February 26-28, 2006 Rally

I joined the public demonstration on Feb 26 2006 with my new pair of $60 Reebok running sneakers. My friend who earlier planned to go with me decided not to go because the parliament was dissolved and because she had to go to work on Monday the 27th, and so off I went.

To me, like many others, the dissolution of the House was not the answer to the whole problem. The problem was nothing but the evil PM.

I took the same bus route as on Feb 4 and got there at 7PM. There were tens of thousands of people already. The talks were going on on stage.

Unbelievably I met a friend--a retired bank executive--who came with a doctor and his wife. We all sat and listened to the talks from respectable public figures and activists. The size of the crowd was more than 100,000 for certain. The rally was peaceful and orderly. It was along the line of the February 4 Rally.

I came home at midnight with a good feeling that the people would win in the end.

The three opposition parties agreed not to participate in the April 2 Election for they were in a disadvantaged position. Knowing before hand, planning ahead, and having all the thugs, campaign money, and instruments ready, the ruling party would have all the advantages. There were only 37 days to the election day. Who else would come in landslide but the crooks? They would again have the legitamacy to rule and corrupt again under "the People's Choice" claim.

Late at night on Feb 27, the crowd marched to the Democracy Monument on Rajdamnern Road for a candle vigil honoring the Fallen Heroes of the October 14 1973, October 6 1976, and May 1992 Fights for Democracy. They agreed to temporarily dissolve and go back home in order to wait for the outcome of the political parties. We wanted to see if they would all agree to "revise" the Constitution and mke it "fairer" and clearer.







As of today, Feb 28, most of the demonstrators had left the Plaza except for the "Dhamma Army." The anti-government movement, under the banner "People's Alliance for Democracy," will reconvene at the Grand Park on March 5-6, 2006.