In August 2015, a bomb went off in a popular Hindu shrine, located in Bangkok, Thailand.
The explosion killed 22 people and wounded over 120.
But this attack was not an isolated event.
In February, two bombs exploded in a Bangkok shopping mall, and police were warned of as
many as 100 more potential targets.
Many have attributed this rise in bombings as an attempt to destabilize the military
junta which seized control of the country in May 2014.
So, what exactly is going on in Thailand?
Well, Thailand has seen violence and political instability throughout its entire history.
The country has seen 12 coup d’états since 1932, and is rife with human rights abuses.
In 2006, Thailand’s former Prime Minister, Thaksin Shinawatra was ousted from rule by
a military coup d’etat.
Although he was popular for expanding social programs and fighting poverty, opposition
groups accused him of nepotism and corruption.
After his removal from office, his sister Yingluck won the 2011 election by a landslide,
becoming the first female PM of Thailand.
However, many have said that her brother was still the guiding force behind her rule.
In 2013, Yingluck proposed a bill which would give blanket amnesty to civilian protesters
from earlier political instability, as well as amnesty for her former Prime Minister brother.
This sparked mass protests by opposition groups, known as “Yellow Shirts."
They called for an end to the dynastic rule of the Shinawatra family.
In late 2013, an anti-government group invaded government buildings, and opposing politicians
in parliament stepped down en masse, in an effort to destabilize the government.
The Prime Minister attempted to hold an emergency election, but the election was boycotted and
violence erupted among protesters.
In May of 2014 the country’s constitutional court removed the PM from office, citing a
number of violations of the constitution, as well as the deteriorating situation.
Roughly two weeks later, the commander of the Thai Army, Prayut Chan-o-cha implemented
martial law in Thailand, saying it was necessary to avoid rioting.
Two days later, the commander announced a coup, and seized control of the government.
He added to martial law with a curfew, banned political opposition, arrested a number of
politicians, and began censoring the internet and media.
The commander then instituted himself as the leader of the government, creating a military
junta, and revising the constitution to give himself amnesty for the coup.
Since then, many groups have opposed the new military dictatorship, and lack of democracy.
These latest bombings are considered a reaction by those opposed to the junta.
Some have even suggested that the junta is committing the bombing to justify their military
rule.
Sadly, this series of events is nothing new for Thailand, which has seen its citizens
suffer under political instability, violence, and human rights abuses for nearly a century.
Thailand’s neighbor to the west, Myanmar, has also faced extreme violence and human
rights abuses, including rebel attacks that killed 130 people in February 2015.
What’s happening in Myanmar?
Check out this video to learn more.
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