These photos were taken by regular New Mandala commentator, Srithanonchai, at anti-junta protests in Bangkok in June 2007. For those of us who are not in Thailand right now they provide a helpful illustration of the growing anti-government protests.
Image 1: At Democracy Monument
Image 2: On the move
Image 3: Sitting down
Image 4: Watching Thaksin
Image 5: Taking cover
Thanks to Srithanonchai for passing along this selection of great images of Bangkok in June.
8 responses so far ↓
1 Maylee Thavat // Jun 18, 2007 at 11:45 pm
It’s a very sad state of affairs isn’t it. My Thai teacher here in Bangkok tells me she won’t vote this year because they have removed her choice. She also tells me however that she believes that the sufficiency economy is a good idea. Her interpretation is that sufficiency economy means that Thai people should be more like Farangs and not buy expensive mobile phones because even rich Farangs don’t necessarily have flashy things. I thought this was an interesting take on it, many of her teaching colleagues appear to take this view too. I think it is important to remember that however clear cut and politically aligned these ideas may seem to outsiders, many here do not see any inherent contradiction between supporting the so-called “sufficiency economy” and being pro-Thaksin
2 Siribueng // Jun 19, 2007 at 5:32 pm
Srithanonchai, thank you for capturing us the atmosphere of the protest. You did a great job! Please take care when you go there to observe again the next time. I am sure you will be there, won’t you?
3 nganadeeleg // Jun 19, 2007 at 7:28 pm
Those “dictators” can’t even get Pojaman to turn up to testify to the ASC (she’s now seeking her third delay – this time she’s aking for another 1 month delay).
http://www.nationmultimedia.com/2007/06/19/headlines/headlines_30037259.php
Also looks like the DSI has issued the first actual charges today, and both Mr & Mrs will have to attend later this month:
http://www.nationmultimedia.com/2007/06/19/headlines/headlines_30037267.php
I haven’t studied the case/charges, but it looks like things might liven up soon.
4 polo // Jun 21, 2007 at 12:13 am
Can we truly say they are “growing” anti government protests?
5 A THAI DUDE // Jun 21, 2007 at 8:55 pm
I don’t think this movement can be ’successful’ as the details now are quite different from the latest May incident. Thai people eventually don’t prefer to see ‘unrest’ or ‘disturbing’ situation.
The movement has to show that it’s the ‘truly’ pro-democracy.
6 Republican // Jun 23, 2007 at 5:53 pm
Further to Jakraphop’s statement in The Nation last week that “this is a war against the aristocracy”:
There was an interesting development in the Sanam Luang protests last night, reported by Somsak on the Fa Dio Kan (http://www.sameskybooks.org/webboard/show.php?Category=sameskybooks&No=15689 ; the audio file can be downloaded from here) and Prachatai webboards (http://www.prachatai.com/webboard/topic.php?id=272243), and also referred to obliquely in the news I’ve looked at today, Thai Rath, Matichon. Jakraphop released a “secret tape” of conversations of senior kha ratchakans which appear to directly implicate the king in the annulment of the April 2006 elections won by Thai Rak Thai.
One way of reading this is that Thai Rak Thai and its allies now appear to be sending a blunt message to the Palace: either it agrees to negotiate or it can expect more public disclosures – of its frequent political interventions and especially its role in the coup, its manipulation of the judiciary, and presumably also its financial dealings in the Crown Property Bureau (for those interested the latest issue of Fa Dio Kan journal just out focusses in detail on the CPB – and there are already reports that the issue has already been banned from being displayed in certain bookshops). One would expect that there is much more incriminating evidence that Thai Rak Thai and the other opponents of the CNS have up their sleeves, and that they are ready to release if the Palace and the CNS remain incalcitrant. Even after the coup, the dissolution of Thai Rak Thai, the seizure of Thaksin’s assets, and the intimdation of his supporters, my sense is that this game has only just begun. As I mentioned in an earlier post, the objective is the permanent political neutralization of the monarchy, which is the only way that the military and bureaucracy can be defeated as political forces in Thailand.
These disclosures may (or may not) be able to be dealt with by the CNS in Thailand given the censorship regime the dictatorship has in place, but they may raise more questions outside Thailand. It’s one thing for the international community to tolerate a military regime, but if that regime is clearly seen as purely a puppet for the monarchy’s own political interests then this will make things much more difficult for the king.
7 Srithanonchai // Jun 24, 2007 at 2:43 pm
Sawarin: You are probably right. More than the other members of the DAAD, Jakrabhop seems to have radicalized and talked himself into a corner.
8 Chat // Jul 25, 2007 at 2:23 pm
Yes, these are photos of anti-junta protests in Bangkok. But what the photos don’t show is the master-mind behind the protests, his “hired henchmen” who have caused millions of Baht worth of damage to the country. The TRT cronies have shown where their allegiance lie and it is not with the country, or the safety of the people.
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