Thailand’s “red-shirt” movement leader, Jatuporn Promphan, has hit back at the Kao Klai party and its supporters, branding them “a new breed of dictators” who claim to champion democracy, but do not tolerate different opinions.
The chairman of the United Front for Democracy against Dictatorship (UDD) made the remark in response to fierce criticism, from some members of the Kao Klai party and its followers, over his disagreement with the party’s proposal to amend Section 272 of the Constitution, to limit the role and power of the Senate.
Jatuporn is supportive of the Pheu Thai party’s proposal to amend Section 265, to pave the way for wider changes to the Constitution through the creation of a Constitution Drafting Assembly, without touching Chapters 1 and 2, which relate to Thai sovereignty and the Thai Monarchy.
In his Facebook post today, Jatuporn said he supports Pheu Thai’s, not because he used to be a member of the party “but because it is the most logical and practical approach.”
He noted that MPs alone cannot do away with the Senate, if the Senate does not agree “but the people can legitimately do so.”
The UDD leader challenged Kao Klai and the Progressive Movement, led by former Future Forward party leader Thanathorn Juangroongruangkit, to join the student protests and take the lead, to fulfil its political aspirations, instead of leaving them to fight alone.
“We are supporters of democracy, we must be able to tolerate differing opinions. We should not criticize other people, but not allow them to criticize us, as this would mean a new breed of dictators. The principle of equality in a conversation, on the basis of differing political views, is a basic characteristic of an aspiring democracy,” said Jatuporn.
