People's Alliance for Democracy
| พันธมิตรประชาชนเพื่อประชาธิปไตย | |
| Founded | 2005 |
|---|---|
| Type |
Pressure group Political group |
| Location | |
|
Key people
|
Sondhi Limthongkul Chamlong Srimuang Phiphob Thongchai Somsak Kosaisuuk Somkiat Pongpaiboon |
The People's Alliance for Democracy (PAD) (Thai: พันธมิตรประชาชนเพื่อประชาธิปไตย, Phanthamit Prachachon Pheu Prachathipatai) also called the National Liberation Alliance - กลุ่มพันธมิตรกู้ชาติ, Klum Phanthamit Ku Chat, Thai Patriots Network or more commonly the Yellow Shirts - เสื้อเหลือง, Suea Lueang - is a Thai political movement and pressure group. It was originally a coalition of protesters against Thaksin Shinawatra, the former Prime Minister of Thailand. Its leaders included media-mogul Sondhi Limthongkul and Major General Chamlong Srimuang. The PAD was a chief player in the Thailand political crisis of 2005 to 2006, the 2008 crisis, and the Cambodian–Thai border stand-off. Its membership consisted mainly of ultra-royalist middle-class and working-class Bangkok residents and anti-Thaksin Southerners, supported by some factions of the Thai Army, some leaders of Democrat Party, and the members of the state-enterprise labor unions.
The PAD was formed to lead demonstrations against the government of Thaksin Shinawatra, whom they accused of being against the monarchy. Two days after a military junta's 2006 military coup overthrew Thaksin's interim government (between elections), the PAD voluntarily dissolved after announcing its goals had been accomplished. The PAD re-established itself after Thaksin-affiliated parties, led by Samak Sundaravej's People's Power Party (PPP), won a plurality in the 2007 general election. In May 2008, PAD again began street protests and in August seized Government House to pressure Samak's coalition government to resign. PAD supporters also seized airports in Phuket, Krabi, and Hat Yai and blocked major roads and highways. Sympathetic state-enterprise labour unions assisted by stopping train services across the Kingdom and threatening to shut off electricity and water services to non-PAD supporters. Armed PAD forces "Srivichai Warriors" seized a government television broadcaster as well as several government ministries. Violence between PAD supporters and anti-PAD protesters left dozens injured and one PAD protester dead. Wealthy PAD supporters threatened a bank run that could destabilize the Thai financial system if the Samak government did not resign.
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Wikipedia