Comrades, The DPKR seems to be getting more recognition among Asean and other nations but I wonder what path it will take after this regarding it's committment to socialism. All these articles were taken from Thailand's The Nation which is a bourgeois paper. The articles which follow speak of growing opposition to the present Thai government of Chuan Leepak by workers unions and peasants but it's not clear whether organisations like Assembly of the Poor are true peasant organisations or whether there is an imperialist hand behind them. Thailand is regional home to a lot of NGOs based in the west or with links to western NGOs. Some are progressive, while others may well be backed by foreign imperialist groups wanting to use them to serve their own agendas. One thing though is that these actions are those of people about issues which affect them, while a lot of NGO activity in Malaysia is centres around support for sacked deputy-prime minister, Anwar Ibrahim versus prime minister Dr. Mahathir. Fraternally Charles =============================================================== N Korea delivers a breakthrough http://www.nationmultimedia.com/new/30na02.shtml THE five-day meeting of Asean foreign ministers, followed by talks with regional players, ended yesterday with an "incremental" development in regional security matters, including normalisation of ties with North Korea and its induction into the global community. FOR the past week, foreign ministers held plenary and bilateral discussion on topics ranging from security in East and Southeast Asia, to international organised crime, closer economic cooperation and the new paradigm of human security. Asean's effort to enhance its competitiveness in the swell of globalisation was given a little push when Asean ministers agreed to the broad concept of establishing an Asean troika to deal with fast-breaking issues affecting the 10-member grouping. The European Union yesterday described its relationship with Asean as "normalised", but maintained its tough line on Burma. "I think the relations are normalised, but of course we will continue to raise the issue of Burma as we have different views on Burma," said Swedish Foreign Minister Anna Lindh. But North Korea's participation for the first time in the Asean Regional Forum, an annual meeting related to security issues between Asean and its dialogue partners, was undoubtedly the main attraction for key players in regional affairs. North Korean Foreign Minister Paek Namsun was a most sought-after personality, and he made good use of his presence to build dialogue with Western countries, aimed at eventually ending his country's isolation. Even US Secretary of State Madeleine Albright made a last-minute flight to Bangkok, becoming the highest-ranking US government official to meet with a senior North Korean official since the Korean War. The one-hour talks touched on issues of mutual interest, including nuclear disarmament, normalisation of bilateral ties and unification of the two Koreas. Foreign Minister Surin Pitsuwan told a press conference that development regarding the North Korea issue had taken "a more positive course", than he had initially anticipated. He said countries which used to have frosty relations with Pyongyang had met with the North Korean delegation and pledged to continue to discuss issues of mutual concern. "I think the momentum has been achieved between North Korea and other countries in the region and even around the world," said Surin. "We are happy with incremental development. "We don't expect breakthroughs too often, but [are] happy to contribute to the process that is developing," he told a press conference marking the closing session of Asean's annual ministerial meeting with its dialogue partners. Another major development at the Asean meeting was Russia's agreement to attend the next round of Asean talks regarding its nuclear-free zone, he said. "We have agreed to have a senior officials' meeting in Hanoi in coming months, and Russia is prepared to participate in the meeting," Vietnam's Foreign Minister Nguyen Qi Nian told the gathering. During the past few days of Asean talks, the United States' decision to go ahead with its National Missile Defence and Theatre Missile Defence systems came under heavy attack from both China and other regional powers, such as India and Russia. The annual ministerial meeting also discussed and exchanged views related the growing problem of international organised crime, illicit drug activities, trafficking of women, development of human resources to cope with the trend towards globalisation and information technology. "The atmosphere this year has been extremely open, candid, flowing, with a high measure of mutual confidence, mutual trust and extremely useful formal discussions among all members," said Surin. BY REGIONAL DESK The Nation LAST MODIFIED: Saturday, 29-Jul-2000 13:18:48 EDT ============================================== Mass protest unites 10,000 against Chuan administration http://www.nationmultimedia.com/new/30aa05.shtml#mail ABOUT 10,000 protesters and sympathisers converged on Sanam Luang last night in the largest anti-government demonstration faced by the three-year-old Chuan administration so far. Thousands of demonstrators with different grievances, ranging from anti-government activists seeking an immediate dissolution of the House to laid-off industrial workers, gathered at Sanam Luang in a show of support for Assembly of the Poor protesters yesterday. Though the protesters and their black-clad sympathisers were pushing for different agendas, they were united in their displeasure with the Chuan administration. They accused the government of having forfeited any legitimate claim to stay in power through its disregard of the plight of the underprivileged. Among newcomers to the protest were workers from various state enterprises who said they had come to show solidarity with Assembly of the Poor protesters. A statement read towards the end of the protest described Chuan as a "tyrant". A parody of the violent dispersal of trespassing Pak Mool villagers from Government House two weeks ago was also enacted by children, to the amusement of the demonstrators. "This protest is a spontaneous one, not an organised one," said Somsak Kosaisuk, president of the State Railway of Thailand (SRT) labour union. "People are getting fed up with the government's mishandling of public issues." Somsak said he expected workers from other state enterprises to take part in the anti-government protest. Many state-enterprise workers are opposed to the government's privatisation plans. Other protest leaders included Dr Sant Hatthirat, social critic Sulak Sivaraksa, democracy activist Phiphob Thongchai and senior NGO leader Dej Phumkhacha. Some 2,000 Assembly of the Poor protesters have vowed to continue their months-long protest to pressure the Chuan government to fully comply with their demands. They have insisted the government redress the environmental impacts of dam construction and called for a lasting solution to numerous land-rights disputes with the Forestry Ministry and other government agencies. Forty people began a hunger strike on Thursday in a bid to pressure the government to meet all their demands. Ten hunger strikers had already quit yesterday, while another 20 villagers had joined the fast. Paijit Silarak, a leader of the Assembly of the Poor, said 169 non-governmental organisations and political-action groups had expressed support for the protesters. "We are protesting [at Sanam Luang] to expose the government's attempt to deceive the public into believing that our problems were solved by the latest Cabinet resolution," Paijit said. On Tuesday the Cabinet agreed to some of the recommendations made by a neutral committee to address the protesters' grievances, including the key demand that the gates of the Pak Mool and Rasi Salai dams be opened as part of efforts to revive river life. But the concessions made by the government were deemed inadequate by the protesters. Paijit said Assembly of the Poor protesters were prepared for a lengthy protest. "Even if this government dissolved the House of Representatives and called an early election, we would still insist the new government comply with our demands." Another speaker, Phinand Chotirotseranee of Kanchanaburi Conservation Group, advised the government to listen to the people before embarking on any large-scale projects. She said the Petroleum Authority of Thailand had built the Yadana Burma-Thailand Gas Pipeline against the will of the local people and it was now running at a loss because the electric power plant in Ratchaburi province could not be built according to schedule. She claimed the government wanted to inveigle electricity-consumers into absorbing a major chunk of the Bt2 billion overheads incurred by the project's mismanagement. "I want to know if the government wants to have the public absorb any other losses [accruing from the Malaysia-Thai Gas Pipeline Project]." Phinand said. Meanwhile Nudaeng Ternkhuntod, a hunger striker who collapsed from exhaustion on Friday, was released from Vajira Hospital, where she had been given medical treatment overnight. She was given medication to treat a severe stomach ache, intravenous feeding and soft food, according to hospital officials. Nudaeng said she intended to resume her hunger strike once she regained her strength. According to nurses, four other hunger strikers are showing signs of ailing health, including low blood pressure and unusually rapid heartbeats. They were told to quit the hunger strike to prevent their conditions worsening but decided to continue fasting for another day. Hundreds of workers laid off by Thai Durable Textile (Thai Krieng), demanding government intervention for their reinstatement, also joined the Sanam Luang protest. Prime Minister Chuan Leekpai said yesterday he was not worried by the ongoing protest and insisted his government had consistently respected protesters' rights to peaceful assembly and freedom of expression as guaranteed by the Constitution. Six hundred law-enforcers have been deployed to keep order, and many special-branch police were seen mingling with the demonstrators. "This kind of protest has been held many times before. My only request is for protesters to refrain from causing damage to public property," the prime minister said. Chuan urged hunger strikers to quit, saying such action would not sway the government's position on how to deal with issues raised by the Assembly of the Poor. Former Senate speaker Meechai Ruchuphan called on protesters to exercise self-restraint and continue to give the government the benefit of the doubt in its handling of issues raised by protesters. He expressed concern about the volatile state of politics at present: "The current political situation is very confusing. No one seems to know what others are thinking or what they want," Meechai said. "Most people don't even know what the government has or hasn't done. People should stay calm and refrain from all forms of violence." Another protest has been organised for today, starting at 4pm. Union leader Somsak said he could not tell whether it would be feasible to prolong the protest beyond the weekend. BY SUBHATRA BHUMIPRABHAS The Nation LAST MODIFIED: Saturday, 29-Jul-2000 13:18:43 EDT ============================================ Civil disobedience vital to healthy democracy, lecturer says http://www.nationmultimedia.com/new/30aa04.shtml HE IS a lecturer of law who defends protesters' rights to break the law. This may sound contradictory to some, but Chiang Mai University law lecturer Somchai Preechaisilpakun insists he's very clear about the concept. "I am not condoning people who block the streets. Certainly they break the law. [but] using law as the only measure of justice will only make all law breakers bad," said Somchai, responding to recent demonstrations in Bangkok by Pak Mool Dam protesters. "I know that other people have a right to use the road. But blocking a road is a political process as well. And this process comes with a message which says that the state does not have a mandate." Somchai recently wrote a 27-page article on the rights of civil disobedience which was given added relevance by the recent demonstrations at Government House by rural and labour protesters, especially by Pak Mool villagers who briefly occupied the House. Somchai said he believes that people have the right to engage in civil disobedience even if it's unlawful. But he said it is necessary to examine the motives of a demonstration before one can fairly distinguish a group of protesters from mere criminals. Somchai said the Government House demonstration was legitimate, because it satisfied the criteria: first, it was a public act and second, it was peaceful. There were no weapons, and the object was not to overthrow the state. "They climbed up the [Government House] wall to call for the state's attention," he said. Yet it's not just the state that should listen to the protesters, said Somchai. "The middle class and the elite must make an effort to find out whether the protesters' demands are reasonable or not." The law professor knows that many members of the public are content to say they don't have the time or expertise to find out whether the plights of the Pak Mool villagers or Thai Durable Textile (TDT) workers are genuine or not. But this explanation does not convince him. "I think we have been made to ignore some of society's problems," he says, adding that in an era of what he calls the new politics, "we need more active citizens." But Somchai, 33, admitted that the plight of the poor or ethnic minorities tends to be disregarded by the public at large. "We're very keen about the stock exchange or the value of the baht," he said, pointing out that the plight of the poor is actually less complex than the movements of the Stock Exchange of Thailand index. Bangkok residents, who occasionally play host to large numbers of protesters on various issues, needn't panic at the sight, said Somchai. Instead, people should simply learn from it and do something about it. "We must set a new standard and accept protesters' rights to disobey," he said. Somchai said that the direct democracy method of the "new politics" is posting a challenge to old-order politics. According to the old order, Thai electoral democracy is reduced to just elections. After an election, politicians feel they can do whatever they please because enough people have stopped participating in the political process once they have cast their ballots. "I heard [Prime Minister] Chuan [Leekpai] say that those who are not happy with how the government deals with the protesters should just not re-elect them into office the next time around. I think this is a very wrong view of democracy. It's shallow and equates the democratic process with just casting a vote." Working in Chiang Mai doesn't mean Somchai is insensitive to the problem of traffic jams that inevitably occur when protesters descend on Bangkok by the thousands. But he pleads that city people try to understand why some protesters are willing to travel so far and to ask themselves what is the root of the problem. "It's the structure and the system that have not been resolved," said Somchai, who warned that as long as it stays this way, more protesters will descend on Bangkok and it may not be those linked to the Pak Mool, TDT or the Assembly of the Poor demonstrations. Somchai added that in the case of the rural poor, the root of the problem is a power struggle over the management of natural resources. For the labour groups, the law has not been used fairly to protect workers' rights. He said that there have been many documented cases of Thai labour law violations by employers. However, the Thai Labour court has never jailed an offending employer even though the law empowers judges to do so. "This is because we pay too much importance to investors. As a result, nobody respects the labour law." Somchai said that while direct democracy and civil disobedience create inconveniences, they do not lead to chaos. "This is not chaos but peaceful struggle. Yes, some question the appropriateness of peaceful struggle which breaks the law, but we shouldn't panic," he said. He pointed out, however, that the real danger lies not in the protests but in the public's apathy toward them. The poor are the majority, said Somchai, and if their problems are not addressed, the country will know no peace. Whether protesters come with genuine grievances is something the public needs to find out before passing judgement. "In the final analysis, civil disobedience is about using reason and knowledge to solve problems." BY PRAVIT ROJANAPHRUK The Nation LAST MODIFIED: Saturday, 29-Jul-2000 13:18:32 EDT ============================================================= Behind the scenes at a protest http://www.nationmultimedia.com/new/30aa01.shtml AS AN army marches on its stomach, in a way so do the troops of some 3,000 protesting villagers from the North and Northeast now camping in front of Government House. And the well-being of their stomachs (except for the 50 who have undertaken a hunger strike) depends on a "resources-allocation" team of women led by Charan Yeudpuak, 30, from Chaiyaphum. Over the past few weeks in Bangkok, Charan and her assistants have awoken at 5am every morning to check on their stock of rice, fruit, fresh vegetables and other food donated to the Assembly of the Poor by various sympathetic citizen groups. On the day The Nation visited, some 100 kilograms of longans had just been sent to them by a group of wholesale fruiterers at Mahanak Market in the middle of Bangkok's commercial district. Later in the afternoon a truckload of bananas arrived from Rayong. Charan divides the stock into 12 piles, to be distributed to leaders of the 12 subgroups of villagers from different regions protesting under the umbrella of the assembly. Formed in 1995, the Assembly of the Poor is a grouping of rural villagers who have fallen foul of government forestry policies and development projects. Charan, for example, came to voice her fear about the cracking of Lamkanchoo dam in Chaiyaphum. Many are from the Pak Mool, Sirindhorn and Huay Laha dam areas in Ubon Rachathani. Others are villagers from the North protesting against the eviction of their families from forest land. Charan's allocation team is one of the nine departments in the assembly's structure. The others are reception, stage control, security, activities, finance, medicine, campaign and hygiene. "Everybody here has their own duty," Charan explained. "It's not the first time we have come to rally in Bangkok. We all know well that good management and good structure of the protest are needed for survival and to win the fight." The assembly has received nearly Bt400,000 in cash donations from individuals and business groups. The Friends from Business, led by Preeda Tiasuwan of Pranda Jewellery, this week gave Bt300,000. Charan said her department along with reception and the financial department were directly responsible for donated foodstuffs and money. All contributions are registered at the reception department. Raw materials for cooking are kept in a makeshift shelter, monitored by Charan herself, and donated money is transferred to bank accounts by the financial department. Eighteen-year-old Saifon Klinseesook, responsible for the financial department, said her duty was to keep track of all protest expenses. She said the assembly committee had a meeting every morning to plan strategy with their advisors. During the meeting the heads of all departments report to the committee on their work and the money they need to carry out their work for the day. When the committee approves, each department head submits a form asking for advance funds. Every evening, they must clear all expenses with vouchers and receipts. Even though the assembly's savings account bears the names of Watcharee Paoleangthong and Baramee Chairat, advisors to the assembly, they do not have the authority to withdraw money, "not even one baht", Saifon said. Saifon said she kept the account book, adding that the two advisors simply went to the bank with her to sign the withdrawal form. She said her duties were not too difficult, as she had some knowledge of accountancy from vocational school in Chaiyaphum, where she is from. Saifon and Charan insisted that the system was run by the villagers. The advisors suggest ways to set up the system and gie them advice on managing all resources for high returns she said, but do not intervene at this stage, nor do they get involved in contributions. As of July 25, about Bt150,000 of the Bt400,000 the assembly had received from contributors had been used. Most of the expenses go on security patrols and copying documents to distribute to the media and the public. "Once I hoped to have a good job in a good company. But I have to work here for nothing just to help my family and other villagers. Some may think the villagers are stupid, but we are not. I can manage hundreds of thousands of baht, as you can see," said Saifon. BY PENNAPA HONGTHONG The Nation LAST MODIFIED: Saturday, 29-Jul-2000 13:18:09 EDT _______________________________________________ Marxist-Leninist-List mailing list [EMAIL PROTECTED] http://lists.wwpublish.com/mailman/listinfo/marxist-leninist-list
