Activists in Chiang Mai staged a protest on Sunday (30 June) in front of the US Consulate to demand that the US end its military support and arms trade with Israel to end violence committed against Palestinians during the war in Gaza.

The vigil at Tha Phae gate.

The activist groups Chiang Mai for Palestine and Thai Socialist Workers, along with other Chiang Mai residents, gathered at the US Consulate in Chiang Mai on Sunday evening (30 June) before marching to the Tha Phe gate, a popular tourist landmark in Chiang Mai’s old town, where they held a vigil for victims of the war.

Punyanut Maharaksit, a representative of Chiang Mai for Palestine, said that although the US has a good relationship with Chiang Mai, the protesters wanted to make a stand as Chiang Mai residents against the US funding of the Israeli military, since the weapons procured from the support would be used on civilians and children. She also said that the activists do not encourage Thailand to build a relationship with Israel, especially when it comes to sending Thai workers to Israel, where they would face uncertainty and danger.

A representative of Thai Socialist Workers also questioned why the Thai government is continuing to send Thai citizens to work in Israel even though the situation is not safe and said that Thai people are not benefiting from this relationship

Chiang Mai for Palestine is planning to hold similar protests every month until a permanent ceasefire is achieved, since Israel’s attack on Rafah has caused a significant loss of lives. The group believe that ending military support and ending diplomatic relations would be a solution to ending the war in Gaza.