Newly appointed secretary of the Campaign for Popular Democracy (CPD) Surinyan Tonghnu-eid talks to The Nation's Pravit Rojanaphruk about politics and the future of the CPD, a key alliance of the yellow-shirt People's Alliance for Democracy (PAD). Excerpts:
1 How will the CPD under you differ from when it was under Suriyasai Katasila?
In terms of the role it will be quite similar but we will play less of a role as [political] commentator and more networking with other organisations. Public comments will be less frequent and less swift but there will be more talks with partner organisations on how to amend the constitution, how people can have more participation in politics and how to achieve greater decentralisation.
2 The CPD under Suriyasai clearly played a partisan role in politics within the PAD movement and endorsed the 2006 military coup. Today, your organisation is not regarded as pro-democratic by some sectors of Thai society. What do you think of it?
The CPD went on to become the secretariat of the PAD. Politics affected every organisation. We don't have to correct the image of the CPD as not being anti-coup although the CPD actually issued a statement opposing the coup.
Under my helm, the CPD will oppose any coup and make our stance clear if there was a military coup.
3 Do you think there is a need for the CPD to reach out to the red shirts and win some respect?
The CPD must consider people of all shirt colours although we may not need to reconcile with red shirts by shaking their hands. However, we can pursue the people's agenda for everyone, such as addressing social inequality, which will benefit the public in general.
The shirt-colour conflict will soon be over, because NGOs, be they yellow or red shirts, are in fact part of the people's sector. [But] the conflict was exploited by politicians. We may need to talk at some stage. As for the emergency decree, our stance is that it should be lifted because although it may not affect ordinary people, it affects the tourism industry and the image of the country.
4 So has the CPD issued a statement on the matter yet?
Not yet.
5 What do you think is the biggest political problem in Thailand today?
I think the most crucial problems are the use of the state's power by politicians, and the fact that politicians benefit most from elections.
Then there's the problem of poverty and the judicial system.
6 What is your view of the so-called new politics espoused by the PAD some time ago, in which 70 per cent of the lower house would be selected?
The truth is, the political crises in Thailand stem from elections. We need to talk about the matter and not just the 70/30 per cent issue. For example, hill tribes have no representation [in politics] and something should be done about that.
In don't think the 70/30 proposal is democratic. Nevertheless, the current political system doesn't serve us. The 70/30 issue is finished and the CPD won't promote it.
7 Given the close ties between the CPD and the New Politics Party, where Suriyasai is the secretary-general of the new party, can the public expect the CPD to be able to scrutinise the party as well?
I don't think there's any problem. The CPD has a long history of criticising parties although members of the organisations have close personal ties with some parties, such as the then Thai Rak Thai Party.
If there is something undemocratic, we should be able to comment on it.