A movement by young students under the umbrella of Free Youth and the Students Union of Thailand appears to have gained steam. A series of "flash mob" rallies have taken place in Bangkok and the provinces almost on a daily basis.
With creative campaigns, the students have attracted media attention and gained space. One vivid campaign a week ago saw hundreds of young protesters marching around the Democracy Monument while singing a parody adapted from a theme song for Hamtaro -- a popular Japanese anime character, using anti-government lyrics, such as "tax is the most delicious thing" and "House dissolution," reflecting their resentment with corruption and the government's dissatisfying performance.
Later on, supporters of LGBT rights raised rainbow flags at the spot, while chanting for the main cause they champion: democracy. Another rally with the Harry Potter theme is to take place at the Democracy Monument this evening. The young protesters have already revealed their slogans of the day: "The wizards who cherish democracy" to cast a spell on the dark power of "He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named".
A plain yet powerful campaign was held on Friday at Siam Discovery skywalk, featuring a small group of college students holding large sheets of paper. All were blank. They stood still for around 10 minutes before dispersing. The blankness signifies their move has no hidden agenda, nor are there any shadow, powerful people behind them as alleged by those in power.
Beyond the fun and colourful campaign, the student activists are serious with their demands: House dissolution, stop intimidating, and charter amendment. Even without clear leadership, the students protesters have managed to maintain calm and order.
Unfortunately, the state has yet to respond constructively to the movement. It pays no serious attention to the demands. Even the most simple demand that the state stop intimidating them is blatantly ignored. Several activists complained they have been followed by plainclothes officers. Some took their photographs, and even asked for their names and ID. One protester reported last week that an officer visited her condo in Samut Prakan, and asked the staff to provide CCTV footage in an attempt to "collect evidence" of individuals joining a political rally.
This is a sharp contrast from what Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha said when he insisted on the need for an extension of the emergency decree for another month, stressing the special law would be used to contain Covid-19 rather being used for politically reasons. He said the law would not be used against the students.
Yet the police said otherwise. A senior police officer staunchly insisted police would charge anyone involved in political activities during the month of July for breaching the contentious decree. Isn't that hypocritical?
Worse, rightwing hardliner Maj Gen Rienthong Nanna, director of Mongkutwattana Hospital who is known for his "rubbish collection" project, came up with a counter-rally campaign, vowing to "end the youth's future." In his FB post, he "recruited volunteers" who would infiltrate the student rallies, taking pictures clear enough to identify them, and send those photos to him. He planned to make a list and forward it to government agencies and companies, to make sure the students do not get jobs, or scholarships.
Some politicians tried to discredit the activists by projecting them as irresponsible kids. Samart Jenchaijitarawanich, MP from the ruling Palang Pracharath party, put a satirical post on his Facebook, saying, "if you can't help your mother washing dishes, don't demand anything."
But indeed what's wrong with the youngsters confronting elders with harsh questions about the coup and nepotism, about the unfair charter and election fraud, or the dubious justice system that allows a few rich to get away with crime while it's the poor who end up jailed? Or about the military-sponsored charter that fails to secure a healthy checks and balances system?
What's wrong with them wishing for a just and equal society? Why are those who confront us with the country's chronic problems like corruption branded as "those who hate their own nation?" The themes and symbols they use in the rallies like the three-finger salute adopted from the TV series the Hunger Games, show the extent of the connection between young people, borderless cultures, and universal values like human rights and democracy.
It's natural that those values have changed and evolved over time. Holding on to old, archaic values, and resisting changes may on the surface make our society appear peaceful. But such peace will lead us to nowhere. In the long run, problems like social disparity may snowball into a crisis.