Hundreds of student protesters held rallies in Bangkok and Pattani late Wednesday as student leaders called for renewed protests in September.
Student-led protests have gripped the country over the past two months with students calling for a rewrite of the military-drafted constitution, the dissolution of parliament, and the end to the harassment of activists by the state.
The protests originally began in February after the dissolution of the progressive Future Forward Party but were abruptly halted due to the onset of the coronavirus pandemic. As the pandemic subsided in Thailand, the protests have started up again – fueled by economic uncertainty and anti-government sentiment.
Massive rallies were held in July and August before being brought to a temporary stop.
Protest leaders had given the government and parliament several weeks to enact their three main demands.
This week, the students say that the government has not acted on any of their demands and that protests will begin again with a massive rally planned for the 19th of this month.
The students also accused the government of continuing its program of intimidation and arrests of student protest leaders. At least 28 have been arrested as of Thursday. (Read more here)
On Wednesday, hundreds of students rallied at Rangsit University and Pattani University in the first large rally since mid-August. Students highlighted the continued harassment of dissidents and accused the government of corruption and undermining democracy.
– DEMOCRACY – #ตานีไม่ทน pic.twitter.com/vo6PErnH9a
— BW🖤 (@vachirawinkubbb) September 2, 2020
Students (+cat) raising three finger salute during the national anthem in defiance of the coup makers. #รังสิตไม่ใช่ขี้ข้าเผด็จการ #thailand pic.twitter.com/gpatS2W0ip
— Thai Enquirer (@ThaiEnquirer) September 2, 2020
