Thai: Overseas Civil Disobedience

The Australia News Networks reported that a group of political activists aligned with the recently ousted government started movement to lead a campaign of resistance from outside the country. 

Those co-coordinating the plan say it will be a peaceful campaign of organised opposition.

General Prayuth Chan-ocha seized power on May 22 and has since led a crackdown that has stifled dissent and silenced the ‘Red Shirt’ supporters of former Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra and her brother, former premier Thaksin Shinawatra.

The military has detained many politicians and activists and demanded as a condition of their release that they sign documents pledging to avoid politics and stop anti-coup activities.

Jakrapob Penkair, a former spokesman for Mr Thaksin and Red Shirt founding member, is one of those involved in the resistance campaign.

He says the group has yet to formulate exactly what measures they will use, but they will be peaceful and aim to fill the leadership vacuum among anti-coup elements.

“We believe democracy in Thailand has been systematically destroyed,” he said from Phnom Penh.

“People have been chastened, hunted and bullied with no sense of fairness, justice or decency.

“We aim to create an organisation for all groups protesting the coup inside and outside Thailand. This would be a non-radical group using civil disobedience.”

interactive editor