Two songs. That was the grand total of songs by the lead band, Kor Kai, at the PAD Political Concert held at the Si Muang park (or football field as it looked like) in Rayong last Saturday. Whereas for 193 days last year, we had what seemed like a neverending concert that would put Woodstock to shame, the tone at Rayong was quite different.
Perhaps it had been too long since the last gathering of leaders in front of an audience. Yes, there was a rally in Phuket the week before, but for two weeks prior that, the small gathering at Chao Phraya house had been called off due to the risk of violence by the Redshirts. Or perhaps it was because of its proximity (relatively speaking, as I found out the hard way) to Bangkok and that it was close enough after the shooting of Sondhi without, like the Phuket rally, being the day after. For whatever reason, there was a lot of talking going on.
Now, it must be said that when one is in mob / rally / peaceful protest (call it what you will), one does not hear as much as on television. The blaring of the bass loudspeakers and doppler interference meant that walking around and paying attention could not be done at the same time. Still, turnout was good. The square in front of the stage itself was packed solid at around eight PM. The football field was pretty much packed towards the front, half sparsely packed with protest veterans with their folding seats and rugs towards the back.
But what of the messages? For three hours the PAD core leaders lashed out at the government for what it felt was double standards at the handling of the recent protests.
Former Sakonnakorn Senator Maleerat and PAD leader summed it up nicely. The PAD's non-violent protest was met with charges of treason by the government at that time (charges which were later thrown out by the courts). Whereas all the Abhisit government did to a group of people who tried to kill the Prime Minister three times in very violent protests was charge them with assembly of more than 10 in a disorderly way.
Democrat MP Somkiat reminded the protesters of how police blasted their way in without warning and left people with dangling arms, legs and eyes on October 7 and the level of carnage inflicted by police that day, throughout the day.
Nearly everyone on stage heavily criticised Abhisit for even contemplating an amnesty, likening it to trying to strike a deal with the devil.
Uncle Chamlong spoke of the process of the establishment of the PAD Party later next month.
It was an odd message at an odd time, one of anger and defiance still at the Abhisit government that the PAD feels has taken them for granted. But then the real disaster of the night came when Amorn went on stage to announce that ZuZu was not appearing later that ndgight and instead it would be Kor Kai.
Oh, well. Kor Kai was cool too, but the endless line of epakers meant that the young band ended up with only two songs that night before Tua took the final set towards the end.
In most countries, calling this a concert would lead to people angrily asking for their money back.
Whilst on the topic of money, donations seemed to pour in with over half a million quoted. The donation box for ASTV clearly showed that most of the protesters had put in 1,000 Baht notes.
The old uncle who was bashed up at Central World was seen walking around with a PAD Guard badge on him. Yes, the one who was beaten up under the orders of a policeman who was aquitted and reinstated in a court in Chiang Rai, even though he did not live in Chiang Rai and the beating up happened right here in Bangkok.
Sek Zuzu was selling autographed CDs for 80 Baht and the one hour queue (at Government House) for the super yummy coconut sweets was a much more manageable ten minutes at Rayong. Lots of people were there selling their designs on PAD merchandise, t-shirts, cups, mugs and the like.
The ASTV rice truck was there and behind there were piles of rice sold with a name stuck on them, proving that people do indeed go to concerts and carry sacks of rice back with them afterwards.
The atmosphere was one not so much of anger or a rallying cry, nor was it of reconciliation, but the message seemed to be, "Let's take care of our own."
In one month, the PAD will meet to set up a political party. Perhaps things will be clearer then.
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