National United Front of Democracy Against Dictatorship

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The UDD in 2007

The National United Front of Democracy Against Dictatorship (UDD) (แนวร่วมประชาธิปไตยต่อต้านเผด็จการแห่งชาติ; นปช.) is the anti-People's Alliance for Democracy (PAD) political pressure group in Thailand. At present, the UDD's members are active as protesters. Notable UDD's supporters include social activists such as Veera Musikapong, Nattawut Saikua, Jai-Giles Ungpakorn, Somsak Jiamtheerasakul, Charan Ditthapichai and Dr.Weng Tohjiirakarn, Jakraphob Penkhae and Surachai Saedaan. Demonstrators from the United Front for Democracy Against Dictatorship say Abhisit's government took power 'illegitimately', backed by the Thai army and bureaucrats. It calls for the Thai Parliament to be dissolved and a general re-election to be held. The UDD allies itself with the For Thais Party in the National Assembly of Thailand. They accuse the country's elite — the military, judiciary and other unelected officials — of undermining democracy by interfering in politics.^[1]

This political movement firstly appeared in 2006 to oppose the military government and the military coup, which took place on September 19, 2006. Many UDD members are supporters of Thaksin Shinawatra, the Prime Minister deposed in the 2006 coup.^[2] Therefore, most UDD supporters call for amnesty to be given to Thaksin and his pending 2-year jail term originating from conflict of interest charges to be scrapped. During the military government's term in 2006-2007, the UDD actively organized rallies against the military government. The UDD suspended its activities after the pro-Thaksin party, the People's Power Party, led by Samak Sundaravej, won the December 23, 2007 general election. The UDD resumed its rallies in response to the PAD rallies in May 2008.

UDD, the so-called red-shirts, held mass protests which became riots, in April 2009. The UDD's main current aim is to get rid of what they consider being amatayathipatai, a governing system in which nobles and bureaucrats rule. One of the UDD's favorite targets is Prem Tinasulanonda, the president of the Privy Council. The protests also urge the immediate resignation of Prem from the privy council, Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva, and revoking the 2007 constitution which was elected with 59.3% in favor in the 2007 referendum. Thaksin Shinawatra frequently phones in during protests.

UDD has also been criticized as an 'anti-monarchist' movement. Several UDD members are harsh critics of the monarchy, some of them were try to overthrow Government between 1950s - 1970s (former member communist party of Thailand). which the UDD accuses of meddling in politics, opposing Thaksin Shinawatra, and supporting the 2006 coup that ousted Thaksin. Slogans and songs defying the monarchy were present on their stage. Moreover, some of UDD leaders were charged with 'lese-majeste' cases, causing public criticism of anti-monarchist tendency of UDD on behalf of Thaksin Shinawatra. Thaksin Sinawatra himself did phone in, calling for 'the mercy of His Majesty the King'. The call means to revoke all Thaksin's legal charges.

Therefore, the UDD movement was criticized and opposed by 'monarchists' in the general public and the PAD. The UDD yet claims that their movement aims at upholding the 'true democracy' in Thailand.

UDD as PAD's Opposition: The 2008 Clashes with PAD

UDD supporters became the anti- PADs since the 2006 coup, accusing PAD, in supporting of the coup. From then on clashes between their supporters took place from times to times such as clash in Udorn Thani in July 2008. The UDD' supporters in red shirts attacked PADs rally at the site of demonstration. Several PAD supporters got severely injured. PAD meeting in Chiangmai, the bastion of Thaksin Shinawatra,was also disturbed.

Before the dawn of September 2, 2008 , the UDD rallying at Sanamluang decided to move and attack the PADs demonstrators gathering at Makkhawan Rangsan Bridge, Ratchadamnoen Klang avenue. The ensuing clash left several injuries on both sides and one dead on UDD side, causing a week state of emergency in Bangkok.^[3] The military force was called to secure the situation, but not to disperse the demonstrators. UDD was then seen by public as the adversary of the PADs. The 'bipolar' fight, 'Reds- Yellows' adversary became significantly evident.

2009 unrest

The turmoil caused by the UDD happened in early April. UDD and many members of Puea Thai Party, pro- Thaksin Shinawatra, launched their major street protest on April 8, calling for the resignation of the prime minister, the dissolution of the parliament, fresh election, and attacking the 'Ammatayathipatai', or 'behind the scene' men of influence; Prem Tinnasulanonda, the chief of the King's Privy Council, and in the army. UDD also called for royal pardon for Thaksin Shinawatra. Lately the protest began spreading to major areas in Bangkok like The Victory Monument, blocking the entrances of major hospitals in the area. Situations began tensed as the protest of the taxi drivers, parking their cabs on major streets, causing traffic congestion in many parts of downtown Bangkok.

Pattaya

In March 2009, Thaksin Shinawatra claimed via video broadcast 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 to ensure that Abhisit became Premier. Although Abhisit denied the accusations, hundreds of 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, 'phoning in', openly called for a "people's revolution" to 'overthrow' the alleged aristocratic influences, Khone Ammat, 'Down with the Noble', in supporting of the Abhisit government. The protests, led by the red-shirted National United Front of Democracy Against Dictatorship (UDD) expanded to Pattaya, the site of an ASEAN summit. The taxi- drivers with their cabs, leading supporters of the UDD, were rallied, heading to Pattya before dawn. Major roads, the gates to Pattaya were blocked. Violent clashes occurred between the UDD and government supporters wearing dark blue T-shirts in the afternoon as the protesters were heading to the site of the summit .There were reports of blue-shirts throwing bombs at the UDD.^[5]. As the security forces failed to stop the protesters, the protesters eventually stormed the hotel, the summit building.

The protests caused the ASEAN summit to be cancelled. The security force escorted the foreign leaders, leaving from the hotel by the navy ships and helicopters. The prime minister Abhisit therefore declared a state of emergency in the areas of Pattaya and Chonburi on April 11. The protest eventually ended in the afternoon.

Bangkok protest

The mass protest began on Wednesday April 8, 2009, with 100,000 demonstrators, supporters of ousted former premier Thaksin Shinawatra, were at Government House and the nearby Royal Plaza by the evening^[6]

After the Pattaya turmoil, the government decided to declare the state of emergency in Bangkok and suburban area. The violent scene took place first at the ministry of interior where the prime minister Abhisit Vejjajiva was preparing to declare the emergency statement. UDD supporters blocked the entrance of the ministry and finally stormed the ministry. Hundreds of protesters began 'hunting' for the premier and his ministers. Abhisit's secretary and his guards were injured. In the late afternoon, military armoured vehicles were seen on Bangkok streets while protesters tried to seized, or disperse them. Yet more military forces were called into Bangkok due to the state of emergency.

As the week-long Songkran (Thai New Year) holiday began, protests escalated in Bangkok after the Pattaya protest and the arrest of UDD leaders. Protesters used cars, buses, and in one location LPG tankers to take control of several locations in central Bangkok. The main circle, Victory Monument, was under siege, blocking major streets in downtown Bnagkok. Fighting erupted between anti-government protesters, government supporters, and the general population. At a demonstration in front of Prem's residence, a PAD supporter plunged her car into a crowd of UDD protesters before driving away.^[7] Abhisit declared a state of emergency for Bangkok and surrounding areas due to heightened escalation of tension and denounced the anti-government protesters as "national enemies".^[8] Abhisit also issued a decree that empowered the government to censor television broadcasts.^[9] Before the violent clash, Thaksin appealed on a D-Station television broadcast for King Bhumibol to intervene and end the showdown.^[10]

In a pre-dawn raid on Monday April 13, Thai soldiers in full combat kit used tear gas and fired live rounds and training rounds from automatic weapons to clear protesters from the Din Daeng intersection near the Victory Monument in central Bangkok, injuring at least 70 people.^[11][12] The Army later claimed that live rounds were only fired into the air while training rounds were fired at the crowd. Human Rights Watch confirmed that there are some cases where the Army fired live ammunition directly at protesters.^[13] The UDD claimed one protester injured from gunshot wounds sustained during the military's attack.^[14][15] However, the Army later claimed that the wound was not caused by an M-16, the standard Army rifle. Also on Monday the government ordered the blocking of satellite news station D Station, an affiliate of the UDD which, at the time, was broadcasting the clashes. Several UDD community radio stations were shut down and searched upon suspicion of being supporters of the UDD.^[16] Violent clashes at numerous locations in Bangkok continued while arrest warrants were issued for Thaksin and 13 protest leaders. Many protest leaders voluntarily gave themselves in to police on 14 April 2009, ending the violence.^[17] As the troops encircled the major location of the demonstration, near the Government House, demontrators agreed to end their activity. The government confirmed the peaceful measure towards the protesters, free transport were provided for taking the protesters back to their home in the provinces. The demonstration ended 'officially' and peacefully in around noon time.

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.^[18]

Injuries, deaths, and damages

According to government figures, over 120 people were injured in the unrest, most of them UDD demonstrators.^[19] At least one UDD 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.^[20] 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.^[21] 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.^[22] 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.^[23] But, the Federation of Thai Tourism Industry estimated that the damage to the tourism industry could be as high as 200billion Baht and resulting in 257,000 jobs lost.^[24]

References