What do you think about the anti-Thaksin demonstrations?

It's a peaceful exercise of constitutional rights, which cannot be used as a pretext for any [military] intervention. [Painting it with] the spectre of violence is what the government did by trying to make it look violent.

What do you think about the process by which the PAD runs things? How democratic is it and how much hope does it offer?

I don't know whether the internal process is democratic or not as I'm not part of the process of decision-making. But the demand for a royally appointed prime minister by citing historical tradition is a most undemocratic process.

On whether the PAD is a beacon of democracy or not, first it has succeeded in shaking the Thaksin order that people were apprehensive of. But to return to calling for a royally appointed premier is the most regressive step for Thais.

Did you join the demonstration as an observer or participant?

I went there as a publisher. I agree, however, that Thaksin must be removed, but constitutionally. The details of the demand [as to how] Thaksin should be removed are always in a state of flux, however. There are issues that I don't agree with the PAD on.

Thaksin called it mob rule and not the rule of law.

Democracy is the rule of the many while many laws are unjust. I have no qualms with the meaning of democracy, which is the rule of the people.

But it also doesn't mean

that the rule of the majority is always right. Democracy is

 a forum where everyone

should be able to debate peacefully.

How do you think the confrontation will end?

I'm no astrologer, but as a concerned citizen one thing that should never occur is violence.

Your critics call you an extremist and say you don't have any constructive suggestions.

If writing is of no worth in itself and not regarded as work, then I don't know what to say. I do not say "no" to the [anti-Thaksin] demonstration. I went there as well.

I think if you want an example of an extreme view, and I'm not saying whether this is good or not, then the call [by the PAD] not to relent until [Thaksin] is ousted is itself a kind of extremism.

Let me be frank, people like Pibhop Dhongchai, a key leader of PAD, had earlier said that they're against the discourse of royal prerogative because it's outdated. But at present he agrees with it or [at least] does not oppose the idea of having HM the King picking a prime minister.

This shows the hypocrisy of a person who called himself an activist for democracy.