On October 15, 2020, the Thai Prime Minister, Gen. Prayut Chan-o-cha, declared the emergency decree in Bangkok because of the protests happening in the city. The riot police then cleared the area around the Government House with violence and using tear gas against people. A few protesters and four protest leaders were arrested.
The military, police, and civil servants were given the power to arrest, detain suspects, and call for self-report while the administrative court still has no control over the situation. This is the reality of the people in Thailand protesting for democracy and are being met with violence by the police, and it seems like things are not getting any better.
Thailand's Dictatorship - 6 Years Under Coup
Since the coup on May 22nd, 2014, Thai people have been forced to live under the control of military dictatorship. This government has been exercising extreme power to silence and control people to this day.
Like every dictatorship, it is difficult to speak up against the government without being met with severe punishment. Students and activists trying to speak up in Thailand are receiving threats, attacks, and even being forced to disappear. Freedom of speech seems like a nonexistent privilege for the people under these types of government.
Among all the cases in which the Government tried to stop people from speaking up against the cope, around 197 civilians were charged with Computer Crime Act for speaking about politics online, 191 protesters were monitored by the National Council of Peace and Order (NCPO) during the election, and 104 people were seeking political asylum in other countries after being charged under the Act 112 of the Thai Constitution (known for putting dissidents in jail and stop people from speaking or protesting).
Demands of the Public
The people in the protests demand three main things from the Government:
Along with that, they have 10 demands for reforming the institution of the Monarchy, which are:
Revoke the Article 6 of the Constitution which restricts all accusations against the monarchy, and add an article which allows the investigation of the wrongdoings of the monarchy;
Revoke the Article 112 of the Criminal Code allowing citizens to openly express criticism against the monarchy;
Revoke the Crown Property Act of 2018 and divide the monarchy’s assets under the control of the Minister of Finance;
Adjust the national budget on the monarchy in accordance with the country’s economic condition;
Abolish the Royal Offices, and unnecessary units – such as the Privy Council – are to be disbanded;
Dismiss giving and receiving donations by the National Charity Funds for the auditability of the monarchy’s assets;
Prohibit the monarchy of expressing political opinions in public;
Abolish the excessive one-sided glorification and propaganda in education regarding the monarchy;
Investigate the deaths of those who criticized or had any relations to the monarchy;
Prohibit the monarchy’s endorsement of any further coups.
The Police Reacts to the Protests in 2020
October 13th, 2020. That day, the protest consisted of speeches and symbolic expression of splashing blue paint at police officers as the color blue represents the people on the flag of Thailand. Police officers claimed that the dispersion was to free and prepare the streets for the Royal motorcade – the anniversary of the death of King Rama 9. 21 people were arrested and other 19 protesters were apprehended onto the police bus, and some were physically injured by the police.
On the 16th of October, 2020, the junta government issued force to dissolve the peaceful protest that called for democracy. There was a mobilization of the riot police to force the protestors out of the area.
The police used water canon trucks to throw high pressure water and tear gas against the protesters who carried simple umbrellas for protection. The water contained colored chemical solutions that irritates skin and eyes, and is unwashable to track the protesters later.
The Protests are Taking Digital Proportions
Social media has become a space where people are expressing more openly their opinions and have been debating about political and social issues that wouldn’t usually be talked about in a daily conversation in real life. The people in Thailand are also using the power that social media has to show what has been happening in the country.
From the very beginning, the protesters have been using elements from pop culture in the streets. The three-finger salute used in The Hunger Games is used in the books and in the movie franchise as a sign of rebellion against the dictatorial regime was adopted by Thai people. Other elements that represent an act of uprising against the government were also used by people, such as the Salvador Dali costume used by the characters of the Netflix series “La Casa de Papel” and the Harry Potter characters.
The Thai government is trying to stop the debate online by blocking a Facebook account that was organizing the protests and closing nearly 1,000 Twitter accounts that were sharing content in support of the army and spreading misinformation. Even with all the discussion happening on the internet about what is happening in the country, there is still uncertainty if that is going to be alone to cause a change and make a real change in real life.
It all happened after the Prime Minister had spoken to the local media on the same day, “… [Death is unpredictable]. People can die today or tomorrow. Do not challenge the God of Death.”
Donation Links and Petitions to Sign - How we can Help
Link with a few places that you could donate:
Petition link:
Extra:
Reference links:
Please take a look at the links to get a deeper understanding of this situation. What I wrote here is a brief summary of the issue, but these links - especially the first one - explains it in more details.
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