Thai anti-military supporters accused of being ‘nation-haters’ as political divide widens
- ‘Chung-Chart’, or ‘nation-hater’, is now a stock phrase used by supporters of the monarchy and military to label anyone they see as a threat to the kingdom
- For decades the pro-junta ‘yellow’ camp has been at odds with ousted prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra’s ‘red’ supporters
“Chung-Chart” is now a stock phrase for pro-government media and politicians as well as conservative nationalists waging an increasing battle against the opposition on social media and in the courts, illustrating the deepening political divide in the southeast Asian nation.
Although it echoes a global rise in nationalism from the United States to China to India to Europe, Thailand’s brand is rooted in royalty, the barracks and the “yellow” camp which for decades has been at odds with ousted prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra’s “red” supporters.
The term “Chung-Chart” was first popularised by Warong Dechgitvigrom, a senior figure in the Democrat Party, the old establishment party which floundered in the March election.
“I see this as liberalism that destroys traditions and the monarchy by claiming to be democratic,” Warong said. “We need to fight them through ideology. The New Right is a political ideology.”