2020–2021 Thai protests

2020 Thai protests
Clockwise from top: Protesters at the Democracy Monument in Bangkok on 18 July A student protester reading demands on monarchical reform on 3 August. Demonstration in Pattani Province on 2 August. Dispersal of protests at Patumwan Intersection on 16 October. at Srinakharinwirot University Ongkharak Campus in Nakhon Nayok in February.
Date	Phase 1: February 2020 Phase 2: Since 18 July 2020 (2020-07-18) (4 years, 1 month, and 5 days)
Location	Thailand, including some overseas protests.
Caused by	Dissolution of the pro-democracy Future Forward Party Political corruption scandals, including 1MDB Distrust in the 2019 general election and the current political system, competitive authoritarianism and illiberal democracy Legal inequality LGBT discrimination, gender inequality, and patriarchy Economic impact of COVID-19 pandemic Government response to the COVID-19 pandemic. Human rights abuses Increasing royal prerogative and lèse majesté law Government internet censorship
Goals	Dissolution of the House and fresh legislative elections Ending intimidation of the people Drafting a new constitution Abolition of the military-appointed Senate Amendment of royal prerogative and lèse majesté law Increasing civil, economic and political rights
Methods	Demonstrations, sit-ins, flash protests, online activism, petition, protest art
Status	Ongoing Halted for five months due to academia shut down. "Severe" state of emergency declared in Bangkok 15–22 October.
Parties
Protesters and organisations: (no centralised leadership) Khana Ratsadon 2563 Free People (from Free Youth) Democracy Restoration Group Student Union of Thailand Free Thoey Campaigning Group for Constitution of the People National Labour Assembly Assembly of the Poor Labour Network for People's Rights Vocational College Protection of Democracy of Thailand 'Bad Students' Group University, college, and high school students of See full list Chiang Mai University Chulalongkorn University Mahanakorn University of Technology Mahasarakham University Mahidol University Rangsit University Kasetsart University Ramkhamhaeng University Silpakorn University Srinakharinwirot University Suranaree University of Technology Thammasat University Triam Udom Suksa School Ubon Ratchathani University Naresuan University Burapha University Khon Kaen University University of Phayao Prince of Songkla University Mae Fah Luang University King Mongkut's University of Technology Thonburi King Mongkut's University of Technology North Bangkok etc. Sympathetic media See full list Prachatai SpokeDarkTV Voice TV The Reporters The Standard Thai Enquirer Prayut coalition government Armed Forces Internal Security Operations Command Police Senate Bangkok Metropolitan Administration Pro-government citizens See full list Thai Citizens who Love and Revere the Monarchy Group Vocational [students] Help the Nation Rubbish Collection Organization Coordination Center of Vocational Students for the Protection of National Institutions (CVPI) Loyal Thai (Thai Pakdee) Supported by: Monarchy Sympathetic media See full list Manager Naewna Thai Post Nation Multimedia Group
Lead figures
Anon Nampa Panupong Jadnok Parit Chiwarak Jatupat Boonpattararaksa Panusaya Sithijirawattanakul Prayut Chan-o-cha Apirat Kongsompong Narongpan Jittkaewtae Chakthip Chaijinda
Number
18 July: 2,500 16 August: 20,000–25,000 19 September: 20,000–100,000
Casualties
Injuries	13+
Arrested	167+
Charged	63+

In Thailand, protests have been ongoing against the government of Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha, which have included demands for reform of the Thai monarchy, unprecedented in the contemporary era. The protests were initially triggered by the dissolution of the Future Forward Party (FFP) in late February 2020. The party was critical of Prayut and the country's political landscape designed by the current 2017 constitution. The protesters are mostly students and young people without an overall leader.

This first wave of protests was held exclusively on academic campuses and was brought to a halt by the COVID-19 pandemic. Protests resumed again on 18 July with a large demonstration organised under the Free Youth umbrella at the Democracy Monument in Bangkok. Three demands were presented to the Government of Thailand: the dissolution of parliament, ending intimidation of the people, and the drafting of a new constitution. The July protests were triggered by the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic and enforcement of the lockdown Emergency Decree and spread nationwide.

On 3 August, two student groups publicly raised demands to reform the monarchy, breaking a long taboo of publicly criticising the monarchy. A week later, ten demands for monarchy reform were declared. A 19 September rally saw 20,000–100,000 protesters and has been described as an open challenge to King Vajiralongkorn. A government decision to delay voting on a constitutional amendment in late September fuelled nearly unprecedented public republican sentiment. Following mass protests on 14 October, a "severe" state of emergency was declared in Bangkok the next day, citing the alleged blocking of a royal motorcade. Emergency powers were extended to the authorities on top of those already given by the Emergency Decree since March. Protests continued despite the ban, prompting a crackdown by police on 16 October using water cannons. The severe emergency measures were lifted on 22 October.

Government responses have included filing criminal charges using the Emergency Decree; arbitrary detention and police intimidation; delaying tactics; the deployment of military information warfare units; media censorship; the mobilisation of pro-government and royalist groups; which have accused the protesters of receiving support from foreign governments or non-governmental organizations (NGOs) as part of a global conspiracy against Thailand; and the deployment of thousands of police at protests. The government has ordered university chancellors to prevent students from demanding monarchy reform and to identify student protest leaders. Protests in October, when the King returned to the country from Germany, have resulted in the deployment of the military, riot police, and mass arrests.

Background

Direct causes

Over the previous 90 years in Thailand, elected governments have frequently been overthrown by military coups. Thirteen successful coups have occurred since the end of absolute rule in the Siamese revolution of 1932. As head of the Royal Thai Army, Prayut Chan-o-cha instigated the most recent coup in 2014 and led the National Council for Peace and Order (NCPO), the military junta which came to power following the coup. Prayut was eventually appointed Prime Minister, and the NCPO ruled the country for five years, during which political and civil rights were restricted, and economic inequality widened. A disputed referendum, widely called unfree and unfair, was held in 2016 to approve a new military-drafted constitution. Analysts have described the new constitution as favouring the military and disadvantaging large political parties. It includes a junta-appointed Senate, empowered to vote for the Prime Minister for five years, allowing the military to select two prime ministers in the future, and binds future governments to a 20-year national strategy 'road map' laid down the NCPO, effectively locking the country into the period of military-guided democracy with a much reduced role for politicians at both national and local levels.

Prayut's supporters make up a majority of parliament. The 2019 Thai general election, which was considered "partly free and not fair" and as electoral authoritarianism, and has been described as a 'political ritual', nominally brought an end to the NCPO, but the political system continued in the form of a Myanmar-style civil-military party, Palang Pracharat Party, which essentially continues the NCPO's policies and orders as a form of competitive authoritarianism. The coalition government is composed of pro-Prayut camps and smaller parties who benefited from multiple technical interpretations of the election law by a military-controlled Election Commission, including a 44-day hiatus while the election laws were reinterpreted to pave way for a coalition with the state military party at the helm. Via NCPO mechanisms, Prayut has appointed allies to the Senate, Constitutional Court, various Constitutional organizations, including the Election Commission, and the National Anti-Corruption Commission as well as officials at the local government level. Substantively amending the Constitution is almost impossible as it would require both Senate support and a referendum. Numerous generals, as well as people with historical links to organized crime (e.g., Thammanat Prompao) hold key ministerial positions in Second Prayut Cabinet.

During the 2019 general election, the FFP was received well by progressives and youths, who viewed it as an alternative to traditional political parties and as against the NCPO, revealing a socio-political cleavage along generational lines, i.e., between Thai youth and the ruling Thai gerontocracy. The party won the third-largest share of parliamentary seats. After eleven months of the coalition, an opposition FFP became short-lived when it was dissolved by the Constitutional Court, as the House about to debate on motion of no confidence. Former FFP members stressed the regime's corruption and were active in exposing the junta's involvement in the 1MDB scandal.

Underlying causes

Further sources of grievance, many of which the FFP championed, include abortion rights; authoritarianism in Thai schools (including hazing); education reform; labour rights (trade unionism); military reform (e.g., ending conscription and reducing the defense budget, including the purchase of submarines), monopolies (e.g., alcohol), and women's rights.

Criticism of the monarchy was quite rare during the 70-year reign of King Bhumibol Adulyadej, which ended in 2016. After the period of decreased status of the monarchy during Khana Ratsadon era, he restored influence and respect to the throne, which helped define the modern Thai political landscape. Since assuming the throne, King Vajiralongkorn has intervened publicly in Thai political affairs. The King voiced his opinion on the Constitution in 2017, leading to an amendment on the power of the monarchy in the version that had already been accepted in the 2016 constitutional referendum. He became one of the world's richest monarchs in 2018, when he was granted personal ownership of royal assets from the Crown Property Bureau, valued at approximately US$40 billion, which was formerly legally considered publicly owned. He has also consolidated the Privy Council, Office of the Royal Household and Royal Security Office into a single personal office; in 2020, the government, seemingly acting in his name, transferred two army units to his personal command. The Royal Office's budget for 2020 was US$290 million, more than double its budget from 2018.

On the eve of the 2019 election, Vajiralongkorn issued a royal announcement urging people to vote for "good people" (Thai: คนดี; RTGS: khon di; i.e., the junta parties), which was re-broadcast the following morning, in an "unprecedented intervention by the palace".^:97 This sparked a massive, immediate, negative reaction on Twitter by Thai youth, using the hashtag "We are grown-ups and can choose for ourselves" (Thai: โตแล้วเลือกเองได้; RTGS: to laeo lueak eng dai). Following the election, on 19 July 2019, when the new cabinet was sworn in, they pledged their allegiance to the monarchy, but left out an oath to the constitution, and despite protests, did not correct what was widely seen as a serious breach of the traditional oath of office and a tacit admission of the increasingly absolutist nature of the Thai monarchy. Subsequently, in a ceremony on 27 August, each minister was presented with a framed message of support from the King. He has also been accused of rewriting history as monuments associated with Khana Ratsadon and the revolution of 1932 were demolished.

Vajiralongkorn resides most of the time in the state of Bavaria, Germany. At his request, the Thai constitution was amended to remove the requirement that a regent needed to be appointed. According to the German foreign ministry, the Thai ambassador has been told multiple times that Germany opposes "having guests in our country who run their state affairs from here."

The implementation of the Thai lèse majesté law has been controversial since Bhumibol's reign. The number of cases peaked to an unprecedented scale after 2014 coup. Critics viewed it as a political weapon to suppress dissent and restrict freedom of speech. Even though there have been no new cases since 2018, as Prayut said was the wish of King Vajiralongkorn, other security laws had been invoked in its place, such as the sedition law, the Computer Crime Act, or the offense of being a member of an organized crime group (อั้งยี่), all of which incur comparably severe punishment. In June 2020, the forced disappearance of Wanchalearm Satsaksit, assumed to be related to accusations of lèse majesté, gained online attention and sympathy. In July 2020, Tiwagorn Withiton, who wore a shirt with the slogan "I lost faith in the monarchy", was subjected to political psychiatry.

Concurrent developments

Further information: COVID-19 pandemic in Thailand

The government invoked the Emergency Decree on 26 March and issued a COVID-19 related curfew on 3 April in order to limit the spread of the virus. The government additionally issued a travel ban for all foreigners entering Thailand. International rights groups have criticized the emergency decree being employed to suppress free speech. Even though the country has a relatively successful response, as of July 2020, contributed by its robust public health infrastructure, the state of emergency and the severe economic restriction has not been cancelled. The country's significant tourism industry has been heavily affected, leaving Thailand with its worst economic downturn since the 1997 Asian financial crisis. The International Monetary Fund has predicted Thailand's GDP to shrink by 6.7 percent in 2020. The government borrowed and announced a 1.9 trillion-baht (US$60 billion) stimulus package, though few people have actually received it.

Shortly before the second wave protests, on 15 July, netizens were infuriated by privileged treatment to "VIP guests" who were later revealed to be positive for the coronavirus, as well as its failure to boost the heavily effected tourism industry. On the same day, Prayut Chan-o-cha made a visit to Rayong Province. Two protesters held signs calling for his resignation prior to the arrival; both were immediately arrested and reportedly beaten by the police, infuriating many Twitter users.

Other related developments include the suicide of a senior judge over his frustration due to pressure on his verdicts in favour of military officers, surgical mask profiteering by Thammanat Prompao, delayed COVID-19 welfare money transfers, the government's approval of the Civil Partnership bill (which does not recognize equal status of same-sex couples), and the case against Red Bull heir Vorayuth Yoovidhya.

First wave (February)

Protests at Srinakharinwirot University Ongkharak Campus on 25 February. The crossed out number is the popular vote count of dissolved FFP

The first wave protests were triggered by the Constitution Court decision to disband the FFP 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, Srinakharinwirot University and Prince of Songkhla University on 24 February. Various high school students also organised protests at Triam Udom Suksa School and Suksanari School.

The protests, however, were limited to individual institutions. A Thai historian scholar noted that street protests have never created political changes if the military sided with the government. 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

The use of online media, such as TikTok and Twitter, including various hashtags, has characterized the protests. Hashtags have emerged for protests at each institution. For example:

• Protests at Chulalongkorn University used #เสาหลักจะไม่หักอีกต่อไป (lit. The pillar will not be broken longer; an analogy to the university's tagline as “the pillar of the land.”)
• Protests at Triam Udom Suksa School used #เกียมอุดมไม่ก้มหัวให้เผด็จการ (lit. Triam Udom doesn't bow to dictatorship)
• Protests at Srinakharinwirot University (SWU) used #มศว คนรุ่นเปลี่ยน (lit. SWU generation of change)

Some have mentioned their distaste of the pro-military conservatives (dubbed Salim — สลิ่ม; the word was derived from Thai dessert sarim) such as

• Protests at Kasetsart University (KU) used #KUไม่ใช่ขนมหวานราดกะทิ (KU is not coconut milk dessert [referring to sarim.])
• Protests at Khon Kaen University (KKU) used #KKUขอโทษที่ช้าโดนสลิ่มลบโพสต์ (KKU is sorry for being late; [our] posts were deleted by salims)
• Protests at Mahidol University (located in Salaya) used #ศาลายางดกินของหวานหลายสี (Salaya stops eating multi-coloured dessert [referring to sarim.])
• Protests at King Mongkut's Institute of Technology Ladkrabang (Phra chom klao) used #พระจอมเกล้าชอบกินเหล้าไม่ชอบกินสลิ่ม (Phra chom klao loves eating [drinking] liquors but not salim)

Second wave (July–present)

Protests under Three Demands

Main article: Timeline of the 2020 Thai protests (July 2020)

Seri Thoey group flew the LGBT flag during the protest on 25 July

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 (Thai: เยาวชนปลดแอก; RTGS: yaowachon plot aek), announced their three core demands: dissolution of the House, ending intimidation of the people and drafting a new constitution. A Free Youth leader stated that they do not aim to overthrow the monarchy. The gathering was planned to last overnight, but it was cancelled by midnight for security reasons.

After 18 July, the protests began to spread across the country. The first were in Chiang Mai province and Ubon Ratchathani Province on 19 July. By 23 July, demonstrations had been organised in more than 20 provinces. Some major demonstrations include one in Maha Sarakham Province on 23 July, of which its hashtag #IsanSibothon quickly trended first on Twitter in Thailand, and one in Nakhon Ratchasima Province on 24 July saw one of the largest crowds amongst them.

On 25 July, a LGBT activist group Seri Thoey (lit. Free Thoey; parody to the Seri Thai – Free Thai Movement), demonstrated at the Democracy Monument calling for legalisation of same-sex marriage in addition to the three demands.

On 26 July, an event called “Let's run, Hamtaro” was organised at the Democracy Monument. Having begun in a protest at Triam Udom Suksa School in Bangkok, but later spread on Twitter, and eventually gathered around 3,000 people.

Further demands of monarchy reform and subsequent protests

Main article: Timeline of the 2020 Thai protests (August 2020)

File:10 August rangsit 1.jpg

The 10 August Thammasat University protest at Rangsit Campus where victims of forced disappearance were recognized.

Summary of Demands on Reform of the Monarchy

1. Revoke the King's immunity against lawsuits.
2. Revoke lèse majesté law, give amnesty to every persecuted individual.
3. Separate the King's personal and royal assets.
4. Reduce the budget allocated to the monarchy.
5. Abolish the Royal Offices and unnecessary units e.g. Privy Council.
6. Open assets of the monarchy to audit.
7. Cease the King's power to give public political comments.
8. Cease propaganda around the King.
9. Investigate the murders of commentators or critics of the monarchy.
10. Forbid the King to endorse future coups.

On 3 August, a Harry Potter-themed demonstration was held, which 200 people joined, featured a public speech by Anon Nampha which openly criticised the monarchy, and demanded amendment of increasing royal prerogative and lèse majesté law. Paul Chambers, a Southeast Asian politics scholar, noted that "Such open criticism of Thailand's monarch by non-elites at a public place within Thailand with the police simply standing by is the first of its kind in Thai history." The police arrested Anon and another Free Youth leader on 8 August.

On 10 August, there was a rally at Thammasat University, Rangsit campus in Pathum Thani Province named "ธรรมศาสตร์จะไม่ทน." (lit. Thammasat will not tolerate.) Totaling about 3,000 people, it employed the slogan "We don't want reforms; we want revolution." Among the events was the declaration of ten demands to reform the monarchy. According to AP, the protesters at the site had mixed reaction to the demands.

On 14 August, BBC Thai reported that there had been protests associated with Free Youth in 49 provinces, while in 11 provinces saw activism associated with pro-establishment groups. In the same day, student activist Parit “Penguin” Chiwarak was arrested, leading to calls from Human Rights Watch to immediately release him and drop all charges against all activists.

On 16 August, a large gathering which around 20,000–25,000 people joined was held at the Democracy Monument and reiterated calls for a revised constitution and reforms to the monarchy.

On 20 August, two large-scale student protests of approximately 1,000 people each were held in Nakhon Ratchasima and Khon Kaen. Activists announced a “major rally” planned on 19 September 2020, at Thammasat University’s Tha Prachan campus.

Formal submission of demands and responses

Main article: Timeline of the 2020 Thai protests (September 2020)

On 26 August, student groups presented submissions, including the 10 demands, to the House of Representatives. Subsequently, the opposition and the coalition submitted constitutional amendment motions, including to amend the clause governing the constitution amendment procedure.

On 27–28 August, approximately 15,000 people gathered at 14 October Memorial for the first overnight protest, organized by the 'We are Friends' group. On 28 August, as 15 anti-government activists from the 18 July rally arrived to face charges.

The occupation of Sanam Luang by demonstrators on 19 September 2020.

In a rally described as one of the largest protests in years, on 19 September, protesters gathered at Thammasat University, then moved to Sanam Luang in the afternoon and stayed overnight there, with attendance estimated at anywhere between 20,000 and 100,000, On 20 September, the protesters installed a plaque symbolizing the now-missing Khana Ratsadon plaque at Sanam Luang. The protesters submitted their demands to the President of the Privy Council via the chief of the Metropolitan Police Bureau before dispersing. There were no reports of violence; protest leader Parit Chiwarak called for a general strike on 14 October to commemorate the 1973 Thai popular uprising. The plaque was removed less than 24 hours after it was installed; however, it has since proliferated as an online meme. Some international media described the rally as an open challenge to Vajiralongkorn.

On 24 September, Parliament voted to set up a study committee, effectively delaying a scheduled vote on constitutional amendment by at least a month. Discontent prompted #RepublicofThailand to trend first in the country's Twitter, with more than 700,000 retweets, the first mass public expression of republican sentiment in the country.

Strengthened emergency powers

Main article: Timeline of the 2020 Thai protests (October 2020)

The 15 October protest at the Ratchaprasong intersection.

After no major events for nearly a month, on 13 October, a small group of protesters gathered at Ratchadamnoen Avenue, to protest the passing of the king's motorcade, resulting in the detention of activists. The planned protest rally on 14 October began at Democracy Monument, with the objective of moving to Government House to demand the resignation of Prayut. They were met by "counter-protesters," who were trucked in using municipal vehicles, as well as right-wing groups, including the Thai Pakdee (Loyal Thais) and the Rubbish Collection Organization, who held their rallies. Later in the day, tens of thousands of protesters, some under the umbrella of "Khana Ratsadorn 2563", were largely peaceful, marked by some violent assaults on the protesters by pro-royalists, marched to Government House and set up camps around it. The protest coincided with a planned royal progression around the city. The royal motorcade passed a protester crowd, strayed from the announced route. Later that evening, Prayut ordered legal actions against the protesters for allegedly blocking the motorcade, but, according to Reuters, "none appeared to be trying to reach it". Anon accused the authorities of intentionally arranging the motorcade through the rally site. He gave an estimate of 200,000 participants before midnight.

On 15 October, the authorities declared a "severe" state of emergency in Bangkok from 04:00 local time and banned gatherings of five or more people. The protesters were cleared using riot police. In the process, police detained three protest leaders, and imposed a ban on sensitive media stories. During the day, troops were dispatched to guard Government House and Parliament, raising alarm from an opposition member of parliament (MP) of resembling pre-2014 coup days. A smaller planned occupation of at least 13,500 participants went ahead at the Ratchaprasong intersection, and more protesters were arrested. A legal aid group reported at least 51 people were arrested between 13 and 15 October.

Police using water cannons to disperse protesters at Pathum Wan Intersection on 16 October.

On 16 October, around 2,000 unarmed protesters, mostly teenagers, gathered at Pathum Wan Intersection, and two hours later were dispersed by the police. High-pressure water cannons with chemical-filled water and tear gas were used. The Commander of the Metropolitan Police reported at least 100 people were arrested. Protesters vowed to continue. The police defended their use of the chemicals and that they were following "international standards."

External videos
Assault of student protesters at Ramkhamhaeng University 21 October 2020, Twitter video

Protests then organized more online and held flash protests at numerous locations. There were protests almost daily from 17 to 24 October, even though they were faced with government-ordered shutdown of the capital's rapid transit systems. In a televised speech on 21 October, Prayut suggested that both sides reconcile their differences through the parliamentary process. On the same day, a group of royalist counter-protesters wearing yellow shirts assaulted the protesters at Ramkhamhaeng University, resulting in one injured student. The following day, Prayut revoked the severe emergency declaration, on the grounds that the severity of the situation had lessened.

Prayut scheduled an emergency parliamentary session for 26–27 October. Protesters, however, preferred that the government show good faith and resign before advocating for amendments. The non-voting sessions addressed none of the protesters' concerns. As a result, Prayut said that the government would present a Constitutional amendment bill and a committee to resolve the political conflict would be set up.

On 26 October, protesters marched to the German Embassy in Bangkok, petitioning the German government to investigate the King's activities in Germany, if he had exercising powers from German soil.

On 30 October, after the release of three protest leaders, the police from another province immediately detained them further, prompting the flash protest outside the police station where they were kept.

On 2 November, an unknown person threw a firecracker at a protest rally in Bangkok.

On 3 November, a demonstration was held at the Ministry of Digital Economy and Society to protest a block of Pornhub website, which was accused of trying to cover some sensitive royal images. On 7 November in Bangkok, over 1,000 members of the LGBT community and anti-government protesters gathered for a Pride Parade to request equal rights along with Prayut's resignation and monarchy reform.

Financing

The protests are financed by private donations, mainly from actress Intira Charoenpura and the K-pop fandom in Thailand — the latter alone donated over ฿3,600,000 (around US$115,399) on 18 October 2020. There have been attempts to prosecute the donors. A conspiracy theory accusing foreigners, including the United States government and American organisations such as Human Rights Watch and Netflix, of funding the protests has been voiced by the royalist group Thailand Vision and campaigners at pro-government rallies, leading the U.S. embassy in Bangkok to issue a formal statement of denial. Pro-monarchy demonstrators gathered at the embassy on 27 October, demanding that the United States end the "hybrid war" against Thailand.

Reactions

Main article: Reactions to the 2020 Thai protests

State response and arrests

File:Student protester hit by a tear gas.jpg

A student protester receiving first aid after being hit by chemicals on 16 October.

External videos
Arrest of student leader Parit Chiwarak on 14 August (3:09, in Thai), YouTube video.
Arrest of student leader Pai Daodin on 13 October (0:39), Youtube video.

An Isaan Record analysis found that the government response has included force and intimidation, arbitrary detention, arrests and changes, disinformation, the deployment of military Information and Operations units, media censorship, delaying tactics, obfuscation, support for pro-government groups, gaslighting, and negotiation, as well as mobile jamming devices. The Government Public Relations Department of Thailand released two propaganda YouTube videos attacking the protesters.

Prayut blamed the protesters for further damaging the country's economy. Key military personnel, such as General Apirat Kongsompong, the Commander-in-Chief of the Royal Thai Army, condemned the protesters, even accusing them of lése majesté, while the new Army commander Narongpan Jittkaewtae told the protesters to "reform yourselves first." Public Health Minister Anutin Charnvirakul, a notable politician from a junior coalition partner, expressed concern about implications for COVID-19 spread whilst signaling his own neutrality.

The authorities have intimidated protesters via the state academic system. The Thai authorities, referencing the Thammasat University Massacre and 1992 protests, ordered universities to prevent students from demanding monarchy reform and to compile lists of protest leaders. Some universities and schools responded by forbidding their staff and students to join the protests and by banning gatherings on their grounds, claiming COVID-19 concerns, while police issued warning letters. On 18 August, a Ministry of Education department allowed students to hold rallies in state schools. However, in late August, student groups reported that at least 109 schools had suppressed or intimidated political expression.

As of October 2020, at least 167 people were arrested, with charges including sedition; five were arrested without charges. In early August, watchdog organization iLaw reported at least 78 incidents of intimidation of protest sympathizers. In early September, the police summonsed the first schoolchild protester for violating the security laws. At least 63 protesters have been charged under the controversial and repeatedly extended COVID-19 emergency decree, in 17 cases, despite the government claiming it would not be employed in this way. The people in police custody are sometimes found injured.

The state has attempted to severely restrict online freedom of speech. On 24 August, in response to a Thai government order, Facebook blocked access in Thailand to the million-member main Facebook page critical of the monarchy, Royalist Marketplace. Facebook is challenging the order in the courts. The authorities attempted to block more than 2,200 websites ahead of the 19 September rally. Following the rally, a minister filed a complaint to prosecute Facebook, Twitter, and YouTube for allowing anti-government content, the first time the Computer Crimes Act has been used against foreign service providers. A Thai media provider was reported to be censoring a foreign news network reporting the protests.

A severe state of emergency was declared in Bangkok during 15–22 October, during which the police moved to ban or block anti-government or independent media, together with the Free Youth Facebook page, and seized books criticizing the monarchy. Ministry of Digital Economy and Society stated it intended to prosecute internet service providers and online platforms which allows prohibited content, and reported about 320,000 illegal messages. In response, several Thai press associations issued a joint statement opposing suppression of the media. The authorities also required foreign diplomats to obtain advance permission to observe protests. An extraordinary parliamentary session was held 26–27 October to attempt to resolve the political situation.

On 24 October, student activist leader Jatupat Boonpattararaksa was granted bail from Bangkok Remand Prison; he called for the unconditional release of fellow protesters.

Bangkok Metropolitan Administration lend its support to the counter-protesters by arranging them with trash trucks and mobile toilets.

The King's position

The King and the palace initially did not express any public opinion about the protests. In August, the Asia Times quoted a government official stating that the King was not bothered by the 'children's' protests, but an Al Jazeera article reported that the Thai monarchy has asked Thai media to censor mention of the ten demands.

On 16 October, a speech by Vajiralongkorn the day before was made public, stating: "Now it is understood that the country needs people who love the country and love the monarchy". On 24 October, a video of the King praising former PDRC leader and ex-monk Buddha Issara and another counter-protester who raised a picture of late King Bhumibol Adulyadej during a protest was posted to a royalist Facebook group; royalists embraced it, while the protesters viewed the comment as a position statement, prompting the hashtag #23ตุลาตาสว่าง (23Oct Eyes Opened) to trend on the country's Twitter.

Patrick Jory, a senior lecturer in Southeast Asian history at the University of Queensland, described the unpredictable nature of the King, "his willingness to use violence," and that he may pressured Prayut to suppress the protesters. He made the first public comment in November: that he "love them [Thai people] all the same," and "Thailand is the land of compromise."

Support

Protesters in Bangkok holding an LGBT pride flag

In August, a Move Forward Party MP stated that some references to the monarchy in the protests were inconvenient truths that required attention. He received stark responses from Manager Online and General Apirat Kongsompong, who insisted that some protesters intended to overthrow the monarchy, or had fallen victim to third-party manipulators. In early September, the leader of the Pheu Thai Party, Sompong Amornwiwat, stated a motion from the opposition coalition to amend Article 256 was aligned with the demands of the protesters.

Despite threats to their careers, many Thai celebrities have publicly expressed support for the protesters. A group of 147 university faculty members has issued a statement saying the protesters' demand for monarchical reform did not violate the law. The Thai Academic Network for Civil Rights, another group of 358 scholars, has also expressed full support for the protesters. A physician was sacked for signing petition in support of the movement.

In August, UNICEF issued a statement invoking the Convention on the Rights of the Child that called for schools and learning institutions to be safe havens and forums for children's freedom of expression. Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights and Amnesty International recognized the peaceful nature of the rallies, and condemned police crackdowns. The Human Rights Watch Asia director stated, "Criminalizing peaceful protests and calls for political reform is a hallmark of authoritarian rule" and called for governments and the United Nations to condemn the repression of the protests and urge the release of protesters. Some international groups and individuals expressed their support for the movements, include Tuen Mun Community Network and Hong Kong student protesters, including activist Joshua Wong. Civil society groups in South Korea urged their government to stop exporting water cannons to Thailand. UN human rights experts, including Clément Nyaletsossi Voule, Special Rapporteur on the Right to Freedom of Peaceful Assembly and of Association, issued a statement urging the government to guarantee the fundamental rights of free speech and peaceful assembly and to remove the ban on peaceful protests.

In October, Khaosod English and Bangkok Post editorials called for Prayut to resign, but both did not press the demands to draft a new constitution and reform the monarchy.

Opposition

State-sponsored organized opposition to the protests emerged in August and included the accusation of a global conspiracy being funded or masterminded by a foreign government or NGOs. On 10 August, the Thai Move Institute released a diagram of an alleged 'people's revolution network' linking student protests to former FFP leader Thanathorn Juangroongruangkit and former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra. The police and right-wing groups targeted Thanatorn and his allies for being accused of masterminding the protests.

Rightist media and organizations quickly attacked the August demands for monarchy reform, stating that the call to reform the monarchy was an act of evil, causing disunity and undermining the monarchy, and accusing Pheu Thai and the former FFP of manipulating protesters. Most politicians expressed a negative reaction to the demands, including Sudarat Keyuraphan, an influential Pheu Thai politician. On social media platforms, user accounts, including ones coordinated by the ultra-royalist Rubbish Collection Organization, which has been characterized as fascist, attacked protesters, some going so far as to urging child rape. In mid-September, Thailand's Constitutional Court accepted a complaint of treason against the 10 Demands protest leaders. Right-wing groups and media quickly attacked the protesters from the royal motorcade incident on 14 October.

At least 103 cases of harassment of students have been reported, and protesting tactics have been condemned; some considered a protester's act of hurling paint at police officers to be violent. Opponents also find vulgar language used by protest leaders unacceptable.

Royalist and pro-government media often ran stories which portrayed counter-protesters as victims, or the protesters as agitating for violence.

Polls

A national Suan Dusit poll from 16 to 21 August of 197,029 people found that 59.1% stated the students were making demands as permitted in a democracy, 62.8% agreed with the demand for reform of the Constitution and 53.9% agreed that the Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha should "resign or dissolve parliament", while 59.5% agreed that the government should "stop intimidating" people. Overall support for the protests stood at 53.7%, with 41.2% opposed.

Analysis

Protestor tactics and demands

Protesters on 15 October at Ratchaprasong calling for reform and the release of their friends.

Some commentators say demands for monarchy reform before have only been made by fringe groups, yet there is consensus that this protest is the first time such demands have been discussed publicly. The calls may drive away some sympathisers, but if the government cracks down on the protests as a consequence, it could bring more support to the movement. In mid-August, Atith Keating wrote that student protests lack a coherent strategy; they do not have plans beyond day-to-day demonstrations. This may be caused by the lack of a centralised structure, as in the peak of student movements in the 1970s. Student protesters are seen as being more creative, networked, and technologically savvy than the government and as having time on their side, as well as being the targets of disproportionate persecution that could sway public opinion, with at least a chance of causing the government to collapse provided the anti-monarchy element does not provoke a backlash. One Bangkok Post columnist wrote that republican sentiment has never been stronger in Thailand, while another opined that the 19 September protest was a critical juncture for the movement, with the protesters needing to broaden their agenda again to wider societal reforms if it were to succeed. A political scientist professor opined that an absence of protest leaders increased the risk of the movement getting out of control and could further no strategic initiatives.

The protest movement's utilization of coordinated protest techniques, communications technology, memes, music and social media has contrasted with the traditional techniques of police battalions, state propaganda, and water cannon of Prayut's government. For instance, after the police crackdown on 16 October, the hashtag #WhatsHappeningInThailand was increasingly employed, with content published in English, Chinese, Indonesian, Japanese, and Korean, across various social media platforms, to attract global attention to the situation in the country.

In some rallies, most of the participants were women, including schoolgirls protesting for social change and against gender inequality and patriarchy.

After the arrest of many of Thai protest leaders, activists in Thailand changed their tactics following their counterparts in Hong Kong. The leaderless activists claimed themselves to be all leaders and held up umbrellas to shield themselves from the tear gas cans fired at them by authorities, just as their counterparts in Hong Kong.

Possibility of a coup

By September, protester pressure meant speculation about the possibility of a Thai military coup against Prayut increased, as his administration began to be viewed as increasingly untenable, and rumours became rife when a tank was spotted in the streets; the military stated, as is usual on such occasions, that this was part of a previously scheduled military exercise. However, this does not guarantee a more receptive audience to the protesters' demands as a palace-backed military faction is in ascendance. BBC correspondent Jonathan Head wrote that the authorities could end their tolerance of the protests since the King had returned to Thailand and might actively pursue those who they believed to fund the protesters.

Sonthi Limthongkul, former People's Alliance for Democracy leader, called for an intervention by the military, even though the Prime Minister and army commander dismissed its possibility.

See also

• Death of Wichian Klanprasert
• Education for Liberation of Siam
• Milk Tea Alliance, online democratic movement made up of netizens from Hong Kong, Taiwan, and Thailand
• Thai political crisis

External links

• "From Hamtaro to Drag Queen: Pop Cultures as the New Means for Thai Political Movement". workpointTODAY. 27 July 2020. Retrieved 17 August 2020.
• "Deep fears within the media surface as people openly discuss the monarchy". Prachatai English. Retrieved 17 August 2020.
• Propaganda videos by Government Public Relations Department of Thailand.
  • รักจากแม่ รักบริสุทธิ์ (lit. Love from mothers: pure love)
  • ธงชาติ (lit. National flag)