Thailand's Latest Pro-Democracy Movement
2020-10-11
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1Forty-four years after a massacre of Thai students, Pojanee Theil returned to Thammasat University in Bangkok.
2"How could they have done this to other human beings?" asked the 64-year-old.
3"This country has gone nowhere since then."
4Pojanee was at the university on October 6, 1976, when royalist supporters and security forces killed many students.
5They and other students were protesting the return to Thailand of Army Field Marshall Thanom Kittikachorn.
6In 1976, protesters were calling for a new constitution.
7Now, students at Thammasat want a lot more.
8The university is once again the center of pro-democracy protests. Demonstrators are demanding big reforms.
9They want a change of government and a new constitution.
10Most importantly, they want to reform the country's monarchy.
11Up until now, Thailand has barred criticism of the ruling family.
12Sadness was felt in many areas earlier this week as Thais marked the anniversary of the 1976 massacre.
13It is considered one of the darkest days in Thailand's long struggle for democracy.
14Young people gathered for a day of memorials at the university.
15Many have taught themselves about the violent events of that time.
16The history of the killings is not in their school textbooks.
17"The massacre should never have happened. It's wrong," said Punnapa, a 15-year-old high school student.
18She said she planned to join the Thammasat law department when she is old enough.
19"Only the law can bring change and justice," she said.
20The latest protests have helped energize the democracy movement.
21Young people "are very engaged in the political history of their country," said Chaturon Chaisang, a former student leader and long-time political activist.
22"These dark memories are a driving force for their movement," he told a crowd.
23No one was ever tried for the killings that took place 44 years ago.
24The violence shaped the relationship between people and the state in modern Thailand, notes Phil Robertson of Human Rights Watch.
25"Ever since, the Thai people have struggled to break a cycle of violence and impunity," he noted.
26The government and military have so far permitted the latest protests.
27But calls for reform of the monarchy have moved the protesters into a dangerous area.
28The army chiefs have promised to remain loyal to the royal family.
29Thailand became a constitutional monarchy in 1932.
30The constitution limits the powers of the monarchy, but it is often ignored.
31Democracy has never worked in Thailand.
32 Governments often fall to forces led by the royalist army.
33Only one elected leader, Thaksin Shinawatra, has completed a full term. He served from 2001 to 2006.
34Thaksin is a hero to poor people in the countryside, but he is hated by royalist supporters.
35When he was finally removed, his ouster led to 14 years of political problems, military overthrow attempts and a weak economy.
36The youth protesters want to force out the current government of Prayut Chan-o-Cha.
37He is a former army chief who took power in 2014.
38Anon Nampa is a lawyer and one of the strongest voices calling for reforms to the monarchy.
39At the memorial Tuesday, he said, "we promise to keep fighting."
40Very wealthy and protected by the army, Thailand's King Maha Vajiralongkorn and his family have not been criticized by protestors in the past.
41Now, things are different.
42Anon, and several other leaders of the democracy movement, have called for the king to follow the 1932 constitution.
43The king came to power in 2016.
44Since then, he has used his wealth and control of special army troops to increase his power.
45The protest groups say they will meet on October 14 in Bangkok for a peaceful demonstration.
46Political observers say at least 30,000 protesters will have to attend to have any effect on the government.
47I'm Susan Shand.
1Forty-four years after a massacre of Thai students, Pojanee Theil returned to Thammasat University in Bangkok. 2"How could they have done this to other human beings?" asked the 64-year-old. "This country has gone nowhere since then." 3Pojanee was at the university on October 6, 1976, when royalist supporters and security forces killed many students. They and other students were protesting the return to Thailand of Army Field Marshall Thanom Kittikachorn. 4In 1976, protesters were calling for a new constitution. Now, students at Thammasat want a lot more. 5The university is once again the center of pro-democracy protests. Demonstrators are demanding big reforms. 6They want a change of government and a new constitution. Most importantly, they want to reform the country's monarchy. Up until now, Thailand has barred criticism of the ruling family. 7Sadness was felt in many areas earlier this week as Thais marked the anniversary of the 1976 massacre. It is considered one of the darkest days in Thailand's long struggle for democracy. 8Young people gathered for a day of memorials at the university. Many have taught themselves about the violent events of that time. The history of the killings is not in their school textbooks. 9"The massacre should never have happened. It's wrong," said Punnapa, a 15-year-old high school student. She said she planned to join the Thammasat law department when she is old enough. 10"Only the law can bring change and justice," she said. 11New generation fights old battles 12The latest protests have helped energize the democracy movement. 13Young people "are very engaged in the political history of their country," said Chaturon Chaisang, a former student leader and long-time political activist. "These dark memories are a driving force for their movement," he told a crowd. 14No one was ever tried for the killings that took place 44 years ago. 15The violence shaped the relationship between people and the state in modern Thailand, notes Phil Robertson of Human Rights Watch. 16"Ever since, the Thai people have struggled to break a cycle of violence and impunity," he noted. 17The government and military have so far permitted the latest protests. But calls for reform of the monarchy have moved the protesters into a dangerous area. The army chiefs have promised to remain loyal to the royal family. 18Thailand became a constitutional monarchy in 1932. The constitution limits the powers of the monarchy, but it is often ignored. 19Democracy has never worked in Thailand. Governments often fall to forces led by the royalist army. Only one elected leader, Thaksin Shinawatra, has completed a full term. He served from 2001 to 2006. 20Thaksin is a hero to poor people in the countryside, but he is hated by royalist supporters. When he was finally removed, his ouster led to 14 years of political problems, military overthrow attempts and a weak economy. 21The youth protesters want to force out the current government of Prayut Chan-o-Cha. He is a former army chief who took power in 2014. 22History repeating itself? 23Anon Nampa is a lawyer and one of the strongest voices calling for reforms to the monarchy. At the memorial Tuesday, he said, "we promise to keep fighting." 24Very wealthy and protected by the army, Thailand's King Maha Vajiralongkorn and his family have not been criticized by protestors in the past. Now, things are different. 25Anon, and several other leaders of the democracy movement, have called for the king to follow the 1932 constitution. 26The king came to power in 2016. Since then, he has used his wealth and control of special army troops to increase his power. 27The protest groups say they will meet on October 14 in Bangkok for a peaceful demonstration. Political observers say at least 30,000 protesters will have to attend to have any effect on the government. 28I'm Susan Shand. 29VOA News reported this story. Susan Shand adapted it for Learning English. George Grow was the editor. 30_______________________________________________________________ 31Words in This Story 32massacre - n. killing a large number of people 33monarchy - n. government headed by a king or queen 34department - n. the section of an organization 35lynching - n. to murder by hanging someone 36engage - v. to interact with 37cycle - n. a repeated series of events 38impunity - n. without consequences