On August 16th, a massive anti-government and pro-democracy demonstration was held in Bangkok, Thailand. About 10,000 Thai citizens demonstrated in front of the democracy monument on the Ratchadamneon street, Bangkok, calling for democratic reform. Participants in the protest called for a revision of the military constitution, the dissolution of parliament and the resignation of the prime minister, and a ban on the suppression of anti-government figures.

           Thai prime minister, Prayut Chan-O-Cha, took power by a military coup in 2014. He made a constitutional amendment to allow the military to stay in power for a long time, and as a result, he was re-elected in March 2019 with the support of the Senate, despite the victory of rebel forces in the House of Representatives. Also, in February, the current administration forcibly disbanded the opposition party through the Constitutional Court, and in June, an anti-government activist, Wanchalearm Satsaksit went missing. Crucially, in July, the “hit-and-run scandal” of rich Thai family sparked the protests. Vorayuth Yoovidhya, the grandson of the founder of energy drink “Redbull”, fled after a hit-and-run death on a police officer in 2012. However, Thai authorities have suspended the case for eight years and have not indicted him. With the clear problems with the military regime, Thai citizens are calling on the royal family for reform, as they have tolerated the current military forces. However, Thai authorities have arrested a large number of anti-government figures, showing no reflection of the public’s opinion. This is the reason why the protests led by young people in Thailand have been triggered.

           Pathomtida Chammingkwan (19, Student of Ubon Ratchathani University) said, “This government is doing everything for their own benefit. They do not listen to the publics’ voice. There is no right and freedom to claim the rights that people deserve. There is no “real” democracy, and the prime minister and the cabinet cannot manage the economy. Thailand has not developed since this government took over the country. Many people have been threatened, arrested, assaulted, abused, and murdered only for political differences. This government is the worst and deserves to resign and take legal action. The most important thing that must be changed is monarchy. It must be under the democratic constitutional.”