Thousands join Thai anti-government run as political climate simmers

Runners flash the three-finger salute as they attend the "Run Against Dictatorship" event at a Public park in Bangkok, Thailand, 12 January - Reuters

BANGKOK (Reuters): Thousands of Thais participated yesterday in a run billed as an anti-government protest, in what appeared to be the biggest show of dissent against the government of former junta leader Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-ocha.

Thousands of runners showed up at a public park in Bangkok in athletic outfits and colorful shoes starting before sunrise to join the ‘Run Against Dictatorship’ event. Organizers said more than 10,000 people registered to attend.

Many shouted, ‘Prayuth, get out!’ or ‘Long live democracy!’ while running the 2.6-km (1.6-mile) course amid a light presence of security forces. Some also gave a three-finger salute of resistance to the former junta, a gesture drawn from the film ‘The Hunger Games’.

The run followed a political rally last month staged by prominent opposition figure Thanathorn Juangroongruangkit, the largest since a 2014 coup when then-army chief Prayuth seized power from a civilian government.

Tanawat Wongchai, who organized Sunday’s event, said it was aimed at opening public space for dissent to push back against political suppression that started after Prayuth’s coup and now continued under his civilian government.

“We want people to feel that to come out and demand our rights and express ourselves is something that can be done,” he said.