Political protests and arrests in Thailand over the past two weeks look ominously similar to events in the 1970s that triggered terrible violence.
Despite the corona virus pandemic and Thailand’s relative success in handling it, growing protests against the government of Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-ocha have heightened political tensions.
The wave of anti-government protests, many held on school and university campuses around the country, called for a new constitution, the resignation of the prime minister, an end to police intimidation and new elections. The protests indicate growing anger against the government of the former army commander who seized power in a 2014 coup and continued in office via an election last year. That election followed constitutional measures and election laws passed while Prayuth ruled by decree that virtually ensured his continued grip on power.
Anti-government protesters gather at Bangkok’s Democracy Monument to call for a new constitution in 2020.
Many young voters were dismayed by the legal maneuvers that led to the dissolution of a popular opposition party and the banning from politics of its charismatic young leader.
Prayuth’s failure to deal effectively with corruption scandals and severe economic problems, due in part to the pandemic, has weakened the government. It is unclear whether a cabinet reshuffle this week that sidelined experienced economic ministers will boost the sagging economy.
Government supporters countered the protests with a small demonstration on Thursday that claimed the pro-democracy movement opposed the country’s constitutional monarchy. Singing nationalist songs and chanting “Long live the King,” the demonstrators held signs calling for the protection of the monarchy. The rally was organized by a group called “Vocational School Students Protecting the Nation.”
Apparently fearful that the anti-government demonstrations would grow, the police Friday arrested two prominent protest leaders and have issued warrants for the arrests of others. Those arrested have been charged with sedition and defying an emergency decree the government insists is needed to combat the corona virus. Critics have charged that the decree was extended this month despite the lack of locally spread infections for more than two months so that it could be used as a weapon against the protesters.
On Saturday, approximately 800 demonstrators gathered in Bangkok to denounce the arrests. Police observing the demonstration retreated after chants for them to leave.
The protests have been peaceful and police have refrained from violent measures to break up the gatherings. The arrests, the emotional allegations of opposition to the monarchy and the involvement of vocational students, however, suggest ominous parallels with the past.
In October 1973, students and democracy advocates began protests against the government of another coup leader who made himself prime minister, Gen. Thanom Kittikachorn. The relatively small and peaceful protests demanded a democratic constitution. The Thanom government responded by arresting the protest leaders. The arrests aroused long-suppressed anger and the protests grew to number some 400,000. Their demands expanded to include resignation of the government and new elections.
Attempts to disperse the crowd led to violent clashes with troops and police that left at least 100 people dead. Army units outside of Bangkok refused to obey government orders to suppress the uprising and, after the intervention of King Bhumibol Adulyadej, the three top government leaders fled the country.
Anti-government protesters at the Democracy Monument calling for a new constitution in 1973.
Unfortunately, however, the collapse of the military dictatorship, a new constitution and democratic elections did not lead to peace. Right-wing groups used fears of communism and supposed threats to the monarchy to arouse emotions leading to the assassinations of farmer leaders and leftist politicians. Vocational students organized by elements of the military were active in the conflict.
On October 6, 1976, vocational students, right-wing groups and police, incited by a faked insult to the monarchy, launched an attack on student demonstrators at Thammasat University, murdering at least 46 people. That violence paved the way for a military coup against the elected government and the arrests of hundreds more activists.
Clearly no one wants to repeat this ugly history, but with new protests scheduled for August 16, all sides will have to be careful not to ignite the emotions and violence that tore Thailand apart in the ‘70s. The Prayuth regime, which initially seized power claiming the need to restore political peace, has a special responsibility to show patience, flexibility and respect for democratic rights.