Activists wary of Sondhi bandwagon
 The Nation
December 4 , 2005 - Social activists are cautious about the Sondhi Limthongkul phenomenon that has propelled the media mogul into the position of arch-critic and rallying point of opposition to Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra and his administration.
Suriyasai Katasila, secretary-general of the Campaign for Popular Democracy, said 40 non-government organisations including the Assembly of the Poor would meet tomorrow to come up with a common stance towards the growing popularity of Sondhi as a force that could possibly overthrow Thaksin.
“I may go there and see it for myself,” said Suriyasai, referring to the December 9 rally at Lumpini Park that Sondhi is urging 500,000 people to attend and signal to the government that it no longer has the mandate to rule.
While Suriyasai thinks Sondhi is right to fight for press freedom, he pointed out that Sondhi and his Manager media group were not the first to suffer from a state crackdown on the media.
As for Sondhi’s reputation, Suriyasai said he used to doubt whether he was really opposing the prime minister, but it had now become clear that this is the case.
“We have a common agenda, that is this government is a threat to not just press freedom but freedom of expression, liberty and human rights. Many [activists] have already joined Sondhi.”
Ironically, Sondhi does not enjoy a reputation for championing a free press, as he used to say when he enjoyed good relations with Thaksin that free media had never existed and only business interests were real.
Many people suspect that Sondhi’s move against Thaksin is about conflict of interest and do not want to get involved in his campaign, said Giles Ungpakorn, a political scientist at Chulalongkorn University.
Sondhi and Thaksin, he said, were a case of the devil and the deep blue sea: “There’s nothing to choose [between them].”
Sondhi took his opportunity while Thaksin was losing popularity, but his direction for leading people is no better than Thaksin’s, he added.
Academic-cum-activist Giles said he would not attend Sondhi’s rally at Lumpini Park next Friday.
“Sondhi’s direction isn’t more progressive than Thaksin’s,” he said, adding that the people should reject both men.
Giles also disagreed with Sondhi’s call for a new constitution to be drafted by a panel of experts and the return of royal prerogative, saying the idea was too conservative for today’s democracy.
Labour expert and activist Sakdina Chatrakul Na Ayudhya said he would not attend the December 9 rally because he does not trust Sondhi’s motives and methods of fighting the government.
“Democracy is up to the people and not the King. It’s also not clear what Sondhi wants. Many democracy lovers are not confident [about his motives] and remain reserved. I’m not sure what his standpoint is,” said Sakdina, adding however that Sondhi’s actions were helping to put the government under scrutiny.
The question of whether to attend the December 9 rally is especially difficult for Prinya Thaewanarumitkul, a student leader during the May 1992 uprising who is now vice rector at Thammasat University and teaching constitutional law.
“It’s a tough question. Can I not answer? Well, personally I haven’t decided,” he said, adding that the fact that Sondhi has being claiming to be fighting for His Majesty the King is a big factor in his indecision.
Prinya said that he and many other people were waiting to see first what His Majesty would say during his annual birthday speech today.
“I’m on the side of Sondhi when it comes to the issue of [press] freedom but as for other issues, it’s another matter,” he said, adding that it was the government’s clampdown on Sondhi and other media that made people feel that it was hiding something from the public.
Sunee Chairoj, a member of the National Human Rights Commission and a drafter of the 1997 Constitution, said she did not need to choose between Thaksin and Sondhi.
“I shall use both their arguments about the need to reform the constitution to launch a people’s constitutional reform process,” she said.
Pravit Rojanaphruk,
Subhatra Bhumiprabhas |
