Agency :
Parti Sosialis Malaysia (PSM) is among the 10 regional left-wing parties that are condemning the coup in Thailand and demanding an immediate repeal of the martial law.
“We strongly condemn the latest coup d’état staged by Thai military under the leadership of Prayuth Chan-ocha,” said the regional parties in a joint statement on Saturday.
“The current coup, which took place almost eight years after 2006 coup, will do nothing to enhance democracy and social justice in Thailand, instead it will only tighten the grip of dictatorial rule and attempt to crush any democratic institution that exist.
“The army has already started its crackdown on media and the internet, and has arrested people who oppose the coup,” said the statement.
The parties explained that the coup is set to protect the interests of a section of the Thai ruling class who want to reduce the democratic space in order to consolidate their power.
“The military junta in Thailand has no interest in bringing about free and fair elections to solve the political crisis, and certainly will not protect freedom of expression which it sees as a threat to its rule.
“Thai military has been notorious for ruthless crackdowns on democratic movements, for instance, the bloody massacre of red-shirts pro-democracy protests in 2010,” they said.
All 10 parties demanded an “immediate repeal of martial law in Thailand” and the “restoration of the election process” so that people of Thailand can choose their government democratically.
They also urged the military to “stop the crackdown and arrest of political dissidents in Thailand” and for them to free all the political prisoners they detained.
“The governments of ASEAN need to get together to condemn and assert pressure to end the coup in Thailand. And all governments should withdraw their ambassadors from Thailand as a demonstration that they do not recognise the military junta,” said the parties.
“We also extend our solidarity with the pro-democracy movement in Thailand to fight against the military coup and for the restoration of democracy in Thailand,” the statement added.
The statement was signed by PSM together with Partido Lakas ng Masa (PLM), Philippines; Socialist Alliance, Australia; Turn Left, Thailand; Social Action for Change (SAC), Cambodia; Socialist Aotearoa, New Zealand; Unite Union, New Zealand; Thai Alliance for Human Rights – Australia; Awami Workers Party, Pakistan and Transform Asia Gender and Labor Institute, Philippines.
