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Sound of Rebellion Borrowed From Myanmar Revives Thai Protests

Vijitra Duangdee

   BANGKOK - Thai pro-democracy protesters returned to Bangkok's streets
   Wednesday for a thunderous "pots and pans" rally against the arrest of
   their leaders and as an act of solidarity with mass protests against a
   military coup in Myanmar.

   Protests in Myanmar after the February 1 military coup began with acts
   of civil disobedience, including the beating of pots and pans, to drive
   away "evil" -- a custom now enacted nightly targeting the army that
   toppled the elected government of Aung San Suu Kyi.

   Wednesday evening, thousands of Thai protesters fighting their own
   pro-democracy battle used the same method of dissent against a
   government stacked with generals that is struggling to find answers to
   the economic damage caused by COVID-19.

   "The pots-and-pans theme is inspired by Myanmar," said protester
   Napasin Treelayapewat, 16. "But it's also a symbolic gesture from the
   Thai people to show that they're starving, because pots and pans to
   some are tools to earn a living. And now, they have nothing left."

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