Thailand protests

Young Thais are becoming increasingly fed up with the stifling consensus and repeated military interventions in the country's politics.

For months, protesters in Thailand have called for reforms. This weekend as many as 100,000 protesters descended on Bangkok.

The weekend's demonstrations indicate that the momentum for political reform is unlikely to dissipate any time soon.

Beyond the headlines, what do the current protests tell us about the country’s present and future?

The throne’s sacred aura has faded under the reign of the vain and unstable King Vajiralongkorn.

Shifts in the establishment’s support base are driving the Thai democracy movement. That sets the current moment apart.

The 1976 Thammasat massacre serves as a horrific reminder of what can happen to those who criticize Thailand’s monarchy.

Student protesters aired grievances normally expressed in whispers in remarkably direct language.

The government cracked down on Friday with the arrests of some high-profile members of the pro-democracy movement. 

Activists followed up the 2,000-strong demonstration on Saturday with smaller protests.

A Thai born in 1990 has now experienced 3 economic crises, 2 military coups, and countless constitutional changes. Small wonder discontent is boiling over.

While Thailand’s coup leader remains premier, the polls unleashed new democratic sentiments that the regime now struggles to silence.