By Chutikan Chaikittiwatana |
In mid-August 2020, at the height of the student-led pro-democracy protests, Thai high school students began protesting by displaying the three-finger salute during the the playing of the national anthem at their morning assembly while wearing white bows as symbols of resistance to dictatorship.
Despite its familiarity in daily Thai life, few are aware of the anthem’s origins, which trace back to the 1932 Siamese revolution that transformed the country into a constitutional monarchy, and as the definition of the nation become contested, the anthem becomes an arena hosting differing definitions among factions of Thais.
<p>On 5 Oct, PM’s Office Minister Sathit Wongnongtoey denied as untrue criticism by the Pheua Thai Party and some newspapers that his ‘Thais United, Thais Strong Project’ had squandered Bt60 million of public money.</p>
<p>The government will encourage the Thai people in all provinces to come out to sing the National Anthem at 6 pm every day until 5 Dec to promote unity and patriotism. The events will be broadcast live from each province, starting with Krabi.</p>