WHO IS PAD ?

The PAD is The People's Alliance for Democracy also called the National Liberation Alliance, the National Liberation Party, and the Yellow Shirts was originally a coalition of protesters against Thaksin Shinawatra, the then Prime Minister of Thailand. Its leaders included media mogul Sondhi Limthongkul, politician Chamlong Srimuang, and General Saprang Kalayanamitr. It was one of the lead players in the Thailand political crisis from 2005 to 2006. Composed mostly of middle-class Bangkok residents, the PAD established its own political party, the Mass Party, and dissolved itself shortly after the military coup that overthrew Thaksin.The People's Alliance for Democracy had its source in weekly public tapings of Sondhi Limthongkul's weekly political talk show 'Muang Thai Rai Sapda' or Thailand Weekly. Attendance grew after the talkshow was dropped by Channel 9 and Sondhi started webcasting the show on his website. As the tone grew more contradictious, the tapings gradually turned into protests against the government. The PAD was formally established on February 8, 2006 with a five person central committee consisting of Sondhi Limthongkul, Chamlong Srimuang,Activist Phiphob Thongchai,State enterprise labor leader Somsak Kosaisuuk,University lecturer Somkeit Pongpaibul.The People's Alliance for Democracy has been re-established in Thailand on March 28, 2008 at Thammasat University.Several issues was raised by the PAD, including the Prime Minister Samak Sundaravej acting like Thaksin Shinawatra's sockpuppet to protect his interests, People's Power Party being Thai Rak Thai party puppet, and their attempt to amend the 2007 Constitution. Among the amendment proposed was discharge which would dissolve a political party if one of the executives was involved in vote buying. Yongyuth Tiyapairat, People's Power Party executive who was also the Parliament president after the election, was being tried for vote buying.Yongyuth was later found guilty by the Supreme Court on July 8, 2008.

Demonstration by PAD started on May 25, 2008 at Democracy Monument on Ratchadamnoen Road to protest the proposal for constitution amendment. The rally attracted ten thousand supporters.As the rally went on, PAD announced their effort to collect signatures to request removal house representatives and senates who supported the amendment on May 30, 2008.The next day Samak expressed on NBT television channel his intention to dissolve the rally by force. In reaction to Samak's speech, PAD issued announcement against the government's move.The Prime Minister said "He will never resign in response to these threats.He will not dissolve the House. He will meet the King today to report what is going on." He met with King Rama IX at Hua Hin palace.For the 5th day, 30,000 protesters, led by the People's Alliance for Democracy, occupied Sundaravej's Government House compound in central Bangkok, forcing him and his advisers to work out of a military command post. Thai riot police entered the occupied compound and delivered a court order for the eviction of protesters.Chamlong Srimuang ordered PAD guards to break into the main government building on Saturday.Regional airports remain closed and trains between Bangkok and the provinces were canceled. Protesters raided the Phuket International Airport on the resort island of Phuket Province canceled or diverted.Protesters also blocked the entrance of the airports in Krabi and Hat Yai.Police issued arrest warrants for Sondhi Limthongkul and 8 other protest leaders on charges of insurrection, conspiracy, unlawful assembly and refusing orders to disperse.