Living in America has become an embarrassment for many. Our country, which prides itself on democracy and equal opportunity, has left a multitude of Americans feeling hopeless and as though they are feeding into a broken system. While our nation will never be perfect, there must be a time when we zoom out on the global map and recognize where we fall.
Since late February, the streets of Thailand have been engulfed by protesters voicing their desires for a transparent democratic governmental system. While this might sound similar to the political climate in America, there is one fundamental difference that makes the assemblies in Thailand all the more pressing.
A brief history of Thai law reveals that while freedom of speech is a known and accepted concept within the country, the scope of speech that is actually protected in Thailand is quite limited. In 2014, Thailand put in place a law prohibiting politically motivated gatherings of more than five individuals. This essentially eliminates the people’s right to oppose the government through powerful protest. Along with this ban, Thailand follows the law of lese-majeste, meaning that anyone who speaks or publishes seditious statements regarding the royal monarchy will be sentenced to jail.
Ambitious for change, hundreds of thousands of young adults have taken to the streets of Thailand to vocalize their grievances, even if it means risking jail time. These legal limitations placed on Thai citizens make it evident that the values of democracy within the country are blurred. This has created the controversial upheaval that now pegs Thailand and a country-wide censorship of citizens’ views.
According to the BBC, nine Thai pro-democracy activists were recently arrested for violating the lese-majeste laws in place, which could land them up to seven years in prison. This punishment should be unjust in a country which presents itself as democratic on the global stage. Although arrests can understandably be made at protests if tensions escalate and erupt, each Thai protest has consisted of large peaceful gatherings in which individuals hold signs and three fingers in the air to symbolize resistance.
Rights aside, these protests also call for reform to the monarchical system within the country. Throughout its history, Thailand has had 17 constitutions. While each differs in detail, the overall government system in place – which originally mirrored that of the constitutional monarchy in the United Kingdom – remained fundamentally the same until 2014. A coup staged by the Royal Thai Armed Forces then put in place the military dictatorship that now manages the country. Rather than reverting to the weakly democratic roots the country previously had, protesters are uniting under the hope for a new Thailand – one in which the government is transparent with the people and safeguards individuals’ rights.
Although some may argue that the negations toward the government do not reflect the entirety of Thailand’s population as many protesters are youth, the Thai Inquirer revealed through a poll that 89.51% of the overall population doesn’t believe that Thailand is truly democratic. This statistic sheds light on the broad support for change within the country.
Culturally, Thai people are raised understanding that they must respect and admire the monarchy in place. However, this love for the monarchy is not only instilled through cultural disposition, but a sense of fear of unrightful imprisonment for petitioning the government – a terror that many Americans have never experienced.
By educating ourselves on other nations’ domestic issues, we can learn to appreciate our own rights. Whether you are embarrassed to be an American or not, at least you have the right to be. We might not be able to directly impact the situation in Thailand, but we can stand in solidarity with the protesters’ efforts by showing our support for a better, more democratic Thailand by acknowledging and appreciating the rights we tend to take for granted every day. Only then will we step back and gain a greater understanding of what the safeguards to our freedom actually mean.
