Updated: October 21, 2020 11:53:51 am
In Bangkok on Tuesday. The three-finger salute has become one of the symbols of protest. (AP Photo: Sakchai Lalit)
Over the past few months, Thailand has witnessed demonstrations in favor of democracy with protesters demanding the reform of the monarchy and the resignation of Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-ocha. The current wave of protests is among the largest in recent times.
What kind of political system exists in Thailand?
Thailand, a majority Buddhist country of some 70 million people, was converted from an absolute monarchy to a constitutional monarchy in 1932. Following a coup in 1947, Thailand has been ruled by the military for the most part. Since around 2001, the country’s politics has been marked by a division between supporters and detractors of populist leader Thaksin Shinawatra, who was ousted as Prime Minister by the military in 2006 and has been in exile ever since.
Over the decades, the military has cracked down on dissidents many times. On October 6, 1976, a student-led pro-democracy protest was crushed at Bangkok’s Thammasat University when security forces killed 46 protesters and arrested nearly 3,000 people. In 2010, more than 2,000 were arrested and 90 killed in clashes between security forces and anti-government protesters.
The current ruler, Maha Vajiralongkorn, became king in December 2016. Prime Minister Chan-ocha came to power in a coup in 2014, when he seized power from Shinawatra’s sister. Chan-ocha, backed by the king, has allegedly meddled in electoral laws during the 2019 elections, allowing him to remain in power. 📣 Click to follow Express Explained on Telegram
What are the current protests about?
The demonstrations began late last year following the disqualification of opposition politician Thanathorn Juangroongruangkit as a member of Parliament and the banning of his Future Forward party. The pandemic restrictions led to a pause in the protests, which resumed in mid-July when the Free Youth Group led 2,500 protesters in Bangkok.
There are three demands: dissolution of Parliament and the resignation of the prime minister, changes to the Constitution and an end to the harassment of critics. On August 3, human rights lawyer Arnon Nampa delivered a speech on the reform of the monarchy. Nampa and another movement leader, Panupong Jadnok (also known as Mike Rayong), were arrested last week.
Other groups have joined the protests, with broader demands: expanded rights for women and LGBT, reforms in education and the military, and improvements in the economy. At a rally at Thammasat University on August 10, a statement listed ten demands. These included the king not endorsing more coups, the abolition of royal offices, a reduction in the national budget allocated to the king, and an amnesty for those indicted for criticizing the monarchy.
Pro-democracy protesters march during a protest in Udom Suk, suburban Bangkok, Thailand, on Saturday, October 17, 2020 (AP Photo: Gemunu Amarasinghe)
How are these demonstrations different from the previous ones?
Traditionally, Thailand’s political divide has been between the “red shirts” (populists and Shinawatra supporters) and the “yellow shirts (loyal to royalty). This time, the protesters are not wearing these traditional color codes, but have contrived your own symbols to express their ideas and disagree. These include the “anti-knock” three-finger salute from The Hunger Games series and gestures such as hands crossed over the chest and hands pointing above the head. Some of these gestures are the same ones used by pro-democracy protesters in Hong Kong.
By criticizing the monarchy, which is prohibited by law, the protesters have broken new ground. By virtue of article 112 of the Penal Code, whoever “defames, insults or threatens the King, the Queen, the apparent Heir or the Regent, will be punished with a custodial sentence of three to fifteen years.”
How has the government responded?
The government has tried to crack down on what have so far been peaceful protests. On Friday, water cannons were used to disperse the protesters. On Thursday, the authorities imposed a “severe” state of emergency, prohibiting gatherings of five or more people in Bangkok and also prohibiting the publication of information that could pose a threat to national security. The protesters have so far defied the ban and continue to protest in the capital.
Last week, the government blocked access to the change.org website following an online petition calling for the king to be declared persona non grata, the BBC reported. The government also arrested several student leaders and protesters and some protesters.
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