No to the Coup in Thailand

On the morning of September 29, 2006, a little less than 100 people from various civic groups and social movement organizations gathered in front of the Thai Embassy to protest against the military coup that ousted Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra and revoked the Thai Constitution of 1997 on September 19. They chanted “Stop political intervention now!” “Restore the Constitution now!” and “Protect basic democratic rights now!”


A speaker from All Together, an anti-war and anti-capitalist workers’ organization in South Korea, said

“It is a total nonsense when the military junta proclaims they are for democracy
in Thailand. A coup d’état is an enemy of democracy. If they are for democracy,
why are they banning peaceful demonstrations and protests against the coup and
revoked the Constitution of 1997.”

Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra is not without controversies but he is a democratically
elected prime minister. Perhaps the South Korean protesters know better than anyone else that it is the people who have the right to bring down their prime minister and not the military junta.
When the organizers of the protest contacted the Thai Embassy to arrange a delivery of the statement against the coup, the Thai Embassy refused. But the Thai Embassy was surprised to find a big crowd of protesters today. They quickly changed their mind and accepted the protesters’ statement against the coup. This is a small example that the people have the power for genuine democratic change, not the politicians and certainly not the military.



In the end, the protesters agreed that they will continue to build solidarity with the Thai people against the coup. An organizer of the protest reminded everyone that th Thai people's actions will undoubtedly accompany tremendous danger since they live under the constant threat of military repression. This is why building strong solidarity movements home and abroad are crucial. Every cheered when a solidary message from the '19 September Network Against Coup d'etat' was read aloud.
Such a task is especially important for the Korean people who had had suffered under the military dictatorship and had brought down the military dictatorship through struggle.
On that note, everyone at the protest strongly warned the Thai military junta that if they do not step down from the power immediately, they will face once again the great power of the Thai people.
The South Korean protesters also demanded the following.

1. The military junta immediately stop its political intervention!
2. Immediate restoration of the Constitution of 1997.
3. Protection of basic democratic rights including the freedom of press. Guarantee of safety to the demonstration on October 6 and the Thai Social Forum.