Young and Disenfranchised in Thailand: Talking to Thalugaz (Part 1)
The outcomes of Thailand's May 14 elections are essentially pre-determined, or rather, controlled. Thalugaz, an anarchist pro-democracy, anti-government group, kindly shared some thoughts and replies.
Caricature before the 2019 Thai elections. Source: BangkokPost
Thalugaz is one of the several pro-democracy, anti-government (but notably more anarchist) groups in Thailand. An interview about Thalugaz: who they are, and what they represent, can be found here. Thailand will hold its next general elections in May. An article about some of their recent tactics and past actions can be found here. Thalugaz kindly answered some questions and shared some thoughts with regards to the upcoming elections.
Of themselves: we were born in the Din Daeng area, Bangkok, but our struggle started long before that. There had been clashes with the police before our names were even born. I think it's the "Free Will" of the people who refuse to surrender to state oppression. Thalugaz or breaking through tear gas. The Z is just a play on words and for people to remember the difference from other Thalugas groups.
Thalugaz logo (all images not cited provided by Thalugaz)
Thailand will hold its second general elections since the last coup (2014) on May 14. Following the 2019 elections, the Future Forward Party (which was new and surprised the Thai conservative establishment by gaining the 3rd highest percentage of votes) was banned, its leaders were disqualified. That set off the youth-led pro-democracy movement’s protests, which in 2020 had thousands of people demonstrating in downtown Bangkok.
Since then, leaders and activists in the movement have been arrested, charged under controversial laws. Protests have died down in size, and there is decreasing hope that the political space will allow change. The 2017 constitution put into place a 250-member senate handpicked by the military (or 250 Bootlickers - if you ask Rap Against Dictatorship) amongst other controls; courts and legal processes curiously tend to favor the conservative establishment, and so on…
Contemporary politics in Thailand has been especially defined by the back and forth between Thaksin Shinawatra and the conservative, military establishment. The youth of Bangkok who predominantly participated in the demonstrations and various protest events over the last three years seek another way that some view as too idealistic; is it not one of the crises of our time that our realism limits the potential of things not too hard to imagine? Anyway.
How do you see the elections going? Do you see more or less of the status quo continuing? Do you have hope for change?
We think the election will not be much different from the election in 2019. Even though the former leader party of the military junta “PCP” (พลังประชารัฐ) is the party of former coup leaders "Prayuth" and "Prawit". They used the parliamentary system and the voices of 250 senators to allow themselves to form a government. In Myanmar, this is happening. Min Aung Hlaing is bleaching himself through democratic mechanisms.
Our country has a problem with 250 senators. They are appointed by the NCPO, or coup d'etat council. That means it is an electoral fraud taking advantage of the parliamentary system and the law. Even if the opposition party has more votes than the military party. But the military party still has the voice of senators who can overturn the election results.
Prayut and Prawit are now leaders in their separate political parties. The PCP is dying. If we divide political parties into those that support dictatorship and democracy. The dictatorial party has four major parties and the democratic support party has two.
It may also imply that dictatorship supporters and politicians are competing among themselves. Or on the other hand, they might come together later to defeat pro-democracy support parties in forming a government.
Clashes between riot police and Thalugaz near Din Daeng flats building in 2021 protests
Is it fair to say that Thalugaz’s presence is or was concentrated around Din Daeng in Bangkok? That is where a lot of clashes happened with Thai security forces.
We emerged more clearly during August 2021 and showed clear ways to retaliate against the state. A lot of protesters moved to the Din Daeng area and confronted the police. The demonstrators responded with whatever they could find. And most of them will be fireworks or molotov cocktail.
There began to be more frequent clashes between police and protesters. But we can say that not every clash we were behind the scene. A large number of people went out to fight on their own free will. And we are just one of them. At that time there were many protesters similar to ours. fight like us But we are a group that has clearly demonstrated its left-wing political ideology. Or a group of anarchists.
Clashes between riot police and Thalugas groups at Din Daeng intersection in 2021 protests
The pro-democracy movement became quite large at a point, but mostly within Bangkok. Why do you think it was not able to spread its appeal across the country?
In fact, there were many rallies in many provinces throughout all regions of Thailand. Although there are not as many people as protest in Bangkok.
Because Bangkok is the capital of Thailand. Here there is a centralized government. If the coup d'état council seizes Bangkok, it means they can seize the whole of Thailand. So you can see many protests erupting in Bangkok. Because it is an area that can have a high impact on the country if there is a public uprising or civil unrest.
The 2010 Red Shirt protests centered in Bangkok. But they have many protests in the Northeast and the North as well. Together not less than a million people.
Likewise, protests by the “PDRC” (กปปส.) that called for the military to stage a coup began in southern Thailand. They marched to Bangkok, and there are protests to shutdown Bangkok. While many provinces in the south have held rallies, and it is supported by government agencies.
The complexity of Thai politics in which the military or the political right-wing has influence even in left-wing civilian governments.
How would you describe the space in which pro-democracy or anti-government sentiments are expressed in, in the wider movement? Is it inclusive of different perspectives? Thalugaz had (in the aforementioned interview) said that it is not represented by some of the pro-democracy groups.
If Thai politics is complicated, the protests here are also complicated. There are two main forms of protest in Thailand:
1. Led by prominent leaders or protesters. Protests like this are commonplace. They came up to speak on stage. speeches attacking the government or discussing other issues.
2. Is a protest without a leader. People came together for similar ideologies. "I don't like this government." "We come out to show our strength against injustice.” These types of protests have only recently occurred. And it is a favorite of the new generation.
I think it's hard to say how we should fight or act in order to have an advantage or win in this fight. I only know that I want people to come out and fight injustice by any means necessary they like to do.
Thalugaz is for the working class – what would you say your relationship with the Red Shirts is? The reason I am asking is because of the appeal they had to the lower-income population – what are the differences between Thalugaz and the Red Shirts?
Many of us are descendants of the Red Shirt protestors. Growing up while seeing his ideological brothers and sisters was killed by the state in the capital city of Thailand. In a country known as the Land of Smiles.
As I am responding to this interview, I can confidently say that I am not a redshirt. But I have the same ideology as them. They were oppressed by the elite at that time. Look at them as the lower class who are destroying the country. The state made the middle class push the Red Shirts out of society, and find a reason for killing them.
Fighting in the name of Thalugaz made me meet many people. And many of them are Red Shirts. And they are brave and still fighting injustice, class inequality, state oppression and continue to seek justice for their brothers and sisters who have died. And so that no one will have to face such a massacre again.
Red Shirt protesters during the 2009-2010 protests
The Red Shirts once fought in Din Daeng area in 2009 protests. They faced soldiers with live ammunition.
There is a lot of infighting withing the ruling coalition. Is there any party in it that you feel, through supporting, will help your goals in the long term?
We do not support any particular political party. We think that if a political party says they believe in democracy, they should try to protect the democratic system. Not allow unseen powers to interfere, and they must protect the freedom of expression of the people.
Most political parties are afraid to talk about the issue of the monarchy. Moreover, there are several political parties that have made a clear stance on protecting the monarchy. They have a harsh policy against those who criticize the monarchy. They are trying to increase the penalties of the lese-majeste law. Turn the monarchy into something untouchable. Coat it with fear.
Part 2 of the interview with Thalugaz will be out later this week.