Thailand: Weekly anti-government protests in Bangkok

Event

On Saturday, January 27, civil society group the People Go Network (PGN) held a demonstration and announced that its members will continue to organize weekly demonstrations every Saturday on the BTS skywalk near the Bangkok Art & Culture Center until the government promises to hold the next general election in 2018. Approximately 100 people gathered on Saturday without incident. In addition, the group plans to hold a rally at the Democracy Monument on Saturday, February 10, if their demands are not met. Relatedly, a PGN-affiliated group held a demonstration in Lumphini Park on January 28, and announced that they will continue to do so every Sunday from 17:00 to 18:30 (local time), also demanding that the government pledge to hold elections in 2018. An increased security presence, along with associated transportation delays, should be expected in the vicinity of any demonstrations.

Context

The PGN is protesting a decision by Thai lawmakers to change the country’s electoral laws, which would allow the date of the next general election to be pushed back until January or February 2019.

Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-Ocha announced recently that the general election would be held in November 2018. However, the election has already been delayed several times by the National Council of Peace and Order (NCPO), which has been in power since the 2014 military coup.

Advice

Individuals in Thailand are advised to avoid all demonstrations as a precaution and to stay abreast of developments in the political climate.