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The People's Alliance for Democracy (PAD) ((タイ語:พันธมิตรประชาชนเพื่อประชาธิปไตย)) also called the National Liberation Alliance - กลุ่มพันธมิตรกู้ชาติ, Thai Patriots Network or the Yellow Shirts - เสื้อเหลือง - was originally a coalition of protesters against Thaksin Shinawatra, the former Prime Minister of Thailand. Its leaders include 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 consist 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.〔IHT, (Protesters face police in Thailand ), 28 August 2008〕〔Asian Times, (Thai protests turn nasty ), 27 August 2008〕 ==General information== 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.〔People's Daily, (Anti-Thaksin alliance dissolved ), 21 September 2006〕 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.〔Associated Press, (Strike by Thai anti-government forces falls flat ), 3 September 2008〕〔Bangkok Post, (Airports still shut, trains not running )〕 Armed PAD forces "Srivichai Warriors" seized a government television broadcaster as well as several government ministries.〔The Irrawaddy, (PAD Protesters, Police in Tense Standoff ), 27 August 2008〕〔CNN, (Thai judges issue warrants to arrest protesters ), 27 August 2008〕〔The Nation, (Tolerance winning the day at Government House - for now ), 29 August 2008〕〔〔CNN, (Thai judges issue warrants to arrest protest leaders on the request of the police, which were later nullified by the higher courts ), 27 August 2008〕 Violence between PAD supporters and anti-PAD protesters left dozens injured and one PAD protester dead.〔The Star, (Thailand democracy at risk ), 3 September 2008〕 Wealthy PAD supporters threatened a bank run that could destabilize the Thai financial system if the Samak government did not resign.〔The Straits Times, (I won't quit: Samak ), 31 August 2008〕 PAD's protests escalated after the Constitutional Court found Samak guilty of violating a law which prohibits government ministers from receiving a salary from another job. PAD forces surrounded Parliament and used razor wire barricades to prevent the legislature from meeting to hear Samak's replacement, Thaksin's brother-in-law Somchai Wongsawat, formally announce his policies. Police used force to disperse the protesters, resulting in hundreds of serious injuries and the death of a young woman, all caused by the explosions of Chinese-made tear gas grenades, which the poorly trained police fired directly at the protestors.〔Nation, (Angkhana killed by tear gas canister explosion: Pornthip )〕 As a result, the PAD formally renounced non-violence and vowed bloody revenge.〔Matichon, (ตร.ถูก"รถชน"บอกเสียใจยันทำหน้าที่โดยไร้อาวุธ ผบ.ตร.พร้อมให้คนกลางสอบเหตุปะทะ ยันตชด.ฝึกมาอย่างดี )〕〔(Thai protest leaders vow revenge after deadly clashes ), 7 October 2008〕 In November, the PAD blockaded Parliament prior to a crucial legislative session, used hijacked public buses to take control of the government's provisional offices at Don Muang Airport, and seized control of Suvarnabhumi International Airport.〔Reuters, (Thai protesters storm airport control tower ), 26 November 2008〕〔AFP, (http://www.google.com/hostednews/afp/article/ALeqM5hGVXtxYudgtTWJRXywyzD_SY2VZQ ), 26 November 2006〕〔Time, (Thailand's Political Crisis Becomes a Global One ), 26 November 2008〕 The PAD also threatened to lay siege to the seaports of the Eastern Seaboard.〔The Nation, (Tension may worsen with pro-govt rally ), 30 November 2008〕 The PAD's sieges and protests ended after the Constitutional Court dissolved the PPP, banned its leaders from politics, and Army Commander Anuphong Phaochinda pressured many PPP MPs to defect to the Democrat Party and elect Abhisit Vejjajiva as Premier.〔The Telegraph, (Thai army to 'help voters love' the government ), 18 December 2008〕 PAD activist Kasit Piromya was appointed Foreign Minister in the new government. The PAD called ah masa for the resignation of the governments of Thaksin Shinawatra, Samak Sundaravej and Somchai Wongsawat, whom the PAD accused of being proxies for Thaksin. Sondhi originally proposed Somchai as an acceptable alternative to Samak.〔Bangkok Post, (Sondhi gives first hint of compromise ), 3 September 2008〕 However, when Somchai replaced Samak, the PAD refused to stop its protests, noting that Somchai is Thaksin's brother-in-law.〔The Nation, (PAD proposes "People Revolution Government" ), 15 September 2008〕 At the height of the sieges, the PAD openly stated that the only person they would accept as Premier was Abhisit.〔Bloomberg, (Oxford Graduate Abhisit Elected in Thai Power Shift ), 19 December 2008〕 PAD leader Khamnoon Sitthisamarn called Abhisit's premiership a "genuine PAD victory" and a "Anuphong-style coup d'etat."〔The Nation, (Question loom over new Prime Minister's legitimacy ), 17 December 2008〕 Citing the claimed failure of popular democracy in Thailand, the PAD has suggested constitutional amendments that would make Parliament a largely royally appointed body.〔IHT, (On 5th day of Thai protests, a carnival atmosphere ), 30 August 2008〕〔BBC, ( Rifts behind Thailand's political crisis ), 27 August 2008〕 It was strongly opposed to Thaksin's populist economic policies and attempts to decentralize political power. The Asian Human Rights Commission has noted of the PAD and their agenda that, "although they may not describe themselves as fascist, have fascist qualities."〔Asian Human Rights Committee, (THAILAND: Watershed moment for democracy and rule of law ), 26 November 2008〕 The PAD is largely composed of royalists, has regularly invoked king Bhumibol Adulyadej in its protests, and has claimed that its enemies are disloyal to the monarchy.〔ABC, (Thai PM threatens protestors over slogans ), 5 August 2008〕〔Al Jazeera, (Thai PM: 'I will never resign' ), 31 August 2008〕〔The Financial Times, (Protesters besiege Thai state buildings ), 27 August 2008〕 It has openly called for the military and Thailand's traditional elite to take a greater role in politics.〔AFP (Thai PM consults king over escalating protests ), 20 August 2008〕 The PAD is fiercely anti-Cambodian, with PAD leader and Foreign Minister Kasit Piromya calling Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen a "gangster" or "tramp", "deranged", and speculated that he was a "slave" of Thaksin.〔Pavin Chachavalpongpun, Glorifying the Inglorious Past: Historical Overhangs in Thai-Cambodian Relations, Konrad Adenauer Stiftung-funded workshop on "Historical Overhangs in East Asian International Relations", 21–22 April 2010〕 抄文引用元・出典: フリー百科事典『 ウィキペディア（Wikipedia）』 ■ウィキペディアで「People's Alliance for Democracy」の詳細全文を読む スポンサード リンク
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