The pandemic has been going on in waves for more than a year and in countries like Thailand, the situation seems to be getting worse. According to CNA, Thailand reported 11,784 new Covid-19 cases on 19 July which is their fourth day of record-high infections. This is the worse outbreak for the country to date.
Protest in Bangkok
Thais have taken to the streets in their motorcycles and cars to protest on 18 July against their Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha for mishandling the pandemic in their nation, reported The Guardian.
Pro-democracy protesters push a fake guillotine past Democracy Monument as they march to Government House to call for the resignation of Thailand’s Prime Minister Prayut Chan-O-Cha in Bangkok on July 18, 2021. (Photo by Lillian SUWANRUMPHA / AFP)
According to CNA, it is said that the protesters had three main demands and they are:
- For Prayuth Chan-o-cha to resign without any condition,
- A budget cut to the monarchy and army to be used against Covid-19, and
- To bring in mRNA vaccine.
Organisers of the protest have handed out hand sanitisers, raincoats and N95 masks for the protesters. In addition to that, they also prepared some props, mainly mock body bags and a life-size guillotine.
In an interview with REUTERS, a protester by the name of Kanyaporn Veeratat, 34 said:
“The government has been poor at managing the situation and if we don’t do anything there will be no change.”
เผาหุ่นฟาง กลางแยกนางเลิ้ง เคียงคู่กิโยตินประจำประเทศไทย #RatsadonNews #ม็อบ18กรกฎา https://t.co/Ags8hx6Dz8 pic.twitter.com/eGGwjAYiJV
— สหายสำนักข่าวราษฎร (@opol999) July 18, 2021
The mock corpses were then thrown onto a picture of the current Prime Minister and burned. In order to counter the protesters, the police had used rubber bullets, tear gas and water cannon.
17.58 หน้าราชวินิต ตร.ยิงแก๊สน้ำตาต่อเนื่อง มวลชนใช้ผ้าชุบน้ำดับ และใช้เครื่องดับแก๊สน้ำตาที่ประดิษฐ์เองดับควันด้วย#ม็อบ18กรกฎา #สํานักข่าวราษฎร https://t.co/Ags8hx6Dz8 pic.twitter.com/xD6DILXtVz
— สหายสำนักข่าวราษฎร (@opol999) July 18, 2021
We certainly hope that the situation will gradually get better in countries as affected as Thailand. What are your thoughts on this? Let us know in the comments.
Also read: PDRM Investigates ‘Dead Bodies’ & Black Flag Protest At Dataran Merdeka
