Thailand’s democracy protests are dwindling
But public displeasure with the government has not dissipated
LAST SUMMER, despite the tropical heat and humidity, more than 10,000 mostly young protesters paraded repeatedly through central Bangkok. The protests had a carnival atmosphere. Students dressed as Harry Potter, the better to vanquish He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named (King Maha Vajiralongkorn); held aloft giant yellow ducks (a symbol popular with democracy activists around the world); and flashed the three-fingered salute inspired by “The Hunger Games”, a series of books and films about resistance to tyranny. The protesters had three demands: an end to the government of Prayuth Chan-ocha, the coup-leading general who has installed himself as prime minister; the adoption of a new constitution to replace the one drawn up by the army; and a reduction in the powers of the monarchy.
This article appeared in the Asia section of the print edition under the headline “Strength without numbers”
Asia April 10th 2021
- India is recording more cases of covid-19 than any other country
- Bhutan vaccinated almost all adults against covid-19 in a week
- China tries to nick another speck in the sea from the Philippines
- Another species harmed by climate change: Japanese poets
- Thailand’s democracy protests are dwindling
- Pakistan’s generals are ever more involved in running the country
- Asia’s air bridges and travel bubbles will expand only slowly
From the April 10th 2021 edition
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