Anti-Monarchy Protests Sweep Thailand
Anti-monarchy protests have been prominent in Thailand since February 2020 (Wikimedia Commons).
Thousands of demonstrators gathered in Bangkok on September 19-20 to demand democratic reforms and protest the growing power of the Thai monarchy. Led primarily by students, these anti-government rallies were the largest the country had witnessed since the 2014 military coup, which had installed Prayuth Chan-ocha as the prime minister.
Throughout Saturday, speakers addressed issues including women’s rights, the rewriting of the constitution, and the rampant economic inequality exacerbated by the COVID-19 lockdown. Complaints against the monarchy first surfaced on Saturday night, and they remained the focus of the rallies thereafter. Protestors calling for a reduction in the monarchy’s power derided the close connections between the monarchy, military, and industry. Specific demands included an end to limits on the public discussion of the monarchy, as numerous critics of the monarchy have disappeared in the past—including pro-democracy activist Wanchalearm Satsaksi, who disappeared in June.
Thailand possessed one of the world’s strictest lèse-majeste laws, or laws prohibiting all insults of the royal family—penalties for breaking this law range as high as a 15-year jail sentence. The current government maintains that this legislation is meant to protect and honor the Thai monarchy. However, Amnesty International and other human rights groups have agreed that the law “silence(s) peaceful dissent and jail(s) prisoners of conscience.” The military-backed and extremely-royalist government only increased King Maha Vajiralongkorn’s powers with the constitution written after the 2014 coup. Further laws passed in July 2017 gave him direct control of the Crown Property Bureau, which is in charge of managing the crown’s fortune. Additionally, the king placed two army units under his direct control in October 2019. These steps have signalled an alarming move toward an absolutist monarchy.
Democracy in Thailand exists on shaky ground: the most recent general elections in March of 2019 ran despite claims of rampant voter fraud. Prayuth Chan-Ocha, the current prime minister, won the disputed election in a landslide as the leader of a pro-army party. Moreover, the Supreme Court of Thailand disqualified an opposition party, Future Forward, from parliament in February 2020. Future Forward held a reputation for being outspoken against the growth of military-monarchy connections before winning a third of parliament seats in the 2019 elections. This incited student-led protests across the country, which came to an eventual halt by COVID-19-related rules barring public gatherings.
This time, protestors hoped that their progressive demands appealed to a broader section of Thai society. Student activist Patsalawalee Tanakitwiboonpon said, “For six years people have suffered economically. That’s why we need to uproot the system. We need a constitution that people have a role in writing.”
On Sunday, student leaders presented a letter of demands for General Surayud Chulanond, the president of the Privy Council advising the king. Occurring in front of the Privy Council Office, this takeover prompted fears in many about a possible catalyst of violence. A high-ranking police officer later quenched tensions when he agreed to deliver the letter to Surayud.
The consequences of this protest appear up in the air. Leader Parit Chiwarak called for another demonstration on October 14, the anniversary of a gruesome massacre of Thammasat University students. Other protestors suggested smaller efforts, such as raising the three-finger salute from the Hunger Games series or wearing white ribbons to voice their protest.
Public criticism of the monarchy undoubtedly represents a large step by generating greater awareness of its growing political role. Many, however, expect harsh responses from the Thai government.