Opposing Thai views on IMF and World Bank Protests Expose a Divide in Empathy
Thai police were probably afraid that no journalists would turn up to cover the protests against the IMF-World Bank meetings, so on Thursday they beat up the anti-IMF-World Bank protesters in Bangkok instead. Now, journalists have turned up in droves. It brings to mind the Thai saying: “Stupid, but hardworking.” What followed was a barrage […] The post Opposing Thai views on IMF and World Bank…
On Thursday, Thai protests against the IMF-World Bank meetings in Bangkok turned violent as police allegedly beat up anti-IMF-World Bank demonstrators. This prompted a wave of journalists to report on the unrest, leading to widespread criticism and skepticism from opponents of the protesters. Some questioned whether the protesters were genuinely concerned or paid to cause disruption, while others alleged they were motivated by a desire to embarrass the Anutin Charnvirakul government.
Opponents of the protesters argued that many of those participating in the demonstrations were unaware of what the IMF actually stands for. A Facebook user, JRT Desk พาxวย, went so far as to say that "half the people protesting against the IMF don’t even know what IMF stands for." Others raised concerns about the impact of IMF-imposed conditions on Thai tertiary education, suggesting that reduced funding for public universities led to increased tuition fees for low-income students and fewer opportunities for them to access higher education.
Meanwhile, the Pak Moon Dam case illustrated the real-life consequences of IMF-supported infrastructure projects. As a Pak Moon villager, one's livelihood would be destroyed if a dam was built on the Moon River, displacing many villagers and forcing their children to grow up as 'virtual orphans' in Ubon Ratchathani. The IMF's influence on Thai tertiary education and privatization of state enterprises further underscored the divide between those who supported the IMF-World Bank meetings and those who opposed them.
With empathy lacking between the two sides, Thais appeared deeply divided along socioeconomic and ideological lines.
Written by urgent.news from Khaosod English's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
