LETTER FROM MAKKAWAN RANGSAN BRIDGE
On the big night, a powerful voice is heard
Actors and actresses take part in the anti-Thaksin demonstration near Government House on Saturday night. The protesters shared moments singing songs and joining a candle-lighting ceremony.
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Few of the protesters had expected it was going to be such a sensational experience. But as we were singing "those" songs, we all got goose bumps.
We had never heard more beautiful versions of the royal anthem, another song dedicated to Thai royalty, and some other pieces composed by the Monarch, especially "Ultimate Dream" (Kwam Fun Un Soong Sud). This time around, they were extraordinary, thanks to the power of the voices, which came right from the heart of the massive anti-Thaksin gathering on Saturday night.
"I've never seen anything like this before. I had goose bumps singing the song [Sadudee Maha Raja]," said Rueksak, showing me his arm. The owner of the Likhit Kaiyang restaurant, Rueksak had rushed out with his two children to join the People's Alliance for Democracy's candle-lighting ceremony.
Two men in my group also said they had goose bumps while singing the songs. When I looked around, it was indeed a sacred ceremony. Although we had hoped that our latest largest gathering would create an immediate impact, many of us probably realised that this instead was our real achievement. The strength of spirit at the rally was perhaps what we all vowed not to give up as we adhered to our non-violent approach.
Most of the demonstrators had started their day with the news that Privy Council President Prem Tinsulanonda had cast his advance vote in the morning. Despite the news, no one was reluctant to show up at the rallying ground.
Special Branch Police estimated that as many as 100,000 people gathered on Saturday night at the PAD rally. But the crowd was surely bigger as the tail of the protest that had started at Makkawan Rangsan Bridge passed the Rajdamnoen Boxing Stadium. The barbecued chicken outlets in the area, especially the long-established Likhit Kaiyang, were full with "mob" patrons. "Who cares about bird flu when the army has to walk with a full stomach," one protestor joked.
"We usually grill 300 chickens a day but today we readied 800 chickens and they were nearly sold out," a waitress at Likhit Kaiyang said.
Once again, the rally served as a reunion for long-lost friends. Several classmates from Kasetsart University's Demonstration School arranged to meet at Government House. They brought food and drinks and alternated catch-up chit-chat with yells of "Thaksin, Get Out!"
"Luckily one of us is a big guy at the Crown Property Bureau head office, so a lot of us could park there," said one of them, a Thai Airways International employee. She said a lot of THAI staff were at yesterday's rally.
They were the best mob any protest leader could ask for. When the PAD asked for the biggest turnout, they tried their best to reach the target. Although many of the "mobsters" showed frustration at people casting advance votes, they did not let it get to them for too long. Shouting "Thaksin, Awk-pai!" repeatedly seemed to be a palliative for their deep wounds.
Thammasat's Chinese Opera was another favourite salve for the political frustration. As the rally has been a marathon event, regular protestors all have decided on their favourite programmes. A friend in my group was disappointed that he arrived too late to listen to colourful speaker Seri Wongmontha at about 7pm. But many others were surely looking forward to listening to the core PAD leaders announce the latest move by the demonstrators.
After the Chinese Opera, the PAD leaders took to the stage, but the crowd had thinned as about one third of the protestors, especially those who had come with young kids, had gone home.
The rules governing the protesters are simple: they come voluntarily and they leave the rally ground whenever they want. As for my group of five university friends, we were waiting for more. And at around 1am we got it: a specially made music video entitled "Ai Na Liam" (Square Face). My friend and I had watched it the night before on the website and we both agreed the composer is brilliant.
It is hilarious and its gags cover all the controversial issues, from the Bt30 universal healthcare policy to corruption. We expect it to be the next hit piece of satirical art from the rally.
As I was departing, two songs - "Ultimate Dream" and "Square Face" - followed me home for different reasons. Nevertheless, both songs reminded me that we still have hope and so does our country.
Veena Thoopkrajae
The Nation
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