Respect other people's rights in your fight

Though PAD is doing its best to protect people's right to democracy, they must not forget everyone's right to use public roads and be free of noise pollution

Published on July 2, 2008

The People's Alliance for Democracy or PAD should comply with court orders and refrain from obstructing traffic and using a loud sound system during school hours so as to avoid infringing other people's rights

The PAD, which has been camping out in protest in front of Government House since last month, should comply with the Civil Court's injunction issued on Monday, ordering it to stop blocking traffic and refraining from using a loud public-address system. The court's order was in response to a complaint lodged by parents of students at the Rajvinit School nearby.

The court decided quite rightly that though the Constitution's Article 63 gives citizens the right for peaceful assembly, it does not allow them to infringe on other people's right to use roads and other public properties, or to violate their right to not be disturbed.

Keep those decibels under control

To enable students to concentrate on their studies, the court ordered that PAD use no amplifiers from 7.30am and 4.30pm, Monday through Friday.

Of course, it is within the PAD's right to appeal the court's decision, but that would damage the public image of the group, which calls itself a pro-democracy movement.

The reason the court ordered the PAD not to block traffic was so that commuters could travel on public roads freely and conveniently, while the order against loud noise was issued so that students could concentrate on their studies.

Everybody knows that traffic congestion in most Bangkok areas is already bad. By insisting on blocking traffic, the PAD was worsening the traffic situation in the immediate vicinity of Government House and beyond.

Noise pollution is already hovering near critical level in many districts and surely students do not need additional distractions from boisterous PAD protesters.

The reasons cited by PAD for blocking Rama V and Phitsanulok roads was so that they could ensure the security of people participating in the demonstration. But the police are already doing that.

It may be true that in the past police were seen as inefficient in preventing clashes between pro-government hooligans and PAD, but they have learned their lesson and become a lot better at peacekeeping.

Both the government and the PAD know that it's in nobody's interest if conflicts between pro- and anti-government groups end in violent confrontation. If the PAD and their followers fear for their safety, they should request the police to dispatch additional officers to keep peace.