Little Uncle Nuamthong Praiwan had a heart bigger than the Democracy Monument. Despite his little knowledge of history, after the 19 September 2006 coup, he slammed his taxi into an army tank, driven by the sheer force of his fervent hopes for democracy. He did not die instantly.  But his action has since then symbolized anti-coup sentiment.

The new round of anti-government demonstrations by the People’s Alliance for Democracy (PAD) over the past one and a half months can be said to have reached its deepest stage reflecting the filthiness and loss of mind of the group. The issue of Preah Vihear has been directly manipulated by linking the issue to territorial integrity and the “state”.

The violence during the demonstration of the People’s Alliance for Democracy (PAD) on 25 May 2008 should be condemned, no matter if it comes from the ‘PAD’, ‘anti-PAD 1’, ‘anti-PAD 2’, ‘anti-PAD 3’, or ‘anti-PAD 3…4…5’.

Amending the constitution has become a political game.  Those on one side argue that their party has been elected, and what benefits such an elected party benefits the people; therefore, amending the charter to avoid dissolution of political parties benefits the people.  Those on the other side dismiss this as benefiting politicians only, especially bad politicians who committed offences as severe and repulsive as electoral fraud.

 Prachuap Khiri Khan Province, being a seaside province with extensive resources, is an ideal location for the transportation of goods. Therefore the province has been eyed by large projects such as electricity plant or industrial factories.

Thai politics has shifted into election mode. Yet no one really rests assured that things will fall into place, fixed and firm. Instead, we have found that the political turmoil of the last two years has ushered in a new round of economic crisis, with grim prospects of what looms ahead.

What is national security? I am quite naïve about this word. If it is territorial integrity, then these days, with the tight and complicated economic ties with the neighbouring countries, it is hard to imagine a country sending troops to seize another, because it is just not worth it.

Like other Subdistrict Heads in Thailand, Kamnan Thong commands respects from people in his community, though not at the level of the "extra-constitutional power".

In essence, isn't it ridiculous that while playing darts is taken as slanderous, impolite and maybe unlawful, the taking of tanks onto the streets to overthrow people's power was received with big applause and has been legitimized? What kind of justice are we talking about?

It's time to prove the sincerity of the NGOs, media and academics who claim that they do not accept the 919 coup, but who have had to bear with the bygone.  

It is said that referendum is the most direct way for the practice of people's power; it is similar to the demonstration to declare your stance and political demands. However, in terms of the general cost, referendum is much cheaper and safer than demonstrating on the streets, since attending demonstration could be seen as risky or could be used by different groups as political tool.

The judgements made by the Constitution Tribunal gave us a clear idea of what the rule of law is in contemporary Thai politics; ie the way the country is ruled by the law that was ordered by the coup-makers who put an end to the 1997 constitution.

Welcome to the new project from Prachatai- Prachatai English. The project is aimed at building a community based on deliberative communication in the times of political tensions in Thailand.