absolutelyBangkok archive · Politics
Originally published Aug. 29, 2008
With the emergence of shadowy
Pallop Pinmanee as the designated successor of PAD leader Chamlong Srimuang the PAD’s psychological warfare mêlée at Government House has gained a whole new dimension. Bloodbath anyone?
Pallop’s the man. And ask yourself who provided the PAD with barbed wire for the barricades. You don’t buy barbed wire at your local hardware store.
Pallop and PAD leaders Chamlong & Sondhi are masters of psychological warfare. But the grim blame game over at Government House is wearing heavily on the small PAD supporter. “A growing paranoia” is reported “inside the government compound as the protesters are constantly on alert over security and the possibility of riot police storming the compound to disperse the crowd and arrest their leaders.”
Chamlong, Sondhi & Co. themselves are protected by a human shield of willing followers aka potential cannon fodder, hostages to their noble cause. For the average PAD protester Government House “has become an enclosure. Once they make their way inside, it is practically impossible to leave because the PAD’s guards have erected barriers and employed tight security measures in fear of police infiltration.”
Chamlong however shows first signs of paranoia himself. Is worried about the nevertheless thinning PAD crowd. Chamlong demands heroism. Knowing that indoctrination and herd instinct are the primary forces at play — with the growing paranoia weakening the individual while strengthening the group’s dynamics.
You’d expect rationality and reasoning in a political fight. Thailand’s political landscape has been reduced to a Darwinian diktat of the ruthless and reckless leaving a swatch of hate, division and destruction behind.
The aims and goals of all sides are respectable and we’re not for or against the Samak government. We’re just asking for some mutual respect, civil debate and adherence to the rule of law. All we can see though are agitation and politics of primal fears.
After what has happened the past few days we’re maybe slightly less convinced that Samak must go.
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