Petition drive lacks what it seeks

On the day the red shirts celebrated Thaksin Shinawatra's 60th birthday, the fugitive claimed he had been meditating and phae metta (sending forgiving, compassionate thoughts) to all his political rivals. This did not prevent the red supporters from declaring on the same day that an all-out anti-government campaign was about to be renewed. And although they did not spell it out, yesterday's gathering for the final push of the petition drive was obviously a stepping-stone for yet another tumultuous fight against the man's political enemies.

Critics call it a ploy to inflame the divisiveness, and we can't blame them. However, that the petition is destined for the royal palace is not the biggest concern. Petitions were a fundamental part of the Thai monarchy's earliest days dating back several hundred years, and if the red shirts want to revive the old tradition in an honest, humble manner, there is not much to criticise them for. His Majesty the King has received numerous petitions since taking the throne. Some were acted upon; others were not.

Have the red shirts been acting in an honest, reconciliatory manner? They will argue that they have been, although their critics have the right to be alarmed by several red-shirt-related incidents and question whether the activists are acting out of respect for HM the King or merely a desire to get Thaksin off legal hooks.

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