[Tlc] T-protests

[justinm at ucr.edu]

Forwarded from Dr. Charnvit Kasetsiri.
Thanks,
justin



http://www.nationmultimedia.com/worldhotnews/read.php?newsid=30081735
 
Scholars at odds over action on PAD
By Subhatra Bhumiprabhas and Pravit Rojanaphruk
The Nation
Published on August 28, 2008

 
The Government is legitimated in taking legal process against the core leaders of the People Alliance for Democracy (PAD), political scientists and human rights lawyers said. However, views differed on what kind of law and how strictly it should be applied.
 "PAD's raid of the NBT station was not civil disobedience, as claimed by its leaders, but a violation of other people's rights and freedom, and the government should take strict action against the violators," said Prajak Kongkiriti, a political scientist and peace scholar from Thammasat University.
 Prajak is studying for a doctorate on "Human Rights and Political Violence in Thai Politics" at University of Wisconsin Madison in the United States.
 "Civil disobedience does not include violence and violating the rights and freedom of others but PAD resorted to physical aggression on Tuesday," he said, adding that blood cannot be shed to fight for democratic ideals.
The peace scholar added that the raid on NBT station was the worst case against the freedom of the media.
"At least, I'm glad to see the media association's statement condemning PAD's raid on NBT," he said.
Prominent human rights lawyer Somchai Hom-laor agreed that violence could not be used during civil disobedience, adding that that PAD's leaders should be ready for arrest warrants because they were the ones who decided to raid the NBT TV studios and Government House as part of their political tactics.
 Somchai praised the government for its tolerance with the PAD and encourage further negotiations.
 However, Prajak disagrees with Somchai's position, saying that the government should take strict legal action against hardcore PAD leaders.
"The government should not bargain with who have violated laws, otherwise this kind of violations would occur over and over again," he said.
Meanwhile a political scientist at Chulalongkorn University, Pitch Pongsawat, said the Constitution Court should decide whether or not the PAD had violated the Constitution. However, he said, breaking into a state-run television station and keeping it off air for a few hours was definitely a breach of the charter.
"I personally doubt if their action is constitutional, however," he said.
Pitch said that though the PAD supported the current junta-sponsored charter,  it would not be able to use that stance to defend itself in front of the Constitution Court. He also criticised the PAD for having resorted to right-wing and undemocratic tactics, such as fanning ultra-nationalism and heightened royalist fervour, to bring about changes. He added that people's right to protest may be severely affected by the latest hard-line move..
"It will affect people's freedom of movement and their rights to protest," he warned.

______________
Dr. Justin McDaniel
Dept. of Religious Studies
3046 INTN
University of California, Riverside
Riverside, CA 92521
951-827-4530
justinm at ucr.edu