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Anti-Bush Demonstration at APEC Summit

Eugene Jones, Bangkok

10/22/03: (ICH) Despite government threats, intimidation and calls "to protect the image of the country", there was a significant protest at this week's APEC summit in Bangkok. On Saturday night, 18 October, George W. Bush arrived and was shuttled to his hotel with more caution than ceremony. Political activist and academic, Ji Ungphakorn, who organized a rally for Sunday morning, had to compromise with the government of Thaksin Shinawatra and the demonstration was held in an area removed from Bush's hotel rather than across the street. Still, despite this disappointment, approximately 1000 protestors met at Chulalongkorn University and marched to popular tourist area, Siam Square for a rally that included banners, speeches and an APEC monitoring group (The Nation, October 20, 2003, P. 3A). 

Talking to various of the protestors that were predominately Thai, but included several Westerners, and comprised farmers, workers, Muslim activists, environmentalists, AIDS activists and academics, I learned that overwhelmingly the demonstration was against Bush. Although there was some element of protest against APEC and even a smattering of complaint against the Shinawatra government, the focus of the demonstration was Bush and the unifying principle was animosity to his militancy and empire building policies.

"Bush, Bush, go home" the marchers shouted over and over, carrying banners with such slogans as "Bush the Killer is Coming To Town" and "George Bush: The Real Terrorist". A speaker in a sound truck denounced Bush as an imperialist and a war criminal. This aroused a lot of sentiment from among locals and foreign tourists in the area for I observed that a number of people who were mere observers went into the street and joined in the march.

Also on hand were about 100 Police and Immigration officers. The police took pictures of the demonstrators, especially foreigners. It was reported by the Bangkok Post (October 20, 2003) that they planned to use those pictures to determine whether any of the foreign protestors were illegally in the country or were members of the outlawed groups. Some of the protesters claimed that it was meant as intimidation. However, from my observation, the police did not seem to be antagonistic towards the demonstrators and there were no visible signs of violence.

What the demonstration says about the state of Thai democracy is ambiguous. That the rally was allowed to take place without arrests or violence is a positive sign but that the government did intend some intimidation is portentous of a dangerous direction in the Shinawatra regime. What was said to the world though is very clear; even in Thailand, a country with a history of submission to the US, the anti-Bush feelings are strong and there is solidarity with all the victims of American aggression. 

(For local reporting of the demonstration and rally go to www.nationmultimedia.com of 20 October, 2003 and www.banakokpost.net of 20 October, 2003. For international coverage, www.bbc.co.uk )

Eugene Jones is a lecturer in Political Science at Mahidol University International College in Thailand and can be reached at drjones@loxinfo.co.th