Academic warn against detaining PAD leaders

Asst Prof Pichai Rattanadilok na Phuket, a lecturer at the National Institute of Development Administration, said the PAD's second-in-command leaders were not competent and did not have experience in controlling protesters.

"Only Chamlong Srimuang and Sondhi Limthongkul have the ability to control mobs. When they [the protesters] don't have leaders, they won't have leadership, and they'll become lost," he said.

He urged the government to resign, in order to pave the way for a temporary government to draft a new Constitution.

"The government will lose its legitimacy if it cracks down on the protesters, but it will lose face if it allows the protesters to remain in Government House. If the government sacrifices itself by resigning, it will have made a significant contribution to the country," he said.

He said that although what happened on Tuesday adversely affected the country's image in terms of administration, business and investment, the effect would be short-lived. In the long term, the country's business and political sector will be stronger.

"Look at South Korea. That country is much stronger, both economically and politically," he said.

Assoc Prof Narong Petprasert, a lecturer of Chulalongkorn University's Faculty of Economics, said the country was witnessing a power struggle between bureaucratic polity and capital power. The latter seems to outpace the former, and that has caused the uprising of the middle class.

"Whenever the middle class fights, it always win," he said.

Assoc Prof Nipon Poapongsakorn, dean of Thammasat University's Faculty of Economics, strongly disapproved of the PAD's actions, saying it should have exercised greater patience and tried to change the government through democratic means.

"We should learn a lesson from October 16, 1976," he said.

Dr Anusorn Thamchai, Dean of Rangsit University's Faculty of Economics, shared Nipon's view, saying the Kingdom must uphold its legal system or else it would always become embroiled in turmoil.

The five PAD leaders must be arrested because they broke the law, he said.

"The government, however, must not use force to suppress the protesters," he added.

Assoc Prof Panitan Wattanayakorn said the PAD should fight via the justice system, or else the country would suffer endless problems. The government should also heed the call for political change, because many people agree with the PAD that the government must do the right thing to end the political stalemate.