Bona fide Text
Likely to happen
Freedom of speech. Freedom to be heard. Freedom to complain. Freedom. Denied. Neglected.
People repeats history once again. Not in the Philippine setting but this time chaos happened in Thailand. Filipinos made use of EDSA and Thais protested in the airport. A more convincing place they could think about?
The history of coup de etat in Thailand seems just like the history our country had years ago and maybe if the government will not be that vigilant these days, coup will likely to happen again.
The commander of Thailand's army bluntly advised the prime minister to step down and dissolved Parliament and told protesters who had shut down the main international airport for two days to disperse.
In addition to what the commander said he is just giving advice about the way out for the country in that situation. Even reiterating that the government should return the power to the people in a new election.
Philippine history would say, that incident is not new to all of us.
As I continue, however, Somchai Wongsawat, Thailand's third prime minister since the 2006 coup, rejected the general's advice in a nationally televised address, despite months of protests that have hobbled the government's ability to function.
He even firmly said, "I assure you, ladies and gentlemen, that this government was elected by the people under the king. The government will carry out its duty to the fullest for the benefit of the country and the benefit of the people."
He then requested that protesters leave the airport and instructed his cabinet would meet to discuss the situation. Two days after, the court backed the government's position, ordering protesters to leave Suvarnabhumi airport immediately.
What was the reaction of the crowd asking for Wongsawat to step down? In defiance. The mood at the airport was one of the reactions of deaf people. Protesters — largely representing an established urban elite and middle class who feel threatened by the government's empowerment of the poorer rural areas — spent the night in the terminal. They took control of the airport's control tower at midday and consolidated their control, forcing all incoming and outgoing flights to be canceled. The protesters, who accuse the current government of being the proxy of the target of the 2006 coup, the exiled former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra, made a large sign that said: "Put an end to the puppet Parliament."
The ability of protesters to shut down government offices and force the closure of the main airport has raised concerns about the government's ability to maintain order. Very few police officers were present at the airport amid the thousands of protesters. The stranded passengers were evacuated by airport staff from the terminal throughout the day and sent to Bangkok hotels. "Canceled" flashed across the flight-schedule screens, and check-in counters were not staffed. Filipinos travelers were stranded too, they even asked the government's help to fly them back to the Philippines before worse things happen in Bangkok. Hope we learn from this chaos in Bangkok this past few days. This will likely to happen if worst comes to worst in the system of government we have right now. Let's wait and cross our fingers.