Thai protesters dress as Harry Potter to denounce the government
Thai demonstrators have co-opted the theme of Harry Potter to “cast a spell” for democracy in the latest round of anti-government protests to hit the Southeast Asian nation.
Many of some 200 protesters at a Bangkok rally on Monday dressed up like the fictional wizard Harry Potter and other characters from the popular book and film series in what they said was a reference to vanquishing injustices under the military-backed government.
Anon Nampa, 34, a prominent lawyer, took to the stage wearing a striped Gryffindor scarf and black robe to denounce Prayuth Chan-ocha, the prime minister, accusing him of using his position to “gain benefits.”
The crowd also lambasted the government for its mishandling of the economy, with one protester depicting Prawit Wongsuwon, the deputy prime minister as a “tax eater,” a riff on the terrorising “death eaters” of the Harry Potter world.
The trade- and tourism-dependent economy is already facing an 8.5 per cent this year, the biggest decline in Asia and one which coincides with growing public discontent about the erosion of rights and political freedoms.
For more than two weeks, young Thais across the country have held near daily protests to demand an end to the harassment of government critics and amendments to the military-written constitution that critics say helps to secure the army’s influence over the political system.
On Monday, some took the risky step of also demanding reforms to the monarchy of King Maha Vajiralongkorn, calling for the palace’s powers to be curbed in unusually frank public comments.
Defaming the monarchy is punishable by up to 15 years in prison under Thailand’s ‘lese majeste’ laws.
Mr Prayuth, the prime minister, responded to the ongoing unrest on Tuesday by announcing the government would hold a public forum this month to address the concerns of the country’s youth and allow them to voice their opinions.
“I’m concerned about our youth, and I want them to know that we’ll listen to their ideas about what they want their future to look like,” he said after a Cabinet meeting.
As the former army chief, General Prayuth led a military coup in 2014 and ruled as the head of a junta for five years, returning as leader of a multi-party coalition after a disputed election last year.
