First Thai pro-democracy march since 2014 coup

BANGKOK: Hundreds of prodemocracy protesters marched at Parliament here yesterday, wearing black T-shirts to mourn the state of Thailand under an armyaligned government, in the first street protest for several years.

Discontent with the government of ex-army chief Prayuth Chan O Cha is seething, with a progressive opposition party disbanded and the economy faltering as the Covid-19 crisis batters the key tourism industry.

Protesters have met inside university campuses in recent weeks but are now edging back onto the streets of the capital, which has played host to rival, and often deadly, rounds of street politics over the last 14 years.

Thailand voted Prayuth’s conservative government into power a year ago.

It was the first election since a 2014 coup and held under an army-scripted constitution that critics say gave Prayuth an unfair advantage.

The boisterous but peaceful “Black Friday” rally, calling for the government to quit, is the latest reflection of his unpopularity.

“Our families are grassroots people and we’re directly affected by government policy and the failing economy,” 22-year-old student leader Thip Ubsorn said.

Thailand’s pro-democracy movements, usually led by students, have often ended in bloody army crackdowns.

The powerful military has carried out 12 successful coups in nearly 90 years and remains lodged in the nation’s politics.

But now students, organised on social media and also emboldened by Hong Kong’s protest movement, are slowly mobilising once again.

“We’re not scared, we’re a new generation,” a post-graduate student who called herself BK said.

“We’re wearing black to mourn the death of the rule of law, justice and democracy in our country.”