People

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People's Alliance for Democracy

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

The People's Alliance for Democracy (PAD) (Thai: 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.[1] 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. The PAD consists of mainly of royalist upper and middle-class Bangkokians and Southerners, supported by the conservative factions of the Thai Army, some leaders of Democrat Party, and members of state-enterprise labor unions.[2][3]

The PAD was formed to lead demonstrations against the government of Thaksin Shinawatra. Two days after a military junta's 2006 military coup overthrew Thaksin's government, the PAD voluntarily dissolved after announcing that its goals had been accomplished.[4] 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 began street protests, and in August it seized Government House to pressure Samak's coalition government to resign. PAD supporters also seized airports by force in Phuket, Krabi, and Hat Yai and blocked major roads and highways. State-enterprise labour unions coordinated by stopping train operations across the Kingdom, and threatening to shut off electricity and water services to non-PAD supporters.[5][6] Armed PAD forces "Srivichai Warriors" seized a government television broadcaster as well as several government ministries.[7][8][9][9][10] Violence between PAD supporters and anti-PAD protesters left dozens injured and one PAD protester...