“His friend shared a clip with me. But I didn’t know it was my son. I didn’t think it was until I saw it on the news elsewhere. I really didn’t think it was my son.”
“He’s only 15. He’s only 15, and he has to face this.”
These were the words of Nipaporn Somnoi on 17 August, the mother of a 15-year-old youth shot in the neck in front of the Din Daeng Police Station at the 16 August protest. He’s still in critical condition.
“He told me he’s going to the protest. I said no, don’t go. It’s not the duty of a child. Don’t go. But I didn’t know that he went with friends. When I called, he didn’t answer. This was his first time at the protest. He never went before.”
Who is to blame for this and many other incidents?
The police blame the parents as they consider charging parents who “allow” their children to join the protest.
General Prayut Chan-o-cha blames the youths and called their actions “gangster.”
Ultra-traditionalists blame Thaksin Shinawatra and Thanathorn Juangrungruangkit, including the CIA and the US Government, reasoning that they are behind Thailand’s political protests.
Protesters and supporters blame the police, General Prayut, and someone else we cannot mention.
Thailand’s political struggle is 89 years in the making.
The 1932 Revolution was meant to transform an absolute monarchy into a democracy. Instead, within a year, the military faction of Khana Ratsadon took power, and we became a dictatorship.
For 89 years and ongoing, the struggle is between generals and democratists with 13 successful military coups as the theme. Even when there’s a civilian government, the generals pull the string from behind the curtain more often than not.
The present is the consequence of the past. Every action has a domino effect that links the past to the present and the future.
2021-08-18