#MilkTeaAlliance springs to life as Thailand pro-democracy protesters march on Prayuth’s home

Sunday’s march targeted Prayuth’s taxpayer-paid lodgings at the 1st infantry regiment, with scores of Myanmar migrants joining in

Ahead of the rally, memes, graphics and symbols of the #MilkTeaAlliance bounced across social media in Thailand, Taiwan, Hong Kong, Myanmar and India

Reading Time:3 minutes

Pro-democracy protesters holds signs relating to the #MilkTeaAlliance and the current situation in Myanmar as they take part in a demonstration in Bangkok on Sunday. Photo: AFP

Published: 8:18pm, 28 Feb 2021Updated: 11:03pm, 28 Feb 2021

Thousands of pro-democracy demonstrators marched on the army barracks home of Thailand Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-ocha on Sunday in a procession filled with the flags and signs of the #MilkTeaAlliance, the trans-Asia movement of youthful protesters fighting back against authoritarian leaders.

The protesters – mostly Thais, with some from Myanmar – gathered at Victory Monument in Bangkok for the noisy rally, the first organised for months by the Thai protest group Free Youth, which has rebranded itself “Restart Democracy”, or REDEM, in a bid to inject life into the stalled movement and attract the tens of thousands of protesters they regularly brought to demonstrations last year.

Sunday’s march targeted Prayuth’s taxpayer-paid lodgings at the 1st infantry regiment – a barracks under the command of the King Maha Vajiralongkorn, whose role has been cast into question by Thailand’s protest movement.

Anti-government protesters march during a protest in Bangkok, Thailand on Sunday towards a military house where Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-ocha lives. Photo: AP

Shipping containers and razor wire were placed around the regiment and hundreds of police officers with riot shields were deployed to keep the peace. As night fell, police shot rubber bullets and fired water cannons and tear gas at protesters after some of the protesters threw firecrackers. There were reports of arrests and some injuries.

The protesters were joined by scores of Myanmar migrants, including students and workers, who are demanding democracy in their own country, where a February 1 coup by the army has stirred massive demonstrations and a civil disobedience campaign.

Select Voice

Choose your listening speed

Get through articles 2x faster

1.25x

250 WPM

Slow

Average

Fast

00:0000:00

1.25x