Timeline of the 2020 Thai protests (August 2020)

On 3 August, a Harry Potter-themed demonstration was held, openly criticised the monarchy, and demanded amendment of increasing royal prerogative and lèse majesté law.[1] The protest, which 200 people joined, featured a public speech by Anon Nampa. Paul Chambers, Southeast Asian politics scholar, noted, "Such open criticism of Thailand’s monarch by non-elites at a public place within Thailand with the police simply standing by is the first of its kind in Thai history."[2]

On 7th of August, watchdog organisation iLaw launched a petition campaign to gather 50,000 names to amend the whole 2017 Constitution and draft a new constitution by elected constitutional assembly.[3]

On August 8th, police received approval from the Bangkok Criminal Court to put prominent human rights lawyer Anon Nampa and democracy activist Panupong Jadnok in pre-trial detention at the Bangkok Remand Prison. They were arrested on 7 August in Bangkok on charges related to their involvement in the “Free Youth” rally. Reports suggested that police also targeted 31 other people, including many student movement leaders.[4]

On 10th August, the Campaigning Group for Constitution of the People submitted a bill paving the way for a constitutional referendum. Meanwhile, there was a counter-protest by the Coordination Centre of Vocational Students for the Protection of National Institutions (CVPI) which accused the protesters of being manipulated to attack the government and the military, as well as criticising the monarchy, with an aim to cause a regime change.[5] The group also vowed to set up their branches in all provinces[6] and use a social pressure approach to dissuade the movement.[5] Later that evening, there was a rally at Thammasat University, Rangsit campus in Pathum Thani Province named "ธรรมศาสตร์จะไม่ทน" (lit. Thammasat will not tolerate.) where students from numerous universities across a variety of protest groups participated while sympathetic vocational student groups volunteered to act as security.[7] Totaling about 3,000 people, it was the largest rally in months. It employed the slogan "We don't want reforms; we want revolution."[8] A labour union representative also gave a speech on economic inequality and broken promises by the government. Among the events were a speech by Anon Nampa, clips of political exile Pavin Chachavalpongpun, known for his stance on royal reform, and the declaration of ten demands to reform the monarchy under a constitutional monarchy.[9][10] According to AP, the protesters at the site had mixed reaction to the demands.[11][8]

A protest at Thammasat University Rangsit Campus on 10 August where victims of forced disappearance were recognised.

On 14 August, BBC Thai reported that there had been protests associated with Free Youth in 49 provinces, while in 11 provinces saw activism associated with pro-establishment groups.[12] In the same day, prominent Thammasat University student activist Parit “Penguin” Chiwarak was arrested on charges related to involvement in the 18 July “Free Youth” rally, leading to calls from Human Rights Watch that Thai authorities should immediately release him and drop all charges.[13]

On 16th August, a large gathering which around 20,000–25,000 people joined[14] was held at the Democracy Monument and reiterated calls for a revised constitution and reforms to the monarchy.[15] Three students who had proposed the 10-point manifesto were denied access to the stage by the main body of protesters.[16]

Protesters at Democracy Monument displaying three-finger gesture on 16 August demonstration.

On 18th of August, approximately 400 members of Students held a rally at the Ministry of Education, calling for the resignation of the government. The group publicly scolded the Minister of Education, Nataphol Teepsuwan, a former PDRC core leader.[17]

On August 20th, two large-scale student protests of approximately 1,000 people each were held in Khorat and Khon Kaen, with the “Khon Kaen’s Had Enough” group holding the protest in the city center and the Khorat group at the Thao Suranari Monument. Activists announced a “major rally” would occur on 19 September 2020, at Thammasat University’s Tha Prachan campus,[18][19][20] to mark the 14th anniversary of the 2006 Thai military coup.[21] On 24 August, Khon Kaen protest groups, including the Assembly of the Poor, appeared to endorse the 10 demands.[10]

On August 26th, student groups presented submissions, including the 10 demands, to the House Committee on Political Development, Mass Communications and Public Participation. Two Free Youth group leaders were arrested the same day.[22]

Subsequently, the opposition coalition submitted five constitutional amendment motions, including to amend Section 256 of the Constitution, the clause governing the constitution amendment procedure, while the government coalition submitted one motion.[23][24] iLaw, a group of human rights lawyers, has sought via petition to present a five-point plan to set up a Constitution Drafting Committee to undo the political restrictions imposed by the NCPO-backed 2017 Constitution.[25]

On August 27th and 28th, approximately 15,000 people gathered at 14 October Memorial for the first overnight protest, organized by the 'We are Friends' group. Five demands were read out in a Citizens’ Declaration, including the three original demands together with a call for resignation or removal of the senators by the end of September and reformation of the monarchy.[26] On 28 August, as 15 anti-government activists from the 18 July rally arrived to face charges at a Bangkok police station, their supporters removed barriers and forced entry to the police station.[27]

References
  1. "Harry Potter-themed protest openly criticises Thai monarchy". ABC. 4 August 2020. Retrieved 23 August 2020.
  2. "Thailand protesters openly criticise monarchy in Harry Potter-themed rally". The Guardian. 4 August 2020. Retrieved 10 August 2020.
  3. "เตือน!คนรุ่นใหม่ลุกฮือสู้เผด็จการ ล่า5หมื่นชื่อแก้รธน.60ตั้งส.ส.ร." [Warn! New gens rise to fight dictatorship, gather 50 thousand names to amend 2017 Constitution, set up constitutional assembly]. Daily News (in Thai). 7 August 2020. Retrieved 23 August 2020.
  4. "Thailand: Drop Charges, Release Democracy Activists". Human Rights Watch. Retrieved 8 August 2020.
  5. "ครช.ยื่นร่างพ.ร.บ.ออกเสียงประชามติ ร่าง รธน.ใหม่ ฝ่ายค้านรับเร่งเสนอในสัปดาห์นี้". prachatai.com. Retrieved 10 August 2020.
  6. ""ประชาชนปกป้องสถาบันฯ" ผุด ศอปส. ทุกจังหวัด จับผิด-เปิดเผยตัวตน "คนชังชาติ"" ["People Protect Monarchy" plans CVPI in every province. Get after-reveal identity of "Nation-haters".]. BBC News ไทย (in Thai). Retrieved 10 August 2020.
  7. "ม็อบนศ.ฮือต้าน"รัฐบาลลุงตู่"แน่น ม.ธรรมศาสตร์" [Student mobs amass to resist "Uncle Tu government" in Thammasat U.]. Post Today. Retrieved 10 August 2020.
  8. Press, Associated (11 August 2020). "Student Protest at Thammasat the Largest Rally in Months". Khaosod English. Retrieved 11 August 2020.
  9. "ประมวลชุมนุม #ธรรมศาสตร์จะไม่ทน 'เราไม่ต้องการปฏิรูปเราต้องการปฏิวัติ'" [Summary of demonstration Thammasat will not tolerate 'We do not want reforms; we want revolution' }language=th]. prachatai.com. Retrieved 10 August 2020.
  10. "The ten demands that shook Thailand". New Mandala. 2 September 2020. Retrieved 2 September 2020.
  11. "Unprecedented open criticism of king aired at Thai protest". AP NEWS. 10 August 2020. Retrieved 20 August 2020.
  12. "สำรวจแนวการชุมนุมประชาชนหนุน-ต้านรัฐบาล" [Investigate protest line support-against government.]. BBC ไทย (in Thai). Retrieved 18 August 2020.
  13. "Thailand: Drop Charges, Release Student Activist". Human Rights Watch. Retrieved 15 August 2020.
  14. "Thailand's youth demo evolves to largest protest since 2014 coup". Nikkei Asian Review. Retrieved 18 August 2020.
  15. "Thai protesters stage fresh pro-democracy rally". BBC News. 16 August 2020. Retrieved 16 August 2020.
  16. "Students press demands". The Bangkok Post. Retrieved 21 August 2020.
  17. "Students Jeer Education Minister as Protests Escalate". Khaosod English. 20 August 2020. Retrieved 20 August 2020.
  18. Record, The Isaan (21 August 2020). "Black magic and calls for change at large protest at Khon Kaen's Democracy Monument". The Isaan Record. Retrieved 22 August 2020.
  19. English, Khaosod (21 August 2020). "Large Protests Hit Isaan, Major Rally Announced for Sep. 19". Khaosod English. Retrieved 22 August 2020.
  20. "Anti-govt rally in Khon Kaen". Bangkok Post. Retrieved 23 August 2020.
  21. "Anti-coup instructions spread as speculation runs riot". Prachatai. 10 September 2020.
  22. "Students submit manifesto". Bangkok Post. Retrieved 27 August 2020.
  23. "First ever dialogue on Thai monarchy arrives in Parliament's 'safe zone'". www.thaipbsworld.com. Retrieved 14 September 2020.
  24. Sattaburut, Aekarach; Chetchotiros, Nattaya. "Govt pleads for charter support". Bangkok Post. Retrieved 24 September 2020.
  25. "Constitutional amendment in Thailand needs consensus first". New Mandala. 5 September 2020. Retrieved 5 September 2020.
  26. "Apologies, demands made at first anti-dictatorship overnight protest". Prachatai English. Retrieved 29 August 2020.
  27. "Chaos as anti-government protesters remove police barriers". Bangkok Post. Retrieved 28 August 2020.
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