page_title: Protests over responses to the COVID-19 pandemic
section_title: Thailand
hierarchical_section_title: Protests over responses to the COVID-19 pandemic / Asia / Thailand
caption_attribution_description: English: Protest in Bangkok July 18, 2020 showing three fingers against dictator ไทย: สามนิ้วต้านเผด็จการ
context_page_description: There have been protests and demonstrations around the world against responses to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic by governmental bodies, and these protests have also drawn pushback from those who think the government mandates and lockdowns are justified. Some forms of protests have been compared to the Anti-Mask League of San Francisco movement that was seen during the 1918 pandemic. Various strikes have also occurred.
context_section_description: On 18 July, Thailand saw the largest street demonstration since the 2014 Thai coup d'état at the Democracy Monument in Bangkok with around 2,500 protesters. The protesters, organised under the name Free Youth (Thai: เยวชนปลดแอก; RTGS: yaowachon plod aek), announced three demands: dissolution of the House, stop threatening the people and drafting of a new constitution. The event was triggered by the failed economy due to pandemic, and unjustified implementation of the COVID-19 acts that were heavily criticised as being a tool against any possible protest. The situation erupted after two COVID-19 cases; an Egyptian soldier in Rayong Province, and a Sudanese diplomat’s daughter in Asok neighbourhood of Bangkok, were tested positive earlier on 15 July. Both were excepted from COVID-19’s travel restrictions and containment. Many criticised on both the government’s failure to contain the disease from these VIPs, and its failure to boost the heavily effected tourism industry in Rayong Province. The protesters demanded the government to accept within two weeks, or face larger demonstrations.
  Later on 19 July, several protests erupted in Chiang Mai Province and Ubon Ratchathani Province.
caption: Demonstrations at the Democracy Monument, Bangkok at night
exif: {"Image ExifOffset": "26", "EXIF DateTimeOriginal": "2020:07:21 00:18:03", "EXIF ExifImageWidth": "2295", "EXIF ExifImageLength": "1350"}