[39]

Negotiations between the protesters and the government failed to result in a resolution of the situation. On 27 March, protesters marched to seven locations in Bangkok where Army troops had been stationed in preparation for a crackdown and convinced them to withdraw. There were dozens of bombings in Bangkok during the weeks of the protest, with nobody claiming responsibility and no arrests made. A Porsche was rammed into protester motorcycles at Rajprasong intersection, injuring several. In a separate incident, a woman rammed her car into a crowd of protesters, but drove away before she could be arrested.^[40]

Abhisit declared a state of emergency on the evening of 8 April. Troops barricaded the uplink station for the Thaicom satellite to prevent it from airing People Channel, a popular TV station sympathetic to the UDD. Protesters surrounded the station in the afternoon of 9 April. Tear gas was fired into the crowd, prompting the protesters to storm the station and the troops to withdraw.^[41][42][43]

On 10 April, the protests turned violent, when government troops approached the red shirt encampment and fired live ammunition at some protesters.^[44] Twenty-five people were killed in the confrontation, with more than 800 people injured.^[45][46] Tensions continued to grow, as pro-government rallies started to appear alongside anti-government rallies. On 22 April, a series of explosions in Bangkok killed at least one person and injured more than 85 others, including four foreigners. At least some of the explosions were caused by grenades, which the government claimed were fired from the Red Shirt encampment.^[47][48] On 28 April, Thai security forces and anti-government protesters clashed on the outskirts of Bangkok, with troops firing both over and then directly into a crowd of Red Shirts to keep them from expanding their demonstrations. At least 16 protesters were wounded and one soldier was killed.

Jatuporn Prompan, Nattawut Saikua and other Red-Shirt leaders, surrendered themselves to police to prevent further bloodshed during the violent military crackdown on 19 May 2010.^[49] In the aftermath of this attack 27 buildings were set ablaze in Thailand's capital, Bangkok. The Thai military largely quashed the protesters there, but pockets of resistance still remained as of Thursday May 20.

2011

CAPO (Center for the Administration of Peace and Order,) first established in August 2009, was re-established after the cabinet approved the imposition of Chapter 2 of the Internal Security Act (ISA) in seven districts of Bangkok from Feb 9-23 to control the rallies by the yellow-shirt People's Alliance for Democracy (PAD) and the red-shirt United Front for Democracy against Dictatorship (UDD),^[50] to which local reaction to the Cambodian–Thai border dispute forms a background.^[51]

Criticism

Critics and opponents inside and outside Thailand often express the suspicion that the socially progressive platform and the organization as an independent NGO are only feigned to actually pursue the agenda of Thaksin and his camarilla. The American freelance commentator Philip J. Cunningham even drew parallels of UDD's personalism, xenophobia, anti-gay sentiments and militance with Italian Fascism.^[52]

References

1. ^ Thai police issue warrants for 14 protest leaders. MSNBC. 14 April 2009
2. ^ The Economist, "Smiling for the cameras", 31 March 2010
3. ^ Ghosh, Nirmal. "Clash of the Thai-tans". The Straits Times. 2 September 2008
4. ^ The Telegraph, "Thai protesters bring Bangkok to a halt", 8 April 2009
5. ^ Nirmal Ghosh, "Live: Flashpoint Pattaya", Straits Times, 11 April 2009
6. ^ New York Times, "Thailand's Failed Experiment?", 16 April 2009
7. ^ MCOT, Armour, troops on streets; Gunfire in scuffle after PM declares emergency, 12 April 2009
8. ^ "UPDATE 4-Anti-govt rally in Bangkok, PM says Asia summit on". Reuters. 8 April 2009
9. ^ MCOT, Hit-and-run driver plunges car into UDD protesters, 9 April 2009
10. ^ Hit-and-run driver plunges car into UDD protesters. MCOT. 9 April 2009
11. ^ The Age, "Sacrificing democracy won't end Thailand's chaos", 15 April 2009
12. ^ Committee to Protect Journalists, Thai government issues censorship decree, 14 April 2009
13. ^ The Times, "Abhisit Vejjajiva won the media battle but the hardest job is yet to come", 14 April 2009
14. ^ The Times, "Thai troops open fire on protesters in Bangkok" 13 April 2009
15. ^ The Telegraph, "Human Rights Watch calls for Thailand inquiry after riots", 16 April 2009
16. ^ Bangkok Post, "Red in retreat", 14 April 2009
17. ^ Bangkok Post, "Red revolt", 14 April 2009
18. ^ MCOT, Community radio stations ordered to close temporarily, 16 April 2009
19. ^ The Nation, "Govt to launch media war countering red shirts"
20. ^ Bangkok Post, "UDD's planned video show self-defeating", 21 April 2009
21. ^ Reuters, "Thailand lifts emergency, plans charter reforms", 24 April 2009
22. ^ Bell, Thomas. "Thailand revokes passport of ex-PM Thaksin Shinawatra". The Telegraph. 15 April 2009
23. ^ "Army pressure ends Thai protest". BBC News 14 April 2009
24. ^ It Begins. Bangkok Pundit. 13 April 2009
25. ^ "Police probe 'Red Shirt' deaths". The Straits Times. 16 April 2009
26. ^ One shot dead by red-shirted protesters. The Nation. April 2009
27. ^ Bt10 million "BMA property damage from protest; religious rites to be held". MCOT. 16 April 2009
28. ^ http://www.thailandoutlook.com/thailandoutlook1/top%20menu/investor%20news/Daily%20News%20Summary?DATEDAILY=Monday,%20April%2020,%202009
29. ^ Public Relations Section, CAPO (28 August 2009). "Center for the Administration of Peace and Order (CAPO)". Unofficial translation. Royal Thai Embassy, Singapore. http://www.thaiembassy.sg/press_media/press-releases/center-for-the-administration-of-peace-and-order-capo-despite-the-isa-ass. Retrieved 10 February 2011. 
30. ^ The Nation, "Peace-keeping Command to set up at 11th Infantry Regiment", 10 March 2010
31. ^ The Nation, "Witness the death of deference", 22 March 2010
32. ^ The Nation, "Monarch gets briefing", 9 March 2010
33. ^ WSJ, Thailand Braces for Political Rallies in Capital, New York Times, 11 March 2010
34. ^ Dow Jones, "Thai Cabinet Approves Imposition Of Internal Security Act", 9 March 2010
35. ^ The Nation, "Red shirts to govt: 'Don't mess with us'", 12 March 2010
36. ^ IPS, In Convoys of Red, Rural Masses Stage Historic Protest, 14 March 2010
37. ^ CSM, "Biased TV stations intensify divides in Thailand protests", 22 March 2010
38. ^ Prachatai, "เทพไท" เย้ยเลือดคนเสื้อแดงแยกยากจากเลือดสัต, 18 March 2010
39. ^ The Diplomat, "Thailand's Blood Red Protest", 21 March 2010
40. ^ The Nation, "Woman rescued by police after trying to slam vehicle at protesters", 6 April 2010
41. ^ VOA, "Thai Military Uses Force Against 'Red Shirt' Protesters", 9 April 2010
42. ^ FT, "Thai protesters seize key satellite station", 9 April 2010
43. ^ BBC, "Thailand's red-shirt protesters occupy TV compound", 9 April 2010
44. ^ Robin Henry (10 April 2010). "Nine dead as Thai troops clash with Red Shirt protesters". The Times (London). http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/world/asia/article7094179.ece. Retrieved 10 April 2010. 
45. ^ Chris Baker (4 April 2010). "Thailand Runs Out of Room for Compromise". Wall Street Journal. http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052702304798204575183263826589050.html?mod=WSJ_latestheadlines. Retrieved 14 April 2010. 
46. ^ "Number of fatalities rises to 25; Protesters vow to stay at Ratchaprasong". 15 April 2010. http://www.mcot.net/cfcustom/cache_page/44870.cfm. Retrieved 15 April 2010. 
47. ^ "'Terrorists' blamed for attacks amid Thai deadlock". BBC News. 23 April 2010. http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/8638942.stm. Retrieved 23 April 2010. 
48. ^ "Bangkok grenade blasts kill 3, deputy PM says". National Post. Agence France-Presse. 22 April 2010. http://www.nationalpost.com/news/story.html?id=2938758. Retrieved 22 April 2010. ^{[dead link]}
49. ^ Wall Street Journal, May 20, 2010
50. ^ Online Reporters (10 February 2011). "CAPO issues road use ban". Bangkok Post. http://www.bangkokpost.com/news/security/220867/capo-issues-road-use-ban. Retrieved 10 February 2011. 
51. ^ Wassana Nanuam (10 February 2011). "Villagers rally to call on PAD to stay away". Bangkok Post. http://www.bangkokpost.com/news/asia/220756/villagers-rally-to-call-on-pad-to-stay-away. Retrieved 10 February 2011. 
52. ^ Discussion between the political scientist Giles Ji Ungpakorn (pro-UDD) and Cunningham on Democracy Now!, presented by Amy Goodman, May 18, 2010, retrieved on January 6, 2011.

External links

• Official site