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Opinion

Thailand's political convulsions are far from spontaneous

The bold youth breakout is rooted in political dissidence earlier this century

| Thailand
The three-finger salute inspired by The Hunger Games films has been adopted by young Thai protesters, but was first seen after the coup in 2014 when heavily armed troops occupied pedestrian walkways under the BTS SkyTrain running along Sukhumvit Road. (Photo by Nick Nostitz)

Nick Nostitz is a German journalist who chronicled Thailand's Red-Yellow political divide.

The humid night air was filled with chants deeply insulting to King Maha Vajiralongkorn. It was Oct. 15, 2020, and the Ratchaprasong intersection in central Bangkok was heaving with over 10,000 mostly young protesters. As I watched from Germany, I was swept back to Sept. 19, 2010. Thailand's political turmoil is not new at all, but a continuation of earlier unrest barely reported by most media.

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