Student protests in Thailand

[Lost]

That didn't take long?

Edit: post removed

[Lev]

Do we have to say it again? Be VERY careful what you post here!!!

PLEASE do not post anything relating to the monarchy from social media. In fact, refrain from posting anything at all from social media and stick to reputable news sources on this thread.

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[dtaai-maai]

An interesting, broader look at pro-democracy protests in South(east) Asia: The Milk Tea Alliance

https://www.theatlantic.com/internation ... obal-en-GB

[buksida]

This is a very good article explaining the wider issues over the past six years (a good read for those who want to know why the students are protesting).

Prayut is a symptom not the disease that plagues Thai democracy; both must go
It was supposed to be another good coup. Prayut Chan-o-cha and his band of Royal Thai Army loyalists promised to return “happiness to the people,” or at least that is how it was advertised. And sadly, some took the bait. A junta event that featured live music, free medical exams, and opportunities to have selfies taken with Thai soldiers drew a fairly large crowd.

The National Council for Peace and Order (NCPO) declared it was absolutely necessary to take power from the caretaker Yingluck government in order to resolve the political crisis that had befallen the country in the months prior to the May 2014 coup d’état.

But it was all a lie.

Full story: https://www.thaienquirer.com/19837/opin ... h-must-go/

The problem now is that even if Prayuth resigns, he'll be replaced by another junta mouthpiece such as Prawit. The military senate also needs disbanding and the entire constitution needs reverting back to when opposition political parties were allowed to run and freely campaign without state persecution. This is the 'reform' they're asking for.

[buksida]

Foundations starting to crack?

State of emergency ends in Bangkok
Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha has revoked his state of severe emergency declaration in Bangkok, and related orders, effective from noon on Thursday, saying the violence that prompted it is over.

The announcement was published in the Royal Gazette.

It said the state of emergency declarations were issued on Oct 15 and 16 to stop offences against the royal institution and unrest. The declarations had been set to be valid until Nov 13.

On Thursday Gen Prayut said that the violent situation had ended and government officials were able to enforce relevant laws to solve problems.

Therefore, he had revoked the state of emergency declarations and related announcements, requirements and orders, effective from noon.

https://www.bangkokpost.com/thailand/po ... in-bangkok

The only violence was instigated by the police themselves.

[jumusman]

Question to the protesters: How will you life be different/better if the PM steps down? I would also ask any of them to define Democracy.

Democracy. Something they DON'T have now. That's quite easy for them to understand and is part of the reason they are out protesting.

[jumusman]

Question to the protesters: How will you life be different/better if the PM steps down?

Well they wouldn't face arrest for protesting and martial law will end. That's a good start.

OK. Then they'd have less to protest about but my question remains: How will their lives be different or better.
Thus far they have not presented any plan to improve education and aside from removing lese majesty laws, how the constitution should change and how that would benefit everyone. so far, all I've heard is that the PM should step down, the monarchy should be abolished and education should be "improved." As far as I can tell, the protesters are the only people who want these changes. The majority don't. What am I not seeing?

"As far as I can tell, the protesters are the only people who want these changes."

Really... did you take a survey of all Thais ? What a ridiculous statement.

[HHTel]

Students do not want to abolish the monarchy. Where did that come from?

They want reform but certainly not abolishing the monarchy.

[Houdi]

Well they wouldn't face arrest for protesting and martial law will end. That's a good start.

OK. Then they'd have less to protest about but my question remains: How will their lives be different or better.
Thus far they have not presented any plan to improve education and aside from removing lese majesty laws, how the constitution should change and how that would benefit everyone. so far, all I've heard is that the PM should step down, the monarchy should be abolished and education should be "improved." As far as I can tell, the protesters are the only people who want these changes. The majority don't. What am I not seeing?

"As far as I can tell, the protesters are the only people who want these changes."

Really... did you take a survey of all Thais ? What a ridiculous statement.

Agree with you. His posts are indeed ridiculous. Probably better not to respond at all.

[buksida]

There are plenty of news sources out there for those genuinely interested in the protests, a lot of them are overseas and would be illegal to re-post here.

But these outlets locally have been on the ball so far (and they haven't been blocked yet):

https://www.thaienquirer.com/
https://www.khaosodenglish.com/

[europtimiste]

Read the article on Bangkok post today: History not on side of Prayut.

[nanyang]

Read the article on Bangkok post today: History not on side of Prayut.

An excellent article.
Two billion baht is a fair 'chunk of change'!

[europtimiste]

Read the article on Bangkok post today: History not on side of Prayut.

An excellent article.
Two billion baht is a fair 'chunk of change'!

Two billion without corruption and a Gen. at the senate with a monthly salary of 100000 for not being there. What a wonderful government.

[buksida]

What if the removal of the emergency decree wasn’t the government backing down but mobilizing royalist forces
Here is a scary thought.

The severe state of emergency decree was lifted not because Prime Minister Prayut Chan-ocha’s wanted to back down.

It was actually the first step to revitalize the People’s Democratic Reform Committee (PDRC) and mobilize extreme royalist groups against the student-led pro-democracy movement.

Lifting the decree (unwarranted in the first place} while refusing to let go of prominent protest leaders isn’t taking a step back. It is stalling.

And why have an emergency parliament session if we are not going to talk about the amendments of the charter?

If the special session is only meant for the government to defend its decision to use unnecessary force on peaceful protestors then forget about having it to begin with.

The deadline for him to resign is this weekend and we all know that he is not going to do that, he already said so.

He spent a decade to take control over the army, the entire military, the police, independent institutions such as the Election Commission and the kangaroo court, the junta-appointed senate, the pro-military party leading the current ruling coalition and he has his own junta-drafted constitution.

Why would he and Prawit Wongsuwan resign?

https://www.thaienquirer.com/19923/opin ... st-forces/

[migrant]

I was just saying this to Mrs m yesterday. With the royalists starting to mobilize watch out. If the cops start disappearing then I think there is definitely trouble