Thailand’s continuous cycle of protests over the past decades shows no signs of ending

The overall impression that many outsiders have of Thailand as an idyllic, sunshine-filled tourist destination, complete with beautiful beaches, pristine reefs and a vibrant nightlife, is far from the truth. Visitors over the past decades have often noticed protestors, usually identified by the colour of their shirts, who have championed various political goals, sometimes opposing the Government, sometimes supporting it and at other times standing up for the Thai monarchy and what not. Some protests became so volatile and violent that normal life and tourism, the lifeblood of Thailand, was impacted. However, the current movement for democracy has taken on a completely new hue because the protestors, who have no overall leader, are not only asking for the removal of the current military oligarchy that runs the country but are also demanding monarchical reforms. Thailand is famous for its lese majeste laws, yet there appears to be significant anger against the actions of the new king, Maha Vajiralongkorn, who succeeded his father late King Bhumibol Adulyadej in 2017.

Although the past 15 years have been defined by political protests, events took an unusual turn in August, when a few students at a rally aired unprecedented criticism of the monarchy. The speakers boldly criticised the wealth accumulated by King Vajiralongkorn, his influence and also the fact that he spends much of his time in Germany. Among their calls were a greater oversight of royal budgets and an end to the practice of endorsing military coups by Thai monarchs. Shorn of the significant tourist income, thanks to the Coronavirus — although Thailand and the rest of South-East Asia are exemplars in managing the pandemic — the protestors have gained a lot of support from the youth, many of whom are jobless. The willingness by the military to suspend any “threat” from political parties it feels will strip it of its importance is further fuelling the anger. Will the protestors succeed? That depends on how much change the old Siamese Kingdom is willing to accept. Some of the demands are rather strong but it is important that proper democracy is restored in Thailand and that the monarch deals with some of the issues raised by his subjects, many of which stem from the high levels of secrecy that surround the palace and stories about the colourful past life of the king.