A Thai student protester was detained in Bangkok after denouncing Myanmar junta leader Min Aung Hlaing as a “murderer” and condemning the Thai government’s support for him at the Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation (BIMSTEC) summit. The protester’s actions took place as Hlaing attended the summit in Bangkok following a devastating earthquake in Myanmar that claimed thousands of lives.
Carrying a banner and vocally opposing Hlaing’s presence, the student protester voiced dissent against the Thai Prime Minister, Paetongtarn Shinawatra, for engaging with the Myanmar leader. Security personnel swiftly removed the protester from the Shangri-La Hotel lobby, the venue for the BIMSTEC summit.
International rights organizations and domestic opposition within Myanmar also criticized Hlaing’s participation in the summit. Groups like Justice for Myanmar and the National Unity Government (NUG) of Myanmar denounced the Thai government and BIMSTEC for including Hlaing, asserting his lack of legitimacy to represent Myanmar.
Min Aung Hlaing seized power in Myanmar through a military coup in 2021, detaining civilian leaders, including Aung San Suu Kyi, and facing accusations of human rights abuses for suppressing political dissent. The International Criminal Court (ICC) chief prosecutor has sought an arrest warrant against Hlaing for alleged crimes against the Rohingya minority group in Myanmar.
The protester has reportedly been released following the incident, shedding light on the challenges surrounding freedom of expression in the region amidst political tensions and human rights concerns.
Excerpts from Hannah Fang HKU Faculty of Law, CN/HK article on the jurist.com
