Why Protesters Are Back on the Streets in Thailand

Thailand’s 2019 election was billed as an end to five years of military rule. Yet not much changed after the disputed vote: Former army chief and coup leader Prayuth Chan-Ocha returned as prime minister with the help of a military-backed party and the military-appointed Senate. After a court last year ordered an opposition party to disband, student-led rallies for more democracy gained momentum. Their demands have extended to the monarchy -- breaking taboos in a country where criticizing the king can land you in jail. Protesters have been trying to keep the pressure on despite a legal crackdown, adding to the woes of a government already struggling with a pandemic-induced economic crisis.

Much of the ire surrounds the constitution drafted by the junta ahead of the election, which all but guaranteed that the military-backed regime would retain control. Some groups want the charter rewritten, along with the election laws, to make them more democratic and reduce the military’s role. They also want the government to resign afterward and hold a new vote. And they have demanded an end to harassment of government critics such as the now-banned Future Forward Party, whose candidate for prime minister lost to Prayuth.