A growing wave of student-initiated pro-democracy protests have been sweeping Thailand since February. They have united a new generation of activists with former Red Shirts and even some disaffected people from the Yellow Shirt movement demanding: 1) the resignation of the Prayut regime and new, free and fair elections, 2) democratic constitutional changes, 3) reforms to put the monarchy under the rule of law, curb its privileges, and end the use of the draconian lese-majeste laws to silence dissent.

Former general and current PM Prayut Chan-O-Cha declared a “severe” state of emergency on October 15 which bans gatherings of more than five people and the “publication of news, other media, and electronic information that contains messages that could create fear or intentionally distort information, creating misunderstanding that will affect national security or peace and order.”

Following this, police and military were sent in to violently disperse the protesters. Police attacks on this latest protest began on the evening of October 13 when democracy activists arrived in Bangkok from the poor north-east of the country and set up makeshift shelters on street corners. The police tore down these shelters and about 20 people were arrested. The police also staged pre-dawn raid on October 15 to disperse the protesters at the Government Building.

Several leading movement activists have been arrested and there are serious concerns about further repression.

We stand in solidarity with the protest movement in Thailand and demand:

• An immediate lifting of the ‘state of emergency’ and respect for the right of the people to protest

• Immediate release of the pro-democracy movement activists and all political prisoners

• An end to the military-dominated rule and for free and fair elections for a democratic government

• Democratic constitutional change

• Abolish feudal powers and stop the use of repressive laws including the lese-majeste laws to silence dissent.

15 October 2020

Endorsed by:

1. Partido Lakas ng Masa (PLM), Philippines

2. Socialist Party of Malaysia (PSM), Malaysia

3. North South Initiative, Malaysia

4. Sedane Labour Resource Centre (LIPS), Indonesia

5. Working People’s Party (PRP), Indonesia

6. Socialist Alliance, Australia

7. Federation of Karya Utama Union (FSBKU), Indonesia

8. Communist Party of India (Marxist-Leninist) Liberation, India

9. BMP (Solidarity of Filipino Workers), Philippines

10. Sanlakas, Philippines

11. Partai Rakyat Demokratik (PRD), Indonesia

12. SPERBUPAS GSBI PT. Panarub Industri, Indonesia

13. Indonesia for Global Justice (IGJ), Indonesia

14. Laban ng Masa, Philippines

15. Socialist Alternative, Australia

16. Haqqoq Khalq Movement (Peoples Rights Movement), Pakistan

17. Yubaraj Chaulagain – Central Committee Member – Nepal Communist Party

18. Borderless Movement, Hong Kong

19. Pakistan Kissan Rabita Committee (Pakistan Peasants Coordination Committee), Pakistan

20. Campaign for Peace, Disarmament and Common Security, United States

21. Heinz Bierbaum, President of the Party of the European Left (EL)

22. Finnish Asiatic Society, Finland

23. Hong Kong Confederation of Trade Unions (HKCTU)

24. Myanmar Youth Foundation for Peace

25. Radical Socialist, India

26. Japanese Revolutionary Communist League (JRCL), Japan

27. Left Voice Sri Lanka

28. Federation of Media Employees Trade Unions, Sri Lanka

29. Nava Sama Samaja Party (New Socialist Party), Sri Lanka

30. African Footprints Initiative (AFI), Tanzania

31. Revolutionary Socialist League, Kenya

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ESSF supports this regional statement.

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