Civil Solidarity In Thailand: Citizens Crowded To Book Rooms Online For Protesters To Rest

Demo mendesak mundur PM Thailand Prayuth Chan-ocha (Source: Antara)

JAKARTA - Dozens of hostels throughout Bangkok opened their doors to provide shelter to the exhausted demonstrators. Some even provide free rooms. The mass movement of Thai society is behind this.

Since mid-July, dominant Thai youth and student protesters have taken to the streets demanding monarchy reform and the resignation of Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-ocha. They also protested against the forces' repressiveness.

It's not just the hostel manager's initiative. The aid was provided by many Thai people who realized the bad pressure from the authorities on the demonstrators.

The massive media spotlight has indeed enabled demonstrations to be monitored nationally. The public witnessed firsthand how the demonstrators had to face water cannons and play cat and mouse with the police, when it was hot until late at night.

A 23 year old student is one of the room tenants. He booked rooms through an online service for demonstrators who slept on the streets throughout the demonstration.

"I feel sorry for those who are homeless," he said on condition of anonymity to Reuters, Thursday, October 22.

The online movement is bridged via Twitter. An account, @Moobmeeteenon - which means "protesters have a place to sleep" helped connect protesters to the rooms.

The movement began when the government issued an emergency decree this month. At that time, the authorities repressed the camps built by demonstrators at various points in the city.

Another 25-year-old volunteer, who has also helped organize housing, said around five hundred people have been served since the movement began. As well as beds, protesters were given three meals a day and transportation to protest.

For hostels, this is also advantageous. Since April, when authorities partially closed commercial flights in an effort to prevent COVID-19, many hostels and hotels in Bangkok have seen a significant drop in guest numbers. And the demonstrations rounded off all that commercial catastrophe.

So, this movement of free rooms has had a wide positive impact. A protester from Chonburi province in eastern Bangkok was surprised to be offered a bed when he thought he would sleep on the street after a recent rally.

“There are four people sleeping in this room. This is my place, ”said the 27-year-old, speaking from a hostel in central Bangkok.

On Thursday, October 22, the government tried to ease tensions by canceling an emergency decree, one of which prohibits political gatherings of five or more people. The decree also prohibits reporting that "affects security."