Dissatisfaction with junta is growing
Six months after the coup, dissatisfaction with the military's takeover of power has begun to grow. The junta treats critics as enemies and that attitude does more harm than good to reforms and the reconciliation process, political observers warn.
Yesterday, the army detained three students at the Scala and Siam Paragon movie theaters The Hunger Games made a three-finger gesture in protest against the coup. They were released after questioning.
[Bangkok Post is making a mess again, because the newspaper wrote yesterday that the film would not be shown in Scala.]
On Wednesday, the army intervened in Khon Kaen and in Bangkok at the Democracy Monument. In Khon Kaen, five students made the forbidden gesture during a visit by Prime Minister Prayut to the provincial capital.
Under pressure from their families, two signed a declaration that they would refrain from any further activities against the army. The three others refused, but they were also released. The five received support from eleven students in Bangkok, but the army also put an end to that protest.
Surichai Wun'Gaeo, director of Chulalongkorn University's Center for Peace and Conflict Studies, said the government should loosen the reins. The ban on freedom of expression hinders reform and reconciliation.
'Commitment is important for change. It is time to create an environment conducive to elections. […] There are many issues that people have grievances about. The government must be more open-minded and mature enough to regain the confidence of the people.'
Somphan Techa-athik, lecturer at Khon Kaen University: 'This is a period of transition to democracy. Those who have other ideas should not be treated as enemies. The military government must provide space for people to express their opinions.'
Other learned gentlemen warn that resistance will increase if the government continues to clamp down on protests. Or the resistance will move to social media, which will make it much more difficult to control.
Deputy Prime Minister Prawit Wongsuwon is not concerned about the current anti-coup movement. “The majority of people in the country understand what the authorities are doing. […] Give us a year. When the Reform Council is ready, the country will have elections.'
(Source: Bangkok Post, 21 November 2014)
General Prawit Wongsuwon, defense minister and member of the NCPO (the junta) has said that all Thais have Freedom of Thought, according to Khao Sod English. It's nice to know that the junta allows that! We just can't express those thoughts, that's all, he added.
Although, the junta prices are allowed again. All very confusing.
Students who are released despite carrying out prohibited actions, academics and professors who are free to express their opinions, political observers who express criticism, a deputy prime minister who responds nicely to criticism, all this during a state of siege in a Kingdom ruled by a military junta that came to power through a coup.
That can only be Thailand.
If I can count correctly, I get 19 students demonstrating against the junta.
Could it be the editor has a little bit of an advantage?
@ henry The headline not only relates to the demonstrating students, but also to the critical tone of Thai newspapers (which Tino Kuis reports to me) and Bangkok Post. The adoration for the junta is beginning to wane. Also read Wasant Techawongtam's column in today's Bangkok Post. If you don't have the newspaper, see the website. The headline reads: Stifling public discourse will only provoke dissent.
Dick; thanks for the piece about the junta. As you know, I'm not "Thaksin, er" and I already suspected that a junta should only be a temporary measure. Maybe Yingluck will come back again, if she "comes with a little water"? There was then "rest in the tent"! And, come on, she has also done some good things for “Our Country”?
William Schevenin…