Thailand: An Outsider's View on the Crisis Unfolding

Tomas Franco Tagra

Bangkok, Thailand - Thailand youth take to the streets as they continue their anti-government protests that have raged on since its not so humble beginnings which began in 2014, during the previous voting for the next prime minister. The protests are directed toward the current sitting Prime Minister, Prayut Chan-o-cha, a former general, whose tenure for the next half-decade sees him extend the power of the government towards the army and the country's monarchy. This has led most people to condemn this new legislation and continue the rising protests from the people themselves. General Prayuth, who was elected last 2019, has been in the forefront of Thai politics following the successful coup d 'état of the then elections last 2014, is now on the “hot seat” of protests following his change of plans wherein the government removed an opposition party early 2020, adding the widely disputed 2019 General Election, following the abduction of a government critic.

Tensions have flared up so much that the government has declared a state of emergency for the capital last Thursday. It was the day after the student-led protests against the traditional establishment happened, wherein they saw protestors mocking and heckling a royal motorcade. The official reason for the declaration for the state of emergency was that "certain groups of perpetrators intended to instigate an untoward incident and movement in the Bangkok area by way of various methods and via different channels, including obstructing the royal motorcade", said by King Maha Vajiralongkorn, who has been sitting King of Thailand since 2016. Thus, they are protected by a lèse majesté law under Section 112 of Thai Criminal Code that has been used to censor and silence critics in prison.

To fully understand the tension and the uneasiness of most Thailand people, we first need to rewind and look back at our starting point: In 2001, Former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra was elected as the Prime Minister of Thailand, bringing a plethora of his own economic and agricultural policies. Unfortunately, his term was regarded as one of the “most corrupt ridden years of the country”, with some speculating policy corruption, such as infrastructure and liberalization policies that abused the public’s interest. He would, later on, deny such statements made against him, saying "They just made up a beautiful term to use against me. There's no such thing in this government. Our policies only serve the interests of the majority of the people". In the years leading up to his resignation, a coup was made in 2006 to denounce his position as Prime Minister. After a failed attempt of owning the Football Club Liverpool, a major backlash began after military and police alike flocked to the streets to control chatter and protests, and with a New Year’s Eve bombing later, he was finally convicted and exiled himself to Dubai, still withholding over 100 million dollars outside Thailand. His tenure left a sour taste to most Thais until this day, awaiting his return from his self-exiling to be brought back to the country. His whole tenure is essential because this set the precedence for the current settings of today's political climate. Fast forward into a new decade, year 2014, the acting Prime Minister of the country was Thaksin's sibling, Yingluck Shinawatra. Much like her brother is met with criticism, this time, it is her negligence of duty and investigation that brought her doom. 2014 was an election year to vote for 500 seats in the Lower House Parliament that represented 375 constituencies. Sounds like a straightforward action with little to no interference between 2 opposing groups, right? Unfortunately, the elections that year were met with interference from two opposing parties with heavy interference, blocking voting sites from the people and generally mocking the government for its inaction against corruption. This is where the two opposing parties come to play: The red shirts, which devout and adore both Takshin and Yingluck for their policies especially to the agriculture and farming sector of the country; and the yellow shirts which have had enough Takshin's crony capitalism and commandeered the reform for a better Thailand. Both were named for wearing either red or yellow shirts to represent their party. In essence, the yellow shirts were successful in blocking most of the voting stations, forcing the Thailand government to revoke and withdraw the election. Among the many councils in both parties, one group in particular, called the National Council for Peace and Order (NCPO), with their leader: none other than current sitting Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha, who was expected to change the government system and reform the Thai policies, was brought forth to the people.

2020 doesn't seem to be Thailand's year either, because as discussed earlier, Thai youth have flocked through the streets to protest Prayut's policies, asking him to step down. However, these same people protesting are now met with even more at stake, as they are now being harassed with mandates such as the lese majeste law, as described above. For many, just like Tattep Ruangprapaikitseree, the call of silence, especially among citizens in criticizing the royal family, is beyond absurd. One of the many is the Free People Organizers, a group that has one of the loudest voices against social injustice. "In short, this government is ineffective," Tattep said, "The conditions of this country today are no different from 2014, the recent coup d'etat," he added. He is one of many voices yearning to be heard from the very same people Prayut promised to help during his election; however, Prayut seems to be tone-deaf to his people's woes. He hosts a weekly television show wherein he voices his opinions, what must be done for the country and bemoans the country's ills and offers baffling remedies. Activists like Tattep have only three demands from the government: 1. Stop the threatening against government critics; 2. Draft a new constitution which benefits the people; and lastly, 3. Dissolve the current government.

What is reasonably new in today's current protests is the fact that the majority of the people protesting are of younger ages. The protests of today are different because these are young students and citizens looking for a change from their government, as well as seeking democracy they deserve. To add more fuel to the already ignited bonfire that is the protests, one of the many complaints of the activists is the current sitting King, Maha Vajiralongkorn, son of former King, Bhumibol Adulyadej. He was the world's longest-reigning king monarch when he died at the age of 88. He is considered to be incompetent and unskilled as being a ruler, ahead of his coronation to his fourth wife, Queen Suthida. He appointed his mistress as a royal consort and then later stripped her position and titles, accusing her of elevating herself above the queen. Barred with many scandals, affairs, disowning his children, and promoting his adored miniature poodle named "Foo-Foo" to the rank of Air Chief Marshal. It gives us all a clear picture as to what Tattep and the rest of the activists are fighting for: a new and reformed, just and humane society, that establishes peace and equal rights to all of its citizens. It is a far cry to the world to show how much they want to be heard. But then, due to a faulty king, and a tone-deaf Prime Minister, it is challenging for the Thais to show themselves for who they are, as their government is continuously repressing them with broken promises of change and equality. The people of Thailand were led to believe a change for the better, only to be left in the dust, and repeating the same mistakes of the past.