To Whom It May Concern,
As is known, protests erupted this week in Thailand. According to available sources, the protests participated by several hundred demonstrators took place against the government of Thailand and the Bio-Circular Green economy model policy and related regulations at Lan Kon Muang Square near the 2022 Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit venue in Bangkok leading to the firing of bullets and several arrests by law enforcing officials. Though the main demands of the latest protest are the cancelation of the BCG model policy that can affect the country’s resources and the stepping down of Thai Prime Minister Prayut Chan-Ocha, there are other demands including the abolition of Thailand’s lese majeste law, dissolution of the parliament and the release of political prisoners.
It is pertinent to note that protesters probably aimed at drawing international attention during the APEC Summit. But the protest is rendered as a result of the pro-democracy movement, which started in 2020 against the government but lost rigor due to the suppression of the movement with the use of draconian laws. Notably, the protesters do not consider the Prime Minister who took power through a military coup in 2014 and overstayed the term limit, as the legitimate authority to represent Thailand and hold the APEC Summit and demonstrated against the regime several times. Protests were carried out several times against Thailand’s lese majeste law that protects the country’s monarch (king, queen, heir-apparent, heir-presumptive, or regent). Moreover, there is anger among protesters against the government’s suppression of dissidents.
Notably, the government has been suppressing dissidents for years and many protest leaders are facing charges of sedition. Protests were mostly peaceful, though there were exceptions including the protest in 2009 when protesters broke out into the conference area of the Asean summit at Thailand’s seaside town of Pattaya leading to the end of the summit in chaos and forcing a few of the regional leaders to flee the venue via helicopters. Over the weeks, protests have been taking place in Bangkok and other provinces and there can be more protests until the next election in 2023, even if the protest movement appeared to be weaker recently. Moreover, there is a possibility of the prosecution of more dissidents by the government.
But it is desired that the demands of protesters that are reasonable including the ending of suppression of dissidents are heeded by the concerned authorities. No doubt, everyone has the right to protest against the government in a peaceful manner if there is any wrong decision or action that is harmful. Moreover, the protesters deserve to remain unhurt by law-enforcement agencies during peaceful demonstrations. It is further desired that the Thai government provides the scope of peaceful demonstrations. In this respect, peaceful demonstrations should not be cracked down with force. Moreover, the government needs to use non-lethal means for controlling crowds.
Amir M Sayem
Chief Editor
Dhaka Opinion Magazine
NB: Since Dhaka Opinion Magazine is an opinion-only magazine, it neither publishes news nor does it collect information from direct sources. But the magazine publishes Letters From The Editor based on published and broadcast sources, the observation of the Chief Editor and Publishing Editor and problems reported by any party/group/person. The magazine may verify, if needed, any information provided as a part of the problem(s) for its Letters From The Editor.
