Thailand's Latest Pro-Democracy Movement

 

Forty-four years after a massacre¹ of Thai students, Pojanee Theil returned to Thammasat University in Bangkok.

"How could they have done this to other human beings?" asked the 64-year-old. "This country has gone nowhere since then."

Pojanee 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.

In 1976, protesters were calling for a new constitution. Now, students at Thammasat want a lot more.

The university is once again the center of pro-democracy protests. Demonstrators are demanding big reforms.

They want a change of government and a new constitution. Most importantly, they want to reform the country's monarchy². Up until now, Thailand has barred criticism of the ruling family.

Sadness 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.

Young 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 killings⁴ is not in their school textbooks.

"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.

"Only the law can bring change and justice," she said.

New generation fights old battles

The latest protests have helped energize⁵ the democracy movement.

Young people "are very engaged in the political history of their country," said Chaturon Chaisang, a former student leader and long-time political activist⁶. "These dark memories are a driving force for their movement," he told a crowd.

No one was ever tried for the killings that took place 44 years ago.

The violence shaped the relationship between people and the state in modern Thailand, notes Phil Robertson of Human Rights Watch.

"Ever since, the Thai people have struggled to break a cycle of violence and impunity⁷," he noted⁸.

The 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.

Thailand became a constitutional monarchy in 1932. The constitution limits the powers of the monarchy, but it is often ignored.

Democracy 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.

Thaksin 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 overthrow⁹ attempts and a weak economy.

The 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.

History repeating itself?

Anon 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."

Very 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.

Anon, and several other leaders of the democracy movement, have called for the king to follow the 1932 constitution.

The king came to power in 2016. Since then, he has used his wealth and control of special army troops to increase his power.

The protest groups say they will meet on October 14 in Bangkok for a peaceful demonstration¹⁰. Political observers say at least 30,000 protesters will have to attend to have any effect on the government.

Words in This Story

massacre – n. killing³ a large number of people

monarchy – n. government headed by a king or queen

department – n. the section of an organization

lynching – n. to murder by hanging someone

engage – v. to interact with

cycle – n. a repeated series of events

impunity – n. without consequences

1 massacre   

n.残杀，大屠杀；v.残杀，集体屠杀

参考例句：

• There was a terrible massacre of villagers here during the war.在战争中，这里的村民惨遭屠杀。
• If we forget the massacre,the massacre will happen again!忘记了大屠杀，大屠杀就有可能再次发生！

2 monarchy   

n.君主，最高统治者；君主政体，君主国

参考例句：

• The monarchy in England plays an important role in British culture.英格兰的君主政体在英国文化中起重要作用。
• The power of the monarchy in Britain today is more symbolical than real.今日英国君主的权力多为象徵性的，无甚实际意义。

3 killing   

n.巨额利润；突然赚大钱，发大财

参考例句：

• Investors are set to make a killing from the sell-off.投资者准备清仓以便大赚一笔。
• Last week my brother made a killing on Wall Street.上个周我兄弟在华尔街赚了一大笔。

4 killings   

谋杀( killing的名词复数 )； 突然发大财，暴发

参考例句：

• His statement was seen as an allusion to the recent drug-related killings. 他的声明被视为暗指最近与毒品有关的多起凶杀案。
• The government issued a statement condemning the killings. 政府发表声明谴责这些凶杀事件。

5 energize   

vt.给予(某人或某物)精力、能量

参考例句：

• It is used to energize the city.它的作用是为城市供给能量。
• This is a great way to energize yourself and give yourself more power!这种方法非常棒，可以激活你的能量，让你有更多的活力！

6 activist   

n.活动分子，积极分子

参考例句：

• He's been a trade union activist for many years.多年来他一直是工会的积极分子。
• He is a social activist in our factory.他是我厂的社会活动积极分子。

7 impunity   

n.(惩罚、损失、伤害等的)免除

参考例句：

• You will not escape with impunity.你不可能逃脱惩罚。
• The impunity what compulsory insurance sets does not include escapement.交强险规定的免责范围不包括逃逸。

8 noted   

adj.著名的，知名的

参考例句：

• The local hotel is noted for its good table.当地的那家酒店以餐食精美而著称。
• Jim is noted for arriving late for work.吉姆上班迟到出了名。

9 overthrow   

v.推翻，打倒，颠覆；n.推翻，瓦解，颠覆

参考例句：

• After the overthrow of the government,the country was in chaos.政府被推翻后，这个国家处于混乱中。
• The overthrow of his plans left him much discouraged.他的计划的失败使得他很气馁。

10 demonstration   

n.表明，示范，论证，示威

参考例句：

• His new book is a demonstration of his patriotism.他写的新书是他的爱国精神的证明。
• He gave a demonstration of the new technique then and there.他当场表演了这种新的操作方法。