From Manager, September 16, 2020
Left: Today the global number of Covid cases… increases more than a hundred thousand…
Caption: The world problem
Right: Today the number of democratically-addicted people increases by more than a hundred thousand…
Caption: …in Thailand
[Refers to the surge in public support for democratic reforms in Thailand. This cartoon ridicules this, contending that the issue is not important at this time when the world is struggling with the pandemic.
For the opposition to the government, it is likely seen as the perfect time for protest, at the depths of economic distress, when the military-dominated government might be more receptive to pressure.]
From Naewna, From September 14, 2020
Penguin: I will turn the world over and overthrow the country.
Capton: Big Guin is really bigger than the country.
[Refers to the leader of student protests Parit “Penguin” Chiwarak who is accused of being hugely overconfident in leading his group to reform the monarchy.]
From Manager September 14, 2020
Left: What do you feed him? Why, it grows up bigger than the country.
Right: Cheesecake
[Refers the leader of student protests, Parit “Penguin” Chiwarak.
Parit and his reform group met at the U.S. embassy in the past and were photographed with the U.S. ambassador being served cheesecake.
Some in the media have claimed that these meetings prove that Penguin’s monarchy reform group is supported by the U.S. government and that the U.S. government wishes to replace Thailand’s present system of government with a republic.
The U.S. embassy has denied they are specifically supporting Parit and contend they just periodically meet with various groups from Thai society.
Photos of Parit at the embassy meetings have been mocked in the Thai media for the cheesecake aspect, poking fun at Parit’s girth. This is compared in the cartoon to his alleged overconfidence in taking on a subject like reforming the monarchy.]
From Arun, September, 2020 This shows students on the constitution plinth erasing parts they want to get rid of–such as the part of the charter that allows appointed senators to cast their vote in the election of the prime minister. The cartoon refers to the famous “Raising the Flag on Iwo Jima” photo to express the dedication and struggle of the students.
From Thairath, August 19, 2020 Title: Kids are the result of the 12 Thai values [meaning that the 12 values that the government promoted, but did not follow itself, are being followed by children who are pointing out the rot in the government] Prayuth on TV: We will follow our promise… give us time and it won’t take too long. Nataphol: Preed [the sound of a whistle blowing]… Be careful. Don’t be divisive. On his shirt: Education Minister On teacher’s skirt: Threaten the students Mouse: Don’t want a dictator
[This shows the government and schools threatening young people due to their different political perspectives. Education Minister Nataphol talked with the students to hear their voices on the current conflict, but he is known as pro-military and supported the People’s Democratic Reform Committee (PDR) to overthrow Yingluck’s government during the last coup. The junta has promoted 12 core Thai values for a stronger nation. This cartoonist is sarcastic about government sincerity. For example, according to the cartoon, PM Prayuth did not keep his promises after taking power, asking people to be patient and the junta would clear up all problems before returning power to the people. However, he still remains in power and his rule has been beset by many obvious instances of corruption.]
From Manager, August 8, 2020 Kids: Go!
Sudarat, pointing to PM Prayuth: Hey!… Wrong target!! Auntie supports you guys to overthrow him!!
Caption: Being close friends with the kids for building a house.
[The cartoon shows the student groups, which initially focused on a three-point plan which included demands for the PM to step down and a new charter to be written, being influenced by another group, which has a 10-point plan that includes a reform of the monarchy and open discussion about its place in society.
Even former Red Shirt leaders chided the students to stay on track with the original 3-point plan. A charter rewrite was all the opposition has fought for for almost 15 years and it seemed the opposition was finally gaining momentum.
The fear was that a shift to wide-ranging reforms of the monarchy might be a deliberate attempt to ruin the momentum for a charter rewrite. The cartoonist shows the protesters veering away from the prime minister and heading to sky to take on the monarchy, much to the chagrin of mainstream opposition politicians who simply want to set the stage for their return to control of government.
The caption uses the Thai proverb “to be close friends with the kids for building a house” meaning being close with young, impressionable people to do your bidding. The cartoon uses this proverb to joke that the Pheu Thai party, here represented by Sudarat, was happy to support the student protests in its “three points” form to go after Prayuth, but has no desire for a more controversial “ten points” focus on the monarchy which might muddy their simple goal of gaining control of the government again.
Of course the Pheu Thai and Thaksin would insist they have nothing to do with the original three-point charter rewrite protests. If that is true, they would have to be amazed and thankful that the issue they have unsuccessfully championed for almost 15 years has spontaneously been taken up by student groups, and even more amazing, that the government has claimed they would work on revising the charter (although their “support” of a charter rewrite is lukewarm at best).
The wild card here is the disbanded Future Forward Party which has been looking for payback since the party was disbanded earlier this year. They have always taken a more confrontational stance in their politicking and some members have been openly extolling the French Revolution. It is much more likely that the split in the student protests between the three-pointers and the ten-pointers reflects the various political revenge aspirations within the former Future Forward Party.
Others in the Thai media think the pivot to demand reform of the monarchy has disadvantaged Thanatorn, since the more liberal of the Thai youth do not have to follow him as talk of reform is now out in the open. Under this thinking, Thanatorn is just as distressed as the Pheu Thai by the focus on the monarchy, as he simply wishes to be part of a government, not to confront the whole system directly and perhaps provoke an uncertain outcome.]
From Thairath, August 17, 2020 Title: August 16th, Thai freedom day The students are saying: Stop threatening. People. Mouse man: Thailand’s peaceful killer. Mouse: Dictatorial heart. [This cartoon contends that the government is intimidating peaceful expression of opinion by student protests concerning the government and the monarchy.]
From Manager, From August 5, 2020 Pannika as “Liberty Leading the People”: Hey!… The French Revolution is not Harry Potter. Caption: [left] Fantasy of the Mung Ming mob… [right] …of the persons who call for a mob
[This cartoon jokes about how the current youth protests conduct themselves differently from the anti-government groups led by three leaders from the former Future Forward Party. “Liberty Leading the People” is Pannika, at left is Thanathorn and on the right is Piyabutr. Piyabutr has referenced the French Revolution in articles in past months, including three days a row in July to commemorate the events. Other opposition media outlets covered online classes teaching about the French Revolution and its importance. As the revolution overthrew and beheaded the then monarch in France, the timing of all this revolution talk would seem similar to the Red Shirt years of protests when revolutionary events and assassinations were brought up–all the while with assurances that it had nothing to do with local events. However, they clearly raise the political temperature. In contrast, the student protests in recent months have used more “cute” rather than threatening symbolism, such as a Japanese cartoon character and Harry Potter. “Mung Ming mob” (or “cute mob”) refers to the condescending characterization of the student protests by former deputy army spokeswoman who called them a “cute mob.” This caused the protesters to protest at army headquarters.]
From Thairath, August 13, 2020
Title: Bad things must be bombed [or “Bad things must be blown up”]
On the constitution: Constitution B.E.60
Sign held by the student: Don’t revise it, but make the new draft
On men’s backs: Results of dictator [meaning they obtained their power from dictators]; Senators appointed by their own groups
Phi Nooring: The most worst constitution
Mouse: Must make it just
[Refers to calls from the youth protesters to throw out the current constitution written under the military junta’s supervision. This constitution is criticized as a tool for extending the power of the junta which now controls the government. Probably most egregious, the appointed senate has the power to vote for the PM.]
From Manager, August 13, 2020
Man: It must be ended in our generation.
Left ghost: I used to say like that, too.
Caption: Black May B.E. 2535 [referring to the military crackdown on protests in 1992]
Ghost in the middle: I said it, too.
Caption: 6 Oct B.E. 2519 [referring to the right-wing crackdown on protests in 1976]
Ghost on the right: I said it, too.
Caption: 14 Oct B.E. 2516 [referring to the crackdown on protests in 1973]
[This references the current youth protests to call for on government to rewrite the constitution and reform the monarchy. The cartoon uses the youth protesters’ slogan “it must be ended in our generation” to call on more youth to join the protest.
The cartoonist notes that after major political protests of the past, such as in 1973, 1976 and 1992, there were high hopes for real change in one way or another.
However, the Thai system has been surprising resistant to change with all the same political systems and personalities intact after each political rupture.]
From Manager, August 10, 2020
Piyabutr: We are only dare to indirectly speak about it… but he is brave…!!!
Caption: Under the cloak of Harry Potter
[Refers to lawyer Anon Nampha who gave a speech on reforming the monarchy at a youth protest which used a Harry Potter theme. This was to take on the Harry Potter idea of naming “he who will not be named” and daring the authorities to take action against them.
This round of protest was the first time anti-government groups directly touched on this issue. The cartoonist contends that the three leaders of the former Future Forward party, including Thanathorn, Piyabutr and Pannika, only wished they could broach this subject.]
From Thairath, August 6, 2020
Title: Cut the worst part first.
On a man’s hand: Vote for PM
On his shirt: Senator appointed by his group
On the chopping block: Revise the constitution
Signs held by the protesters: Free People; Call for the future; Youth; Don’t want the senators appointed by their groups; Overthrow the uncle [“uncle” being PM Prayuth]
Phi Nooring: A disgusting and dangerous organ [meaning the arm of the voting senator]
Mouse: Work for the dictator
[Refers to the current anti-government protests. The cartoon illustrates that under the current constitution, appointed senators vote for PM. As these men are invariably pro-military men, it allows the former junta to extend their power and form the current government. More on this concept from 2016: Thailand’s Half Democracy]
From Manager, August 18, 2020
Left, typical Thai father: I took care of this kid… but when he grows up, he calls another father. [meaning that Thai youth are following figures like Thanatorn with more radical ideas about political reform rather than their own parents]
Right, Thanatorn: I taught this kid… but when he grows up, he calls another father.
On the boy’s shirt: Free youth [name of the student protest group]
Caption: Loss of fatherhood
[Refers to the supposed declining popularity of Thanathorn as an iconic figure of defiance. It is thought at one time he was the person the more reform-minded young people would vote for. He was bold and pugnacious, a young person who glared directly out from his campaign posters with a sour look on his face, insisting there would be change and he could confront the powers of the land.
However, with the sudden shift of the student protests away from the more prosaic (“rewrite the constitution”) to the more controversial (“reform the monarchy”), students no longer needed a proxy figure like Thanatorn to follow, but began to follow and reference directly exiled lecturer Somsak Jeamteerasakul who speaks on issues of the monarchy.
The concept of Thanatorn as a father comes from a campaign slogan young people used based on a soap opera: Fah loves…]
From Thairath, August 5, 2020
Title: I will lead Thailand to move forward.
Blocks on PM Prayuth’s feet, left: Political problems; Decline in power
On right blocks: Economic problems; Massive debts; Don’t have the ability to solve
Sign on the left: Broken hearts from cabinet reshuffle [referencing the bitter feelings from government coalition members who lost out in the reshuffle]
Signs held by youth: Free Youth; Junior high school students; High school students; Stop threatening the people; Revise the constitution; Dissolve the parliament; Overthrow the uncle [referring to the demands of the student protesters]
Sign held by Japanese cartoon character ‘Hamtaro’: Dissolve the parliament [this refers to one of the themed protests of the students]
Phi Nooring: Try to move yourself first
Mouse: Country’s hideous burden
[Refers to the current situation of government led by PM Prayuth known as “Uncle Tu.” While PM Prayuth vows to lead the country to move forward, his government is now facing the several problems including economic fallout from the COVID-19 pandemic and conflict among coalition parties.]
From Manager, July 30, 2020
Police: Previously, it was carelessly covered because we did it quietly… We were not aware anyone would see.
Caption at left: Police’s investigation team
Prosecutors: Right… Because of CNN, we have to cover it again!… uh!
Caption at right: ….Prosecution team
On the grave: Boss’ case
[Refers to the case of Vorayuth ‘Boss’ Yoovidhya, heir of the Red Bull company. After being accused of killing a police officer while driving, Vorayuth vanished and recently all charged were dropped and the case was closed. CNN publicized the case, which led to public scorn being cast on the justice system, driving home the commonly held belief that the rich can opt out of consequences for their actions.]
From Thairath, July 28, 2020
Title: Guess… Who?… Attack until it is ruined.
On the scales at left: Justice system
Number one at top is the Red Bull logo.
Number 2 is a police officer.
Number 3: Prosecutor
Phi Nooring: Driving and killing people, but drop the charges.
Mouse: Use power for corruption.
[Refers to the Red Bull’s heir Vorayuth Yoovidhya whose charges for hit-and-run were dropped. Then the police dismissed his case. This all appeared to show how the organs of the state conspired for the benefit of the super rich.]
From Manager, July 28, 2020
Thaksin: My sister won’t be in the jail for a second.
Caption on the left: Above the sky…
Chalerm: My son won’t be in court for a second!!
Caption: …There is another sky.
[Refers to Thai proverb “Above the sky, there is another sky” meaning there is a big power behind every apparent power.
The cartoon shows Thaksin and how he protected his proxy Yingluck when she was Prime Minister, pulling her out of the country when it became time for her to receive a sentence during a court case.
In contrast, Red Bull executive Chalerm’s son Vorayuth Yoovidhya is part of such a powerful clique that he, unlike Yingluck, never even has to stand in a courtroom. Then, unlike Yingluck, all the charges were dismissed and the case closed. The cartoonist shows Vorayuth smirking at Yingluck who had to deign to play the game of standing in court.]
From Arun, August 4, 2020
Title: Frog is now boiled (takes too long to realize).
On the flame: Flash mob
[We think this refers to the government and its supporters who do not think that flash mobs (or protests) conducted by youth to call for annulling the current constitution and writing a new one will have any impact. The cartoon shows the proverb of the frog being boiled–contending, if the heat slowly increases, the frog will not realize it. This is to represent the government and military who seem confident they can remain firmly in control. Associated with this is the Thai proverb of the frog inside the coconut shell, meaning a person who does not know the wider world and only believes the reality of their little world in the shell.]
From Manager, July 27, 2020
Left: Animal preservation under the law
Right: Animal preservation above the law
[Refers to the hit-and-run case of Red Bull heir Vorayuth Yoovidhya. This case has shaken faith in the ability of the country to hold the rich to account for their actions the last charges of fatal reckless driving were dropped and thus the police dismissed his case.
The public has a sense that, if the offender had been an ordinary poor person, they would have already been in jail.
It cartoon shows the Red Bull logo at right, contending that an important and rich family gets special protection.]
From Thairath, July 25, 2020
Title: Will he survive?
PM Prayuth: The government has massive debts. Whoever loves me, please help me.
On the fire: Silly payment for a compensation for the Akara gold mine.
On the pole: Silly payment for a compensation for Hopewell.
Phi Nooring: Will face a lot of difficulties.
Mouse: Like to make silly payments
[Refers to the government, led by PM Prayuth, facing massive fines for past government’s projects and action. In particular, the State Railway of Thailand and the Transport Ministry were ordered by the court to pay 11.88 billion baht in compensation to Hopewell (Thailand) Co for the cancellation of a mega-transport project two decades ago.
The government is also in court fighting the Australian company Kingsgate over the closure of the Akara gold mine.
The cartoonist seems to contend that the government should find a way not to pay the compensation.]
From Naewna, July 24, 2020
Caption: Those young bloods… please follow me.
Lyric from the horn: Insult… violate… hate the country
[The cartoonist refers to allegations that Thanathorn and related politicians are using student protesters to call for the government to resign and to rewrite the constitution.
Alleged anti-monarchy sentiment expressed during the protest is thought to be part of the gambit, to dare the military to crack down and force a political crisis.
This has caused pro-royalist groups to march as well, refusing to rule out violence against those they contend are violating taboos against attacking the monarchy. Both the military and Red Shirts also warned the students to leave the monarchy out of their protests.]
From Manager, July 24, 2020
Left, in thought bubble: 14 Oct
On the placards: Revise the constitution; Dissolve the parliament
Caption: The goal of the protesters
Right, in thought bubble: 6 Oct
Caption: The goal of those supporters
[Refers to the current protests calling on the government to dissolve parliament and revise the constitution.
The cartoonist implies that the younger generation of student protests is being orchestrated by anti-military and anti-royalist groups led by Thanathorn of the disbanded Future Forward party and his clique of like-minded politicians.
The cartoon shows that the younger generation desires to create a rally like the student protests of October 14, 1973 that resulted in the overthrow of the then-ruling military dictatorship.
However, the cartoonist contends that politicians, either intentionally or through their alleged promotion of anti-monarchy rhetoric, are more likely to trigger a brutal crackdown like that which occurred on October 6, 1976.]
From Thairath, July 20, 2020
Title: The symptom of the New Normal.
Left: 2-3 days before at the newspaper office.
On ID card: Media.
On the sign at left: Mass Media Office
Prayuth at Left: I come to listen to the mass media’s opinions for the sake of the country.
Right: 2-3 days today. At Rayong province.
On sign at right: Rayong Province
Prayuth’s right: The mass media spreads news too much that makes people panic.
[This criticizes PM Prayuth’s temper as he first deigns to ask the media for their opinion about handling the pandemic and then criticizing them for reporting negative news.]
From Manager, July 22, 2020
Title: The change in student protest
Left, on the placards: Long Live the King
Caption: 14 Oct
Caption on the right: ….Now
[The cartoonist notes the change in the younger generation–or at least the current protesters’–perception towards the monarchy.
During the political uprising on October 14, 1973 to overthrow the military dictatorship, the King was lauded by students as it was said he helped protesters who were being attacked during the crackdown.
However, in the present protests, the cartoonist notes that the monarchy has been attacked by protesters. This has led to warnings from the military and even Red Shirt leaders to leave the monarchy out of protests.]
From Thairath, July 22, 2020
Title: The budget that not so cute.
Billboard: The VIP airplane. The price is 1,348.5 million baht.
In cartoon balloon at left: You will survive, if you work hard.
On people’s backs from left: Starve to death. No money. No food. Distress, lose job. No income. Covid’s toxin. Bad economic. Big debt.
Mouse: From the people’s taxes.
Mouse man: This is for flying over poor people’s heads.
[This refers to the budget for a new airplane that military is buying for “general use.” This is interpreted as a special VIP plane for use by top government and military brass.
The “You will survive, if you work hard” quote is from Col. Nusra Vorapatratorn, a former Royal Thai Army spokesperson. She posted on social media that she disagreed with the youth protest which she called the “mung-ming mob”–sort of a condescending way to say their protest was “sweet” or “cute.” She also urged the protesters to find jobs to earn income instead of protesting.
Due to her comments, the protesters went to the HQ of Army to criticize military procurement and Col. Nusra.]
From Manager, July 16, 2020
Sudarat: Thanks for helping us. We will handle the rest.
Egyptian soldiers: Bye!
Caption: With a help of Egyptian soldiers
[Refers to the opposition party Pheu Thai led by Sudarat Keyuraphan who seized the opportunity to attack the government over the issue of VIP Egyptian soldiers being allowed to sidestep quarantine. One of the soldiers was later found to be infected with COVID-10. This case caused massive public outcry and impacted tourism in the region.
The cartoonist notes that the event was a boon for the opposition, as the government had been previously touting their success in combating the virus.]
From Naewna, July 16, 2020
Caption: Taking back by riding a goat to attack.
On the goat: Phao Thai
On lizard: Egypt wins
On the tiger: Thailand wins
[This references the Thai proverb “Taking back by riding a goat to attack” meaning attacking someone when they fail, perhaps similar to the English proverb “If the ox falls, whet your knife.”
Here it refers to the opposition Pheu Thai using the case of Egyptian soldiers sidestepping quarantine to attack the government.
The government was using the pandemic to its advantage before this as Thailand has been a top nation in being able to stamp out the contagion within its borders. The government launched the campaign “Thailand wins” to tout their success and encourage people.
However, allowing Egyptian soldiers to possibly spread Covid-19 validates the popular notion that the government cannot possibly be effective when deeply ingrained notions of being a VIP or “hi-so” are involved.
The cartoonist seems to think that this issue is perhaps a weak pone to attack the government over. The tiger symbolizes the “Eastern Tigers” military clique that has dominated politics since the last coup.]
From Thairath, July 15, 2020
Title: Ugly cutting hair does not hurt like cutting feelings and making sadness
Teacher: I cut your hair because of love.
Phi Nooring: Destroy trust
Mouse: Don’t look good and don’t love anymore.
[Refers to the issue of a Thai teacher crudely cutting a student’s hair in punishment for long hair. This is an old-fashioned practice that bespeaks a highhandedness that is not accepted by modern students. Recently, student groups called for schools to stop setting rules for student’s hairstyles (e.g. short hair) and stop allowing teachers to cut students hair in punishment.]
From Thairath, July 2, 2020
Title: New monument for Thai police after reform.
Center, on the monument: Serve people. The word “serve” is maked out and replaced with “carry.” The word in this context implies “make people who disagree disappear.”
Above left, on man’s shirt: People.
On sign: Political activity.
Bottom left, on girl’s shirt: Student.
Above right: Against dictatorship.
Center right, on man shirt: Student.
Sign: Demand for democracy.
Bottom right: ART
Mouse man: Bully. Threaten. Hurt.
Mouse: Serve the dictator.
[Since the dissolution of the major opposition party, the Future Forward, in February 2020, party faithful have been desirous of a new protest showdown with the government. However, the pandemic has stymied their plans for months. The continuing serious covid-19 situation in other countries has allowed the government to contend an emergency decree is still necessary.
In the meantime, a major anti-monarchy and anti-government activist was brazenly kidnapped in Cambodia and protests have been curtailed and discouraged by the powers of the emergency decree.]
From Manager, July 2, 2020
Dr. Somkid: Only when the news came out that Jarn Maam will be head of our economic team… did our popularity get very high… Thank you for coming to save us.
Caption: Must respect you.
[This refers to rumors that inexperienced political functionary would head up the economic team of the ruling Palang Pracharat Party. This was after recent intense political bickering that saw the leadership of many parties shaken up as various political cliques attempt to take control of the huge spending schemes of the government.
Government spokeswoman, Narumon Pinyosinwat (nickanemd Jarn Maam), tipped to lead the economic policy team, had to defend her qualifications after withering attacks on social media.
Such purely political appointments for important positions have been typical in politics where the focus is inward toward bolstering and maintaining coalitions and thus power.
In the cartoon, Deputy Prime Minister Somkid Jatusripitak, head of the government’s economic policy team, thanks Narumon for making them look better by comparison.]
From Manager, July 5, 2020
Top, Trump: Former Presidents are not smart and clever like me.
2nd row left: They put a lot of budget… to build weapons… invent new military innovation… waste the country’s funds…
Right: If I become a President for another term, America will be the world’s leader without spending any dollars.
3rd row left: I will use a biological weapon which is inside all American people.
Man: How you gonna do it, sir?
Man: How?
Right, Trump: In the future, if we want to occupy any country, we just send a lot of American people there.
Bottom: Then, cough or sneeze on those enemies… Then, we will win without using tanks… or planes…
Soldiers: Hey! Be careful of COVID infection!!
[Refers to the severe COVID-19 situation in the US. Amid a coming election, President Trump has been criticized for his failure to contain the spread of the pandemic.
The cartoonist jokes that this makes Americans themselves dangerous to other countries.]
