2020 Thai protests


The ongoing 2020 Thai protests are series of protests against the government of prime minister and the 2014 junta leader Prayut Chan-o-cha. The protests were initially triggered by the court order to dissolve the pro-democracy Future Forward Party, popular amongst youth voters, in late February 2020. The protests were halted by the COVID-19 pandemic. The protests erupted again on 18 July as a demonstration organised under Free Youth at the Democracy Monument in Bangkok, gathering approximately 2,500 protesters. Three demands were given to the government: the resignation of the cabinet, the dissolution of parliament, and drafting of a new constitution. The July protests were triggered by the impact of COVID-19 pandemic and enforcement of the Emergency Degree. The protesters demanded the government to accept the demands within two weeks or face larger demonstrations. The protests then spread to at least 20 provinces nationwide.

Background

As the head of junta National Council for Peace and Order, the 2014 Thai coup d'état brought Prayut Chan-o-cha to power and was named appointed Prime Minister. NCPO ruled the country for five years unchecked, during when political and civil rights were restricted, and economic inequality widened. Even the 2019 Thai general election, which was considered "not free and not fair", nominally brought an end to NCPO, but the political system is still business as usual for Prayut. The army still carries out defunct NCPO's policies and orders. The coalition government is composed of pro-Prayut camps and smaller parties who were benefited by technical interpretation of the election law. He also has allies in the Senate, Constitutional Court, various Constitutional organizations, and officials in the local government level who were hand-picked by NCPO mechanisms. Numerous people of power, regardless of those reported engaging in corruption scandals, traffic death, nepotism, drug trafficking, incompetency, are not accountable by any means.
After eleven months of the coalition, an opposition Future Forward Party was dissolved by the Constitutional Court, as the House about to debate on motion of no confidence. Former FFP members exposed junta's involvement in 1MDB. The economic impact of COVID-19 pandemic and the government response were gradually felt by the people.

First wave (February)

The first wave protests were triggered by the Constitution Court decision to disband the Future Forward Party, an opposition party popular amongst youths, on 23 February 2020. Demonstrations since erupted in various high schools, colleges, and universities nationwide. These student-organised protests also came with various hashtags unique to their institutions. The firsts began at Thammasat University, Chulalongkorn University, Ramkhamhaeng University, Kasetsart University, and Srinakharinwirot University on 24 February. Various high school students also organised protests at Triam Udom Suksa School and Suksanari School. The protests, however, were only limited to individual institutions. The protests, which was organized exclusively on the academia grounds, were halted in late February due to the COVID-19 pandemic, with all universities, colleges, and schools shut down.

Hashtags

Various hashtags emerged for protests at each institutions. For example:
Some mentioned their distaste of the pro-military conservatives such as

Background

On 15 July, the national centre for COVID-19 has announced two new infected cases; an Egyptian soldier in Rayong Province, and a Sudanese diplomat's daughter in Asok neighbourhood of Bangkok. Both of them were the government's exceptions for "VIP guests," not requiring to comply with several COVID-19 measures. The government also keep secret the high-risk areas that both patients have been located during their stay until 16 July, infuriating many netizens who were afraid of the possible second outbreak. Many criticised on both the government's failure to contain the disease from those VIPs, and its failure to boost the heavily effected tourism industry in Rayong Province where more than 90% of hotel bookings were cancelled. This situation was considered the eruption point of the coming protest on 18 July.
On the same day, the Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha made a visit to Rayong Province. Prior to his arrival were two protesters held signs calling for his resignation. Both were immedieatly arrested and reportedly beaten by the police, infuriating many Twitter users.

Major events

Bangkok

On 18 July, Thailand saw the largest street demonstration since the 2014 Thai coup d'état at the Democracy Monument in Bangkok with around 2,500 protesters. The protesters, organised under the name Free Youth, announced three demands: resignation of the cabinet, dissolution of the House, stop threatening the citizens, and drafting a new constitution. The event was triggered by the failed economy of the country due to pandemic, and unjustified implementation of the Emergency Degree that were heavily criticised as being a tool against any possible protest. The gathering was planned to last overnight and disband on the next day. However, it was cancelled by midnight for security reasons. Charnvit Kasetsiri, Thai historian, warned the protestors that they should not stay overnight, so as to prevent the tragedy of Thammasat University massacre of 1976.
On 22 July, a group of activists from Srinakharinwirot University under the name SWU the generation of change organised a mob at the Democracy Monument claiming to “extol the beauty of newly created garden”, mocking at the potted plants Bangkok Metropolitan Administration brought into the Democracy Monument around 18 July to block protesters from entering. The potted plants were later removed a few days later.
On 23 July, Phumiwat Raengkasiwit, an activist from the group Nawachiwin, began a hunger strike in front of Sappaya-Sapasathan, the meeting place of Thai parliament. The act was to emphasise extreme poverty due to failed COVID-19 management, he told to BBC Thai. The strike is still ongoing.
On 25 July, a group of LGBTs, organised under the name Seri Thoey, demonstrated at the Democracy Monument calling for legalisation of same-sex marriage in addition to the three demands given earlier. The mob was highly praised online for using parodies of memorable kathoey gags from the famed kathoey comedy horror film Hor Taew Taek . Thai youth activist Netiwit Chotiphatphaisal commented that the July 25 protest was full of creativity, including colourful outfits, colourful hair, distinct personal style and marked by a few choice words. He considered it a "landmark moment" in recent Thai political protests.
On 26 July, the event called “Let’s run, Hamtaro” was organised at the Democracy Monument. It was initially an online activism, later spread via Twitter, and eventually gathered around 3,000 people. The event consisted of running around the monument whilst singing a jingle from Hamtaro, a famous Japanese cartoon, with some amendments to the lyrics as a satire to the political corruptions. The well-known lyrics from Hamtaro; “the most yummy things of all are.... sunflower seeds!”, was amended into a satire “the most yummy things of all are.... citizens’ taxes!”. The parody was used initially in a protest at Triam Udom Suksa School in Bangkok few days earlier. The video of students singing the jingle soon spread online and eventually inspired the running event.

Outside Bangkok

After 18 July, the protests soon spread across the country. Demonstrations were organised in more than 20 provinces as of 23 July, including Chonburi Province, Ayutthaya Province, Pattani Province, etc. Since then, various provinces each had have various protests organised. The firsts were in Chiang Mai province and Ubon Ratchathani Province on 19 July.
Each with its own satirical names, some major ones are:
On 27 and 29 July, Thais in London, and New York City also protested against Prayut government.

Three Demands

The protests nationwide, though some have their own custom demand, are centered around the three demands given on 18 July by the Free Youth group. The Three Demands' cores are:
  1. “The parliament must be dissolved." — Due to failed government management of the COVID-19 pandemic, rising unemployment rate, and many businesses were closed. The government also failed to deal with the “VIP” cases of COVID-19.
  2. “Stop threatening the citizens" — since the 2019 Thai general election, many have been threatened for criticising the government.
  3. "New constitution" — the current constitution which was drafting by Prayut's allies to pave the way for Prayut and any future soldier-turn-politician to remain in power. Many who campaigned against this constitution earlier in 2016 referendum were arrested and threatened alike.
A Free Youth leader stated that they do not aim to overthrowing the monarchy as alleged.

Responses

In her Facebook post, Nutsara Woraphatharathorn, the former spokesperson of Royal Thai Army, dubbed the protesters “Mob Mung Ming”. Her action was widely criticised for being partisan. The term Mob Mung Ming was later used throughout many protests; one that organised by Seri Thoei group on 25 July also incorporated the term in its event's name. Meanwhile, Thai beauty peagent Maria Poonlertlarp expressed her support for the protesters, as well as Thailand's leading game caster Heart Rocker.
Apirat Kongsompong, the Commander-in-Chief of the Royal Thai Army, expressed concerns pointing that some students' actions were inclined to lèse majesté. He was in tears narrating his loyalty to the King. His action infuriated many online, again for his political intervention. Sereepisuth Temeeyaves, a former police chief and leader of an opposition party Seree Ruam Thai, condemned Apirat's action fiercely. A Move Forward Party MP stated that some references to the monarchy in the protests are the inconvenient truth and need attention. He received stark responses from Manager Online and Apirat, insisting that some protesters intended to overthrow the monarchy, or fell victim to some manipulators with such intent.
“The Emergency Decree is possibly for the government to deal with protests rather than its intention to deal with the pandemic”, added Sereepisuth. The law was used since February, even though no new domestic cases were reported. Public Health Minister Anutin Charnvirakul expressed his concern on COVID-19 spread whilst signaled that he was neutral about the protestors' demands.
Some universities and schools responded by forbidding their staff and students to join the protests and ban gathering on their grounds, claiming COVID-19 concerns. Satri Phatthalung School in Phatthalung Province was sent a warning by the local police not join the demonstration in the province. On 23 July, the dean of Prince of Songkhla University, Pattani Province Campus warned the students not to organise a demonstration on its ground. The protest, however, went on and did call for the dean's resignation in addition to the three demands.
Regarding employment opportunities for youths who engaged in political activism, a human resource specialist answered only those with political ambition, or those who have political conflict of interest would be affected.