Several groups of red-shirt taxi drivers protested at the Pheu Thai Party headquarters, expressing disagreement after the Bhumjaithai Party joined the Pheu Thai-led coalition.

On 8 August 2023, several groups of red-shirt taxi drivers, led by Woraphorl Gaemkhuntod, gathered in front of the Pheu Thai Party headquarters to express their refusal to continue to support the party if it insists on forming a government with a party from the outgoing government coalition, led by the 2014 coup-maker.

During the protest, the taxi drivers returned their red shirts to the party and also burned their Pheu Thai membership cards.

Woraphorl said during the Covid-19 pandemic, tens of thousands of lives were lost. Millions of children missed opportunities due to increasing poverty caused by the dictator’s administration. But today Pheu Thai has joined a coalition with a political party that was part of the dictatorship.

The representative said that if the executives of the party persist in forming a coalition with these parties, groups of taxi drivers will terminate their membership in the Pheu Thai family.

After finishing the protest, they went to the Thai Summit Tower to show their support for the Move Forward Party (MFP).

Meanwhile, families of the victims of the 2010 crackdown came to show their support for the Pheu Thai Party to form a government and amend the laws to deal with the ongoing crisis. 

The representative of the families said she did not support the party forming a coalition with the Phalang Pracharat Party, the United Thai Nation Party, or the Democrat Party. It is unacceptable if the party allies with the parties that played a part in the 2010 crackdown. She added that she will wait for the party to form a government and restore justice not only to the families of 99 victims who were killed in the 2010 crackdown but also to those in other provinces who are waiting for clarification.

Somjai Khemthong, a relative of one of the victims, urged the senators to prioritise the people’s needs to move the country forward. She said forming a government depends on the party and she will accept its decision.

Last week, the Pheu Thai Party dumped the MFP and announced an alliance with the Anutin Charnvirakul-led Bhumjaithai Party on 7 August. Anutin initially announced that his party will join the coalition on three conditions: no interference with Section 112, no minority government, and no MFP included in the government.