Thailand’s new government under recently elected Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra, the youngest daughter of former PM Thaksin Shinawatra, still poses uncertainties, with the political elite retaining close ties with the military. Following major demonstrations demanding the restoration of democracy, including the protests of 2020-2021, young citizens fear possible arrest and prosecution anytime and anywhere, as they expressed in a Participatory Action Research Workshops held by the CrCF between September 2022 – February 2023 with 27 youth of Thailand.
One participant remarked, “In the beginning, there was a fire in my heart for social change. Until everyone around me began to be arrested. Until I felt like I had to do something to keep us safe. I have a fear of one day being abducted, and I feel like I’m beginning to have problems with my mental health.” To better understand the root causes and impacts of political conflicts in Thailand, the participants used participatory tools such as the “Tree of Conflict” and “Tree of Accountability,” the “River of Life” and “House of Peace.”
In reflecting on the future of peace, a participant from Thailand’s southern region remarked, “The question of whether the next generation will use violence as a solution really depends on efforts towards justice by authorities. If there is no progress on accountability, the violence could erupt again.” The PAR project also included a three-day workshop on Transitional Justice.
As part of the results of the workshops and research, the voices of the young men and women have been published in the PAR report titled “I Just Want to Live in Peace”, launched at the national seminar.