Issue and opponent: Since 1932, when a coup ended the monarchy’s absolute rule, there have been countless government coups in Thailand. Most recently in 2014 and every time they say it will not happen again. Protesters demand the removal of Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-ocha, a former military ruler. They also openly criticized King Maha Vajiralongkorn despite lese majeste laws that can mean 15 years in jail for insulting the monarchy. They say the monarchy has helped perpetuate years of political influence by the army and seeks to curb its powers. Protesters say Prayuth engineered 2019’s election to keep the power he seized in the 2014 coup. Two events were the final straws triggering the 2020 mass protests, in February 2020 the Constitutional Court disbanded the Future Forward Party, the opposition party, for obscure reasons, sparking protests across more than 50 university campuses and high schools. The second trigger was the disappearance in July 2020 of Wanchalearm Satsaksit, a prominent Thai pro-democracy activist lived in exile in Cambodia since 2014.
Dilemma Action: From July to December 2020, diverse civic networks staged the largest and longest protests since the 2014 coup. Protesters drew on various tactical innovations to push back against regime repression and voice democratic demands, including monarchy reform. On September 12, according to the activist artist Mit Jai Inn, around 2,000 art students held a flash occupation at the state-backed Bangkok Art and Culture Centre to protest against elitism in the art world. On other days, protesters linked arms, held their flashlights in the air waving them, held up three fingers alluding to The Hunger Games and a common symbol of these protests, and spoke out against the government/monarchy, despite its being illegal to do so. At their peak, the youth-led demonstrations attracted almost 100,000 participants. The youth-led protests devised social media platforms to enhance mass mobilization. Protesters’ general commitment to nonviolence contributed to sustaining the movement’s credibility throughout.
Outcome: The government banned all political gatherings of five or more people. Police have arrested more than 50 people, including several protest leaders. The Royal Palace did not make comments on the protests but the king said that Thailand needs people who love the country and the monarchy. Bail was also granted to one of two activists charged with trying to harm the queen after protesters shouted at her. Thailand’s protests became a regional sensation by inspiring similar pro-democracy struggles in Laos, the Philippines, Indonesia, and Myanmar.