คณะกรรมการประชาชนเพื่อการเปลี่ยนแปลงประเทศไทยให้เป็นประชาธิปไตยที่สมบูรณ์ อันมีพระมหากษัตริย์ทรงเป็นประมุข | |
Abbreviation | PDRC; กปปส. |
---|---|
Formation | 31 October 2013 29 November 2013 (formed officially)[1] |
Dissolved | 22 May 2014 |
Legal status | Defunct[2] |
Purpose | Removal of former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra's influence on Thai politics Political reform (before election) |
Location | |
Region served | Thailand |
Membership | |
Secretary-General | Suthep Thaugsuban |
Budget | >10 million Thai Baht daily (January 2014 estimate)[7] |
The People's Democratic Reform Committee (PDRC) or People's Committee for Absolute Democracy with the King as Head of State (PCAD)[note 1] was a reactionary[citation needed] umbrella political pressure group in Thailand.[9] Its aim was to remove the influence of former premier Thaksin Shinawatra from Thai politics by deposing the incumbent Pheu Thai government of Yingluck Shinawatra and creating an unelected "People's Council" to oversee political reforms.[10][11] The group played a key role in the 2013–14 Thai political crisis and the lead up to the 2014 Thai coup d'état, organising large-scale protests within Bangkok and disrupting voting in the 2014 Thai general election in order to prevent a predicted victory by Pheu Thai.
The group was formed on 29 November 2013 by Suthep Thaugsuban, who resigned from his post as Democrat Party secretary-general and MP, and appointed himself as PDRC secretary-general.[11] Although much of the movement's message revolved around anti-politics,[12] the PDRC was a diverse coalition united by little more than opposition to the government of Yingluck Shinawatra;[13] it was made up of members of the opposition Democrat Party, the People's Alliance for Democracy (a coalition opposed to Thaksin known as "Yellow Shirts"), student activist groups, state workers' unions and pro-military groups.[5] The PDRC's support stemmed mostly from affluent Bangkokians and Southerners.[14] Whistle-blowing was a central symbol of the protests.[15]
By accusing the government of lacking legitimacy, Suthep Thaugsuban announced the intention of the People's Democratic Reform Committee to take back power from the government and proceed with national reform through a non-elected royalist council, in order to "eradicate" the "Thaksin regime".[16][17] Suthep outlined plans for the council to "act as a legislative body, amend laws and regulations, as well as carry out a reform plan in the country".[18] He also explained the council would have 400 members, 300 of whom would be representatives from various professions. The remaining 100 would be selected by the PDRC from scholars and well-respected senior citizens.[19][20]
The ultimate goal of the PDRC was to have the prime minister Yingluck Shinawatra resign as the head of the caretaker government[21] in order to create a power vacuum,[22] then invoke articles 3[note 2] and article 7[note 3] of the 2007 Constitution.[23] This would have allowed the head of the senate to appoint a new premier. Yingluck and nine other senior ministers were removed from office by Constitutional Court on 7 May 2014. The military then seized power in a coup d'état on 22 May, a move which was applauded by many PDRC protesters.[24] The PDRC was disbanded shortly after the coup.[2]
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was invoked but never defined (see the help page).[The PDRC is] a coalition of reactionary elements attempting to stop socio-economic progress so as to protect their interests.
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