Photos from Workers' Union

On Sunday (19 May), to commemorate Nakba, the Palestinian displacement that began in May 1948, protesters in Bangkok marched to the UK, German, and US embassies to demand that the three countries divest from and end arms deliveries to Israel.

Pak, one of the protest organisers, said that they also wanted to raise awareness about the role of the UK and Germany in the Nakba displacement and its origins in Western colonialism. She explained that both governments have repressed pro-Palestine protests in their countries, and added that the UK has suspended its funding for the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA), which provide humanitarian aid for Gaza.

According to Pak, this is the second time that protesters have marched to the German Embassy. The first time was on 19 April, when protesters demanded that the German government end its repression of pro-Palestinian protesters.

“We visited them again today to let them know that activists have rights, must be protected, and should not be harassed by the state,” she said.

Remarking upon the continued displacement of Palestinians in the post-1948 period, Pak said that they have the right to a normal life and should not be exposed to the indiscriminate attacks now occurring in Gaza. She pointed out that the remaining Thai hostages held by Hamas since 7 October of last year remain in danger due to Israeli military carpet bombing and repeated evacuation orders, and noted as well that recovering bodies of migrant workers from Thailand and other countries would also be very dangerous.

“We want these governments to understand that commercial benefits are not everything.   People around the world are watching them, people who pay taxes to them, people who keep these governments from falling.  We want them to take notice and stop their support, to meet our demands and work together for the peace everyone deserves,” she said.