'We need to respect differences without using force'

How would you like to see the on-going political conflict resolved?

Resolved non-violently. Our age is an era of conflict and the challenge is how to resolve it without resorting to violence. This is very important. Today, local politicians often end up shooting each other over conflicts but our society uses a tradition of defusing conflicts without bloodshed. We are a Buddhist and peace loving society.

Do you think there will be enough people backing your network, compared to those wearing yellow for People's Alliance for Democracy (PAD) and red for the government and Thaksin Shinwatra?

I would like people to first look at the context of this conflict. I'm also worried [about the safety] of the PAD because the government may crack down on them but some of my junior colleagues told me to speak more impartially.

But the most visible leader of the network, Parinya Thewanaruemitkul, said the group is impartial when in fact Parinya was quite accommodating of the junta that staged the September 2006 coup? You also declared shortly before the coup that you're against Thaksin.

 Parinya has the right to speak his mind and I have often joined the PAD protests. My stance is clear and I cannot accept [elected politicians] who abuse power. [Vladimir] Putin was elected but he resorted to use of KGB power. Mugabe is no democrat [though he said he was elected]. I'm not just against Thaksin but all politicians who abuse power.

The PAD said it is non-violent but does it appear to be setting the stage for another coup?

I do not agree with having military coups because they create a lot of problems. But I can't control what the PAD is doing.

Your network has been criticised by the PAD and the pro-Thaksin camps. PAD speaker Suriyasai Katasila said he's not sure if your network should be allowed to address its protesters as he fears they would become "confused". Those supporting Thaksin and the government see your group as an ally of PAD, saying your group failed to act when there were violent clashes between police and Democratic Alliance Against Dictatorship (DAAD) last year. What's your position on that?

Sometimes it takes time to come up with an idea. Thais tend to generalise and they have the right to criticise. The big problem about democracy is we need to be more tolerant.

Why do many Thais see things in black or white, saying either you're with me or against me?

That sentiment has been brewing for a long time and people have been taught to believe in taking sides. Not many people have been brought up to think freely and individually. The world today is no longer only black and white. The real democratic challenge today is to respect differences in opinion without resorting to using force.

As someone working closely with the urban middle class, are you not disappointed that some have joined the PAD rally, yearn for a coup and use the royalty as a political tool?

The middle class are diverse and I have never been a supporter of a coup d'etat. But sometimes it is beyond our control. Anyone who engages in staging coups will be in trouble. We must try to resolve problems without resorting to coups.

We must push the judiciary system forward as quickly as possible. We lack the rule of law and [corrupt politicians] evade the law. Thaksin rose through populism but ended up evading the checks and balances and this is a problem. Thaksin must be put through the judicial process. We must be able to differentiate between opportunistic elected MPs and real advocates of democracy. Many elected politicians are power-obsessed and abusive.