Network of Citizen Volunteers Protecting the Land
Encyclopedia
The Network of Citizen Volunteers Protecting the Land , commonly known as Multicolor Shirts, is a Thai
political pressure group and protest movement, directed against the United Front for Democracy Against Dictatorship (UDD, or "Red Shirts"). It is led by Dr. Tul Sithisomwong, lecturer at the medical faculty of the Chulalongkorn University
. Other names under which the movement operates include "Alliance of Patriots", "Protect the Nation", and "Civil Network against Thaksin's Corruption Pardon".
The grouping has got together out of disagreement with the Red Shirts' heavy protests in 2010
which led to several road closures and blockage of major shopping malls around the Ratchaprasong
intersection. The clashes between Red Shirts and security forces caused the loss of lifes, considerable damage to the national economy, and spread of terror amongst the population. The network holds the UDD alone liable for these devastating effects. The Multicolor Shirts' agenda is to make the Red Shirt leaders accountable for the damages and crimes. Meanwhile they supported the government of Abhisit Vejjajiva
and the approach of the command of the armed forces that ordered its troops to crack down
the protests. Unlike the UDD ("Red Shirts"), and the People's Alliance for Democracy
(PAD, or "Yellow Shirts"), the network's adherents wear shirts in various colors. The network's supporters, predominantly originating from the Bangkok middle-classes, customarily wave masses of tricolour Thai national flags
.
The first major public action of the "Multicolor Shirt" group was a gathering in front of the Victory Monument
in Bangkok, on 13 April 2010. Since this day, the movement has held demonstrations nearly every day. In September 2010, the network started a signature collection against a bill granting amnesty to anyone prosecuted for actions connected to the 2010 political protests. In addition to rallies in public, the movement's leader, Dr. Tul, regularly files complaints before the Election Commission
and the National Anti-Corruption Commission (NACC), and lawsuits against prominent "Red Shirt" activists and Pheu Thai Party politicians, including controversial MP Jatuporn Prompan
, and Prime Minister-elect Yingluck Shinawatra
. After the Election Commission endorsed the parlamentarian's status of Jatuporn, the movement also announced to sue the EC itself.
The networks' supporters include several exponents of the show business and the popular culture, like musician "J" Jetrin Wattanasin
, film maker Suthep Po-ngam
, or singer-actor Leo Putt
.
Thailand
Thailand , officially the Kingdom of Thailand , formerly known as Siam , is a country located at the centre of the Indochina peninsula and Southeast Asia. It is bordered to the north by Burma and Laos, to the east by Laos and Cambodia, to the south by the Gulf of Thailand and Malaysia, and to the...
political pressure group and protest movement, directed against the United Front for Democracy Against Dictatorship (UDD, or "Red Shirts"). It is led by Dr. Tul Sithisomwong, lecturer at the medical faculty of the Chulalongkorn University
Chulalongkorn University
Chulalongkorn University is the oldest university in Thailand and is the country's highest ranked university. It now has nineteen faculties and institutes. Regarded as the best and most selective university in Thailand, it consistently attracts top students from around the country...
. Other names under which the movement operates include "Alliance of Patriots", "Protect the Nation", and "Civil Network against Thaksin's Corruption Pardon".
The grouping has got together out of disagreement with the Red Shirts' heavy protests in 2010
2010 Thai political protests
A prolonged series of political protests occurred in Bangkok, Thailand in 2010 from March to May against the Democrat Party-led government. The protests were organized by the National United Front of Democracy Against Dictatorship...
which led to several road closures and blockage of major shopping malls around the Ratchaprasong
Ratchaprasong
Ratchaprasong is the name of an intersection, and a shopping district named after it in Pathum Wan District, Bangkok, adjacent to Siam District. Located at the BTS Skytrain's Chit Lom Station and the intersection of Phloenchit, Rama I and Ratchadamri Roads...
intersection. The clashes between Red Shirts and security forces caused the loss of lifes, considerable damage to the national economy, and spread of terror amongst the population. The network holds the UDD alone liable for these devastating effects. The Multicolor Shirts' agenda is to make the Red Shirt leaders accountable for the damages and crimes. Meanwhile they supported the government of Abhisit Vejjajiva
Abhisit Vejjajiva
Abhisit Vejjajiva , , ; born Mark Abhisit Vejjajiva; 3 August 1964 in Newcastle upon Tyne) is a Thai politician who was the 27th Prime Minister of Thailand from 2008 to 2011 and is the current leader of the Democrat Party...
and the approach of the command of the armed forces that ordered its troops to crack down
2010 Thai military crackdown
On 10 April and 13–19 May 2010, the Thai military cracked down on the National United Front of Democracy Against Dictatorship protests in central Bangkok, the capital of Thailand. The crackdown was the culmination of months of protests that called for the Democrat Party-led government of Abhisit...
the protests. Unlike the UDD ("Red Shirts"), and the People's Alliance for Democracy
People's Alliance for Democracy
The People's Alliance for Democracy also called the National Liberation Alliance - กลุ่มพันธมิตรกู้ชาติ, Thai Patriots Network or the Yellow Shirts - เสื้อเหลือง - was originally a coalition of protesters against Thaksin Shinawatra, the former Prime Minister of Thailand. Its leaders include...
(PAD, or "Yellow Shirts"), the network's adherents wear shirts in various colors. The network's supporters, predominantly originating from the Bangkok middle-classes, customarily wave masses of tricolour Thai national flags
Flag of Thailand
The flag of the Kingdom of Thailand shows five horizontal stripes in the colours red, white, blue, white and red, with the middle blue stripe being twice as wide as each of the other four. The design was adopted on 28 September 1917, according to the royal decree about the flag in that year; the...
.
The first major public action of the "Multicolor Shirt" group was a gathering in front of the Victory Monument
Victory Monument (Bangkok)
Victory Monument is a large military monument in Bangkok, Thailand. The monument is located in Ratchathewi district, northeast of central Bangkok, at the center of a traffic circle at the intersection of Phahonyothin Road, Phaya Thai Road, and Ratchawithi Road.The monument is one of Bangkok's...
in Bangkok, on 13 April 2010. Since this day, the movement has held demonstrations nearly every day. In September 2010, the network started a signature collection against a bill granting amnesty to anyone prosecuted for actions connected to the 2010 political protests. In addition to rallies in public, the movement's leader, Dr. Tul, regularly files complaints before the Election Commission
Election Commission (Thailand)
The Election Commission of the Kingdom of Thailand is an independent government agency and the sole Electoral Commission of Thailand tasked with overseeing Senate, House, local and district elections throughout the Kingdom of Thailand. Established by the Constitution, the Election Commission has...
and the National Anti-Corruption Commission (NACC), and lawsuits against prominent "Red Shirt" activists and Pheu Thai Party politicians, including controversial MP Jatuporn Prompan
Jatuporn Prompan
Jatuporn Prompan is a Thai politician and activist. He is a Member of Parliament of the Pheu Thai Party and one of the core leaders of the National United Front of Democracy Against Dictatorship , also known as the "Red Shirts"....
, and Prime Minister-elect Yingluck Shinawatra
Yingluck Shinawatra
Yingluck Shinawatra , or nickname Pu , is a Thai businesswoman and politician, member of the Pheu Thai Party, and the 28th Prime Minister of Thailand following the 2011 general election...
. After the Election Commission endorsed the parlamentarian's status of Jatuporn, the movement also announced to sue the EC itself.
The networks' supporters include several exponents of the show business and the popular culture, like musician "J" Jetrin Wattanasin
Jetrin Wattanasin
Jetrin Wattanasin or "J Jetrin" is a Thai pop musician and actor. He got his first major break in the music business when he secured heavy promotion by the Thai entertainment company, GMM Grammy. Since 1991, he has produced numerous commercially successful music albums, and continues to tour...
, film maker Suthep Po-ngam
Suthep Po-ngam
Suthep Po-ngam , also known by his stage name Thep Po-ngam, is a Thai comedian, actor, film director and screenwriter. He played the leader of a gang of inept hitmen in Killer Tattoo...
, or singer-actor Leo Putt
Leo Putt
Putthipong Sriwat , born April 1, 1976) is a Thai singer and actor. His films include Fake, Dynamite Warrior and The Sperm.-Filmography:* Goodbye Summer * Fake * The Story of X-Circle * Dynamite Warrior...
.