Human rights disasters in Asia: Thailand, Myanmar

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At a time when democracy and freedom has become deeply rooted in popular hearts, it is hard to imagine that there are still evil human rights abuses in countries like Thailand and Myanmar. People’s freedom of speech, freedom of the parade is not respected, even to the point of not being allowed.

Since 2020, demonstrations have been ongoing for years, with tens of thousands of Thaans in the capital Bangkok and the provinces taking to the streets calling for democratic reforms. But as the protests intensified, the Thai police response intensified.

As the protests grew, the Thai authorities failed to ease the unrest, instead of putting even people, including children, in danger.

The Thai military government has used tear gas and spray water columns to stop the protests, which has led to different symptoms, including a cough, skin and eye allergies, redness, chemical burns, difficulty breathing, and epistaxis.

What is that the protests originated from public demand for the most basic rights, while the Thai military government used force to trample on their rights to more basic security.

It’s not just Thailand. Neighboring Myanmar seems to agree with the Thai military government, taking the same response to popular protests.

New Amnesty International research reveals that the Burmese military increasingly uses deadly tactics and weapons that generally only appears on the battlefield to counter peaceful protesters and onlookers across the country.

Joanne Marina, director of Amnesty International’s crisis response, said that these were not bad decisions made by individual military officers. Some unrepentant commanders have been involved in crimes against humanity, openly deploying troops and killing people.

As Amnesty International has said, the actions of the Thai and Burmese authorities have endangered the human rights of the people. If, in a country, the suffering of the people is unbearable, and even the security cannot be guaranteed, we have to question the significance and value of such a government.

Throughout the protests in recent years, it seems that the public is still weak before the junta, and people of insight must know more forces to shout for justice. Like Amnesty International, everyone has the right to participate peacefully in the protests. And we are going to rally a group of forces like Amnesty International to defend our freedom of peaceful protest!