PEOPLE PROTEST IN THAILAND 1

Why do people protest in Thailand?

Kantapon Wijittrasa
!ahidol "ni#ersity International De$onstration S%hool
PEOPLE PROTEST IN THAILAND &
Abstracts
This st'dy (o%'sed on the people protest in Thailand) E#ery a*e and *ender +ere %o$pared
and people +ho interest +ere %o$pared) T+o $ethods +ere 'sed to %olle%t data (or this resear%h)
Oser#ation +as %ond'%ted on people ,N-&../ at Phayatai 0TS station in e#ery a*e1 *ender1 and
2'antity +ere re%orded) 3'rther$ore1 a s'r#ey +as *i#en o't ,4./ at p'li% lo%ation in Sia$ in
+hi%h parti%ipants ans+ered 2'estioned ao't their idea1 attendan%e1 pre(eren%es1 and $oti#ation)
!ost people +ere (o'nd that they ta5e interested to join the protest $ore than others1 and also (o'nd
that parti%ipants +ere $oti#ated y (a$ily $ore than S'thep Tha'*s'an ,Leader o( the protest/)
Introduction
Protest is an e6pressin* o( a state$ent or a%tion to a*ainst so$ethin*) The (irst protest
happened in Pennsyl#ania y a $an +ho a*ainst sla#ery in 1788 ,Da#is1 n)d)/) No+adays1 people
are still protestin*1 espe%ially in Thailand) Pri$e !inister and her rother %heat a lot in Thailand1 so
people e%o$e to protest) They had the $ost people that joined the protest and rally aro'nd
0an*5o5 +hi%h has S'thep Th'a*s'an e a leader1 aro'nd 9 $illion people *o (or the protest and
try to p'sh Pri$e !inister :in*l'%5 Shina+atra o't o( her d'ty) This paper +ill e6plain ao't the
protest in Thailand and +hy they are protestin*)
Literature Review
Cause And Reason
There are lots o( reason +hy Thai people are protestin*1 They ar*'e the prole$s are %a'se
y *o#ern$ent and s+indle) There are pro; and anti;*o#ern$ent s'pporters) In &.141 tho'sands o(
protesters rallied a%ross %enter o( 0an*5o5 ,The <'ardian1 para) &/) The *o#ern$ent $a5e the ill
+hi%h desi*ned to +hite+ash the %ri$es o( Tha5sin Shina+atra ,The <'ardian1 &.141 para) 4/ and
also has set o(( de$onstration y oth pro; and anti;*o#ern$ent s'pporters ,The <'ardian1 para) =/)
They said >This %o'ld p'sh the %o'ntry?s staility to rin5@ ,The <'ardian1 para) 7/) The senator
said >I %annot a%%ept this ill@ ,The <'ardian1 para) 1./)
PEOPLE PROTEST IN THAILAND 4
Events Are Not A Waste Of Time
It is %o$$only 5no+n that protest e#ents in%rease the #isiility o( the %a'se1 +hi%h is
a**re*ation o( people to representin* an iss'e ,To$ Head1 para) 1/ and de$onstrate their po+er
,To$ Head1 para) &/) Protest pro$ote a sense o( solidarity that sho+ $any people a*ree +ith the
sa$e reason +hy they?re protestin* ,To$ Head1 para) 4/ and 'ild a%ti#ist relationships et+een
protesters y $eet1 net+or51 s+ap ideas1 and 'ild %o$$'nity ,To$ Head1 para) =/1 also ener*iAe
parti%ipants ,To$ Head1 para) 9/)
Rice Farmers
A%%ordin* to the <loal#oi%eonline)or*1 !any ri%e (ar$ers ha#e een protestin* in
0an*5o5 a(ter Thai *o#ern$ents (ailed to pro#ide pay$ents 'nder the ri%e pled*in* ,<loal #oi%es1
para) 1/) Delayed pay$ents ha#e already rea%h 14. illion aht ,<loal #oi%es1 para) 1/ and
a((e%tin* $ore than a $illion (ar$ers ,<loal #oi%es1 para) 1/) Thailand +asn?t the +orld?s lar*est
ri#e e6porter any$ore e%a'se o( the Thailand pled*in* pro*ra$ ,<loal #oi%e1 para) 4/) The %riti%
la$e the ri%e pro*ra$ (or the h'*e (inan%ial loses in the ri%e se%tor ,<loal #oi%e1 para) 4/)
Effect
In addition to Thailand sit'ation protestin* on &.141 the anti;*o#ern$ent led y (or$er
Dep'ty Pri$e !inister S'thep Tha'*s'an ,The Asia 3o'ndation1 para) 1/1 He sh'tdo+n 0an*5o5
(or e$arrass the *o#ern$ent,:in*l'%5 Shina+atra/ ,The Asia 3o'ndation1 para) 1/) They ha#e
%reated a (esti#e at$osphere in ere%tin* tra((i% arriers1 sta*es1 lo'dspea5ers1 and #ast tented %a$ps
at se#en 5ey interse%tions aro'nd 0an*5o5 that a((e%t to people +ho +or5 aro'nd there ,The Asia
3o'ndation1 para) &/) While $ain oser#ers and people +ho +ere e((e%t (ro$ the protestin* 'r*ed to
the *o#ern$ent to (ind a sol'tion that +o'ld end the 0an*5o5 sh'tdo+n ,The Asia 3o'ndation1
para) B/)
Business & Maret Effect
When there are protestin* e6ist in the +orld1 it is pre%isely that protestin* e((e%ts to $any
PEOPLE PROTEST IN THAILAND =
people) The sh'tdo+n in 0an*5o5 y protester a((e%t 1)& $illion people ,CNTD1 para) 1/ and had
(or%ed $any 'siness to te$porarily %lose (or $any $onths start (ro$ the e*innin* o( the protest
,CNTD1 para) 1/) So$e thin5 i( the sh'tdo+n is end1 Thailand 'siness %an 2'i%5ly *et a%5 to the
sa$e ,CNTD1 para) 4/)3or people +ho don?t *o to the protest1 $ost o( the$ %hoose to stay ho$e
,CNTD1 para) &/)
T!ai "rotest Leader #a$s To %nb&oc Ban'o Road
The sit'ation in 0an*5o5 see$s to e etter sin%e anti;*o#ern$ent said they +ill %lear their
%a$ps (ro$ $ain roads they ha#e lo%5ed ,A$yEPra%ha1 para) 1/) The n'$er o( people ha#e
d+indled and atta%5ed on the #ario's %a$p +ith *renade and *'n ,A$yEPra%ha1 para) &/1@We +ill
stop %losin* 0an*5o5 and *i#e e#ery interse%tion a%5 to 0an*5o5 people1 +e +ill stop %losin*
0an*5o5 (ro$ !onday@1 @0't +e +ill es%alate o'r sh'tdo+n o( *o#ern$ent $inistries and
Shina+atra@ S'thep told ,A$yEPra%ha1 para) =/) They $o#e inside L'$pini Par5 in the heart o(
the %apital +here $any o( the$ already slept in tent in there ,A$yEPra%ha1 para) 9/)
Met!ods
#urve$
A s'r#ey ,see Appendi6 A/ +as %ond'%ted on teena*ers or older at the 'ildin* eside
Phayatai 0TS station on Sat'rday a(ternoon !ay &F1 &.1=) People +ere s'r#eyed +hen they +ere
eatin* at the resta'rant and sittin* on the road) Parti%ipants that +al5in* aro'nd +ere de%lined to did
the s'r#eyed)
Observe
An oser#e +as %ond'%ted on e#ery a*e and *ender at Phayatai 0TS station) This oser#ed
+ere loo5 (or t+o;h'ndred people +ho +ore (la* and +ent to the protest) The Oser#ation +ere
too5 in iPhone?s note y +al5in* aro'nd the 0TS station on Sat'rday a(ternoon !ay &F1 &.1=)
"artici(ants
#urve$
People +ho loo5ed li5e teena*ers or older +ere s'r#eyed) People +ere sele%ted rando$ly1
PEOPLE PROTEST IN THAILAND 9
+ere not ased on *ender) People +ere ta5en s'r#eyed at the 'ildin* near y Phayatai 0TS station
and *i#en thirty s'r#eys)
Observation
E#ery a*e and *ender o( people +ere oser#ed and they +ere sele%ted rando$ly) The
passen*ers +ere oser#ed at Phayatai 0TS station +hen they %a$e do+n (ro$ the train)
Resu&ts
#urve$
The res'lts o( the s'r#ey sho+ed that 94G ,N-17/ o( people ha#e joined the protest and
=BG ,N-1=/ ha#e not ,see 3i*'re1/)
3i*'re1 3i*'re&
!ost responders ,N-B/ ha#e *one to the protest only 1;& ti$es in the past years ) People that ha#e
joined the protest +ere $ostly ,=4GHN-1&/ $oti#ated y (a$ily) !ost o( the parti%ipants
,49GHN-11/ thin5 it is i$portant to protest ,see 3i*'re&/) =4)8G ,N-B/ ha#e joined the protest 1;&
ti$es1 41)4G ,N-9/ 4;9 ti$es1 and &9G ,N-=/ $ore than 9 ti$es) 3or people +ho ha#e not joined
the protest1 the parti%ipants ha#e interest in attendin* to the protest 49)BG ,N-9/ Ne#er1 49)BG
,N-9/ !aye1 and &8)7 ,N-=/ No)
Observation
The total n'$er o( people (or the oser#ation +ere &.. people) The res'lts +ere people
+ho %a$e o't (ro$ the s5y train at 0TS station +ear (la* B4G,N-1=7/ people and people +ho
don?t +hi%h is &BG,N-9=/) This res'lts sho+ed ho+ $any people *i#e attention to the protest
PEOPLE PROTEST IN THAILAND 7
,See 3i*'re 4/)
3i*'re 4
Im(&ications
#urve$
The res'lt o( the s'r#ey s'**est se#eral trends in the protest in Thailand) One o( the $ost
s'rprisin* res'lts +as that #ery (e+ respondents sho+ that $ost people ,17/ ha#e joined the protest
and 1= ha#e not ,total o( 4./) The res'lts also indi%ated that $ost o( the$ pre(er to join the protest)
Ho+e#er1 d'e to the s'r#eyin* rando$ly so%ial *ro'p $a5e it si$ple to *eneraliAe the res'lts)
Observation
The res'lt o( oser#ation also indi%ated that 19= people o't o( &.. (ro$ the oser#ation
+ore (la* and sho+ed that they pre(er to join the protest) One o( the $ost s'rprisin* res'lts +as that
B4G join the protest as Thai people) The possile l'r5in* #ariales d'e to the oser#in* only one
so%ial *ro'p $a5e it di((i%'lt to *eneraliAe the res'lts to the people +ho pre(er to join the protest)
PEOPLE PROTEST IN THAILAND B
Limitations
#urve$
There +ere a n'$er o( li$itations (o'nd in the s'r#ey %ond'%ted (or this st'dy) 3irst o( all1
the n'$er o( s'r#ey response +as 4. people) All o( the response +ere respondents o( all a*e
ran*e) The s'r#ey respondents +ere not li$ited1 as a res'lt1 the s'r#ey data is ased on e#ery a*e)
O( the 4. respondents1 17 ha#e joined the protest1 1= ha#e not) This s'r#ey as5ed ao't +hy do
people protest in Thailand) It is di((i%'lt to $a5e any s'$$ary ao't people +ho ha#e joined the
protest and +ho ha#e not +itho't %onsideration o( other (a%tors1 s'%h as other spe%i(i% $oti#ation
(ro$ other people to *o to the protest)
Observation
There +ere &.. people +ere oser#ed (or this oser#ation) All o( the oser#ation +ere
oser#ed o( all a*e ran*e) This oser#ation oser#ed ao't people +ho +ear (la* and +ho don?t) O(
the &.. people1 194 +ore the (la* +hi%h they ha#e joined the protest and =B ha#e not)
Conc&usion
The $ain *oal o( the %'rrent st'dy +as to deter$ine +hy do people protest in Thailand)
Altho'*h the res'lts +ere in%on%l'si#e1 the data s'**est that ho+ $any people pre(ered to join the
protest) It s'**ests that $ost people that joined the protest +ere $ostly $oti#ated y (a$ily also
sho+ed $ost o( the parti%ipants thin5 it is i$portant to joined the protest) The p'rpose o( the st'dy
is to 5no+ +hy do people protest in Thailand and the s'**est is to s'r#ey ho+ $any people interest
to joined the protest)
PEOPLE PROTEST IN THAILAND 8
Reference
Da#is1 D0) ,A%%ess on 17 !ay &.1=/) Slavery and Emancipation in Western Culture. Retrie#ed
(ro$ httpIJJ+++)yale)ed'J*l%Ja%esJ*er$anto+n)ht$
<loal #oi%e) ,&.1=1 3er'ary 1./) Why are rice farmers protesting in Thailand?) Retrie#ed (ro$
httpIJJ*loal#oi%esonline)or*J&.1=J.&J1.J+hy;are;ri%e;(ar$ers;protestin*;in;thailandJ
Head1 T) ,A%%ess onI &.141 !ar%h 1&/) Why Protest Events Are Not a Waste of Time) Retrie#ed (ro$
httpIJJ+++)isee5)%o$J
Ka$es) ,&.1=1 Kan'ary 17/) Anti-govt protest in Thailand affects Thais !usiness and mar"ets)
CNTD) Retrie#ed (ro$I httpIJJen*lish)%nt#)%nJpro*ra$JiAasiaJ&.1=.117J1.=47F)sht$l
Le(er#e1 A) S)1 Harira5sapita51 P) ,&.1=1 3er'ary &8/) Thai protest leader says to un!loc" #ang"o"
roads$ still target ministries. Re'ters) Retrie#ed (ro$
httpIJJ+++)re'ters)%o$Jarti%leJ&.1=J.&J&8J's;thailand;protest;id"S0REA1R.4P&.1=.&&8
The Asia 3o'ndation) ,&.1=1 Kan'ary 19/) The #ang"o" Shutdo%n and Thailand&s #attle for
'emocracy) Retrie#ed (ro$ httpIJJasia(o'ndation)or*Jin;asiaJ&.1=J.1J19Jthe;an*5o5;
sh'tdo+n;and;thailands;attle;(or;de$o%ra%yJ
The <'ardian) ,&.141 No#e$er 11/) Protests as Thailand senators de!ate amnesty !ill) Retrie#ed
(ro$ httpIJJ+++)the*'ardian)%o$J+orldJ&.14Jno#J11Jthailand;protests;a$nesty;ill
PEOPLE PROTEST IN THAILAND F
A((endi) A
#urve$