Thai politics is not easily overcoming the crisis.
(Baonghean.vn) - Thousands of people have been protesting in Bangkok since July, calling for royal reforms to reduce the king's power, demanding the Prime Minister's resignation, constitutional reform, and elections. This wave of protests will only end when these demands are met, but this is proving difficult, as the government shows no signs of compromise.
An explosion of pent-up resentment.
Public discussion aboutmonarchyIt has long been a taboo in Thailand, and insulting senior members of the royal family can result in a prison sentence of up to 15 years. However, unlike previous large-scale protests that led to repression or coups, this protest was aimed directly at the royal family.
This time, in particular, the political system in Thailand is facing a bigger problem: The student-led protest movement is not demanding power, but rather a fundamental change to the political system, which has seen around 20 military coups since 1932. The students have broken long-standing taboos, not hesitating to criticize the monarchy – the foundational force holding the current system together.
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| Thousands of people participated in pro-democracy protests in Thailand. Photo: Getty |
Despite the government's emergency ban on large gatherings and threats of crackdown, thousands of protesters filled busy intersections in Bangkok and remained determined to continue their demonstrations.
The government could take stronger steps to quell the protests, raising fears of a brutal military crackdown similar to what Thailand witnessed in 1973, 1976, 1992, and 2010, especially as royalist groups clash with pro-democracy protesters. However, even with strong street suppression, authorities still need to find a more fundamental solution, such as suppressing discussions about the monarchy on social media and addressing pressing issues of inequality, corruption, and abuse of power—these are the sparks that ignite protests.
The protests were greatly fueled by sluggish growth, further exacerbated by the pandemic, which has plunged the Thai economy into its worst state ever, having derailed its two main pillars: tourism and trade.
Significantly, the economic difficulties have raised a bigger issue, which is...wealth inequalityDeeply insightful. The World Bank said in March that the number of people in Thailand living in poverty has increased in recent years. Meanwhile, a study published last year by the Institute for Research of the Bank of Thailand showed that about 36% of business ownership is concentrated in the hands of just 500 people.
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| A crowd of Thai people protest demanding democracy and justice. Photo: AFP |
Therefore, the wealth and extravagance of the royal family in particular became a source of outrage. Protesters demanded tighter controls on royal assets, including large real estate properties in central Bangkok and stakes in Thailand's largest public companies. The protesters also increased scrutiny of public funds used for the king's lifestyle.King Maha VajiralongkornHaving ascended to the throne four years ago, ruling the country from Europe, indulging in lavish spending and giving unwavering support to the prime minister, he has disappointed the people.
Young people are particularly drawn to the protest movement because they don't see a viable economic future and are genuinely resentful of how the country is run by a Cold War-era political system that grants significant power to the military, the monarchy, and the judiciary.
"If you ask who is supporting them, the answer is grievance. Ending these grievances requires some concessions, changes, and reforms. However, we don't see that; we only see the opposite."
No sign of compromise.
Although the protesters were not supported by any specific political group, pro-democracy factions in Parliament condemned the moves to suppress the demonstrators. Pheu Thai, the largest opposition party, called on the government to immediately lift the state of emergency and release those arrested. Another opposition group also planned to bail out detained protesters.
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| Police forces participate in riot control in Bangkok. Photo: Getty |
Furthermore, opposition groups in Thailand are also working to rewrite the Constitution – one of the main demands of the protesters, along with a demand for Prime Minister Prayuth's resignation, and a series of changes to the monarchy aimed at making it more accountable to the 69 million people of Thailand.
The government has said it is open to some changes to the Constitution, which was drafted by a military-appointed council to help Prayuth remain in power after last year's election. But the majority coalition ofPrime Minister PrayuthThe government has delayed fulfilling that promise. Analysts note that this move has a long history of obstructing reform efforts aimed at empowering elected leaders, and they doubt the administration will once again delay until the current wave of anger subsides.
"The government could use promises of constitutional amendments and referendums as a way to buy time, until the protesters give up. In reality, however, it will bring about very little, if any, change."
Furthermore, Prime Minister Prayuth himself has stated that he will not resign and will lift the state of emergency before its expiration in 30 days “if the situation improves.” He has also avoided directly addressing demands related to the monarchy, including preventing the king from endorsing any coup and repealing laws prohibiting insults to the monarchy. Government officials have also criticized the protest movement, calling their actions “disrespectful to the monarchy” and demanding that such actions be stopped.
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| The very young female students confronted the police, holding up banners and symbols of protest. Photo: Bloomberg |
The wave of protests in Thailand is beginning to attract global attention. The issue of King Maha Vajiralongkorn's overseas residence is at the center of this focus. The student-led protest movement, which began in July, has consistently criticized or mocked the fact that the head of the royal family continues to govern the country despite living in Germany. German Foreign Minister Heiko Maas recently stated that King Maha Vajiralongkorn should not conduct political activities from a European country where he spends most of his time.
Many Thai political experts believe that Prime Minister Prayuth's government has yet to show a willingness to compromise, and inevitably, clashes are likely to continue in the coming period. The government may think that arresting a few people, detaining, or removing some leaders will suffice. But this doesn't seem to be the case with this wave of protests. The image of 15-year-old schoolgirls, in their uniforms, climbing over barricades to stand before the police – it's a sight never before seen in Thailand.
