For several years, Thailand's political landscape has been characterized by opposition between two parties : the supporters of former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra, the so-called red shirts, on the one hand, and the yellow shirts, the upper or rich class, on the other.
In May last year, the military finally stepped in, ousting the ruling government of Thaksin's sister Yingluck and setting up its own. Since then, the state's political orientation has moved more and more away from democracy towards dictatorship: bans on gatherings, press surveillance, postponed new elections, etc. are more than clear signs of this.
The Thai population is afraid and does not dare to intervene - except for the students who are protesting and holding demonstrations across the country . Even the prospect of long prison sentences doesn't stop them and it is this courage that motivated us to write this article.
“Stars on Earth” against dictatorial structures
Near Khon Kaen University there is a trailer park-like headquarters of the Dao Din - translated "Stars on Earth" - as the student movement is called, where organizing and discussions take place. The group consists of a diverse mix of students from different academic and political backgrounds , but they share the idea that Thailand urgently needs fair elections.
Students under police violence
One of them is Conthicha, a 22-year-old girl, 1.60m tall and weighing 40kg, who ended up before the military court and imprisoned with 13 other activists. The group demonstrated in front of police stations, published pamphlets and organized flash mobs , but two large protests were the last straw and the police used force to arrest the students. Chonthicha was injured in the back and, after a night on the hard prison floor, was taken to a military hospital, where she was placed next to a tuberculosis patient. Her male comrades-in-arms had to share a cell with over 20 serious criminals - rapists and murderers - and a hole in the middle of the room served as a toilet.
Long live the resistance!
But the student protests galvanized the population to take action and more and more people gathered in front of the prison and demanded the release of the young people. The EU also got involved, as did the United Nations. After two weeks in custody, the 14 students were actually released, but the charges remain.
A few months later, Chonthicha has not yet had to go to trial, but she expects that time will come soon. Due to the injury to her back inflicted by a police officer, she requires regular physical therapy and walks with a limp. But for Chonthicha it was worth it because the people have to rebel so that something changes. She knows she might end up in prison in the not-too-distant future, but Chonthicha is confident she can endure it. A story of true heroism that shows what students can achieve when they put their heart and soul into it .
Have you also heard about the student protests in Myanmar?
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Long live the resistance!
