Since Thailand’s military coup deposed the prime minister and seizing control of the country, planning to retain control by delaying elections for over a year,
“…a new wave of protesters have taken to the streets… in hit-and-run flash mobs organized over social media. “They materialize suddenly, by the dozens, raising a three-finger salute toward the sky,” the Global Post says describing the demonstrators. “Then they vanish as quickly as they appear, melting into crowds to evade scores of armed troops and police.” – Hayes Brown
Act of defiance at ‘Terminal 21’ – man gives the salute as a company of troops look on #thaicoup pic.twitter.com/2kDml0XDzH
— John Sparks (@c4sparks) June 1, 2014
Some say the 3 fingered salute is a symbol of defiance as in the Hunger Games, while others say it refers to Liberty, Equality and Fraternity, the motto of the French revolution.
“It’s means thanks, it means admiration, it means goodbye to someone you love” -[Katniss Everdeen] pic.twitter.com/TzsrK8Vgxi
— The Reader (@TheReaderThai) June 2, 2014
After the 2006 coup, the Red Shirts arose. They were an anti-coup group who poured their own blood on government headquarters to call for new elections.
Thailand military rulers do not take dissent lightly.
Col. Weerachon Sukhondhapatipak, a spokesman for the ruling military junta, told The Associated Press
“We know it comes from the movie, and let’s say it represents resistance against the authorities. If a single individual raises three fingers in the air, we are not going to arrest him or her. But if it is a political gathering of five people or more then we will have to take some action. If it persists, then we will have to make an arrest.”
Anyone would think Thailand was a country that knows and loves its science fiction.
