Myanmar: Protesters in Bangkok stand in solidarity with their neighbours
The protest took place outside a busy shopping centre to show solidarity with demonstrators following the Myanmar military coup.
Wednesday 10 February 2021 15:30, UK
For over a week, every night Myanmar's air has been filled with the sound of banging pots.
People stand in the road, on the balconies and in doorways whacking saucepans and bowls with whatever they can find to show their anger at the military coup.
Today, I watched as protestors took to the streets to do it again; but I wasn't in Myanmar, I was in Bangkok, in neighbouring Thailand.
The protest outside a busy shopping centre was called to show solidarity with Burmese demonstrators, a united stand against dictatorship.
On the pavement, people created a makeshift orchestra from upturned cook wear, enthusiastically beating it as speakers shouted pro-democracy messages.
Among the crowd Thais stood with migrants from Myanmar, many devastated at the events unfolding at home.
"I feel outraged, I actually feel like I should be in Myanmar and I should be on the ground supporting the people and I can't," said Wai Yan, a trained doctor originally from Yangon.
In one corner a group of demonstrators held photos of the de-facto leader Aung San Suu Kyi who is currently under house arrest.
Others had banners written in English denouncing the military who had stolen their democracy. Among them was a shopkeeper called Happy who had left Myanmar to work in Bangkok.
"I came here to protest for Myanmar and the release of Aung San Suu Kyi in solidarity with the people in my country. I go and protest in front of the UN office here everyday," he said.
On the other side of the square, a Thai woman who asked not to be named furiously banged a pot "to get Prayut out."
In one corner a group of demonstrators held photos of the de-facto leader Aung San Suu Kyi who is currently under house arrest.
Others had banners written in English denouncing the military who had stolen their democracy.
Among them was a shopkeeper called Happy who had left Myanmar to work in Bangkok.
"I came here to protest for Myanmar and the release of Aung San Suu Kyi in solidarity with the people in my country. I go and protest in front of the UN office here everyday," he said.
On the other side of the square, a Thai woman who asked not to be named furiously banged a pot "to get Prayut out".
The Prayut she is talking about is the current Thai Prime Minister, Prayut Chan-ocha, the former army chief who seized power in a coup in 2014 before being formally made PM in an election in 2019 which many contested.
Others in the crowd called for the abolition of the law which makes the defamation of the Thai monarchy a crime which can result in a lengthy prison sentence.
"Thailand and Myanmar are not different. The people's power is taken in a similar way. I support democracy. Power seizures by dictators are horrible no matter what country it is in," said Thai protester, Loong Hoon, who was wearing Myanmar's traditional dress and holding the country's flag.
Hands held aloft in the three-finger salute of resistance, they stood united with their allies across the border, determined to fight for the free speech and true democracy they say they are currently being denied.