Global Courant 2023-05-03 09:30:00
BANGKOK – Three years ago, Ms. Panusaya Sithijirawattanakul was on the front lines of Thailand’s democracy movement when thousands of young protesters clashed with police who fired tear gas and rubber bullets into the streets of Bangkok.
The movement shocked the kingdom with its calls for reforms and unprecedented demands to curb King Maha Vajiralongkorn’s power, but petered out as the coronavirus spread and Ms. Panusaya and other leaders were arrested.
Many of the young protesters are about to vote for the first time in Thailand’s May 14 elections.
They have not given up their call for change, even though they know they must be patient in a kingdom where conservative elites have long thwarted reforms.
Ms. Panusaya, better known by her nickname Rung, gave a speech on monarchy reform in August 2020, including a 10-point manifesto.
It sent shockwaves all over Thailand and had her yo-yo in and out of jail.
“This election is going to be very important. It can change the game,” said Ms. Panusaya, who is preparing for a master’s degree in political science.
“If the pro-democracy party wins, we have many options to stop the selection of senators, write a new constitution or change several laws,” the 24-year-old told AFP.
Millennials and Gen Z — voters aged about 40 or younger — make up just over 40 percent of Thailand’s 52 million-population electorate.
Young Thais may be excited about the prospect of voting Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha out of office, Ms Panusaya said, but they are not naive either.
Thailand has been hit by a dozen coups since 1932, most recently in 2014, when the military-royalist establishment toppled governments it deemed unsuitable or too progressive.
Ms Panusaya recalls the “heartbreak” of the 2019 elections, when junta leader Prayut managed to forge a sprawling coalition to keep out Pheu Thai, the main opposition party that won the most seats.
“The authorities in this country are selfish,” she said.
“Those in power are obsessed with their power. They want to stay in power at all costs.”
