Joint Regional Left statement in solidarity with the people of Thailand for democracy

15 October 2020

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.

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
32. Revolutionary Students Front (RSF), Pakistan
33. Jammu Kashmir National Students Federation (JKNSF)
34. Pakistan Trade Union Defence Campaign (PTUDC)
35. Europe solidaire sans frontières (ESSF), France