Youth Political Participation in the Milk Tea Alliance January 12, 16:44
Nowadays, young people are calling out to politics all over Asia.
Of these, in Thailand in Southeast Asia, large-scale demonstrations calling for the resignation of the prime minister and reform of the royal system have been held intermittently since July last year.
Collaboration with young people in Hong Kong and Taiwan, who are becoming more vigilant about China, has become known as the "Milk Tea Alliance."
What exactly is driving the young people?
(Directorate General of Asia, Keisuke Matsuo, International Department, Rei Ito)
Why participate in the demo?
"Go out the dictator !!"
"Stop spending a lot of taxes on the royal family !!"
Young people
cry out in
Bangkok, the capital of Thailand.
Since July last year, we have been calling for a review of democratic politics and the way the king is involved in politics, and the number has reached 50,000 at times.
When asked "Why do you participate in demonstrations?", Many young people commonly say "anger of disparity."
One of them, Mr. Willada (30).
He used to aim to become a diplomat at the most difficult university in Thailand, but he said he gave up because the professor said, "If you don't have a network, give up."
After graduating, I helped my relatives' stalls, but sales fell to two-thirds due to the effects of the new coronavirus.
Life is never easy.
In Thailand, it is said that the affluence and connections of the house in which you grew up greatly affect your employment and life.
According to a private survey that the top 1% of the wealthy hold 50% of the country's wealth, "the rich do not go to jail even if they do bad things. The prison is for the poor." Some people say that.
The brunt of anger is not only at the administration led by Prime Minister Prayut, but also at the royal family, which has been respected by many Thais.
Until now, criticism has been viewed as taboo.
The property of the royal family is said to be over 3 trillion yen, and an increasing number of young people are taking it as a symbol of a society where disparities and connections are prioritized.
Mr. Willada emphasizes his words, "I want to create a society where everyone can be treated equally. I want to get true democracy."
Another face of "Smiley Land"
The administration is increasing pressure on the frustrated young people.
October last year, three months after the demonstration started.
At an event hosted by students at a university in Bangkok to learn about the history of democratization, there were middle-aged men shooting students with their smartphones and recording their remarks.
A local reporter told me that I was a police officer or a soldier.
"When there is a political rally, I even go into the campus of the university and watch it. Everyone is used to it."
The trump card
for the
administration's crackdown is "profane."
The law prohibits slander and insult to the royal family, and if convicted, it can be sentenced to up to 15 years in prison.
In the past, there have been cases of being caught as sarcastic about the king's dog, and opposition has criticized him for saying that the administration is using it arbitrarily.
Investigators have ordered more than 30 demonstrators to appear, with a view to applying blasphemy.
Thailand is called "the country of smiles" and many tourists from all over the world have visited, but it seems that young people can see "another face".
What is the cross-border "Milk Tea Alliance"?
Despite this tightening of government, the momentum of young people seeking democratization has not diminished.
The "Milk Tea Alliance" has supported this.
It is a connection on SNS centered on young people from Thailand, Hong Kong, and Taiwan.
It is said that each region was named because many people like milk tea.
Hong Kong people who learned about the Thai demonstration posted a message of support on SNS.
Thai youths are also cheering on each other, including cheering on young people who continue to speak out in Hong Kong, where the Chinese government is tightening control.
Some people are encouraged by this "Milk Tea Alliance" to participate in the demonstration.
Gade Kano (23), who once feared the Thai government's surveillance.
He said he was shocked to learn on SNS that democratic activists of the same age, such as Joshua Wong and Agnes Chow, continued to speak out in Hong Kong without giving in to the pressure of the authorities.
Gade Kano
"We've always been scared of what the government will do, but the people of Hong Kong were fighting."
Encouraged, Gade Kano is now at the forefront of the demonstration with his smartphone in his hand.
Through live distribution of SNS, we are communicating the state of the demonstration to the world and calling for support from the international community.
Will the "alliance" spread to Japan?
Speaking of "milk tea", there are also "matcha milk tea" in Japan.
Will the "alliance" of young people expand?
"We seek true democracy. Please spread our voice so that it can be heard by many people."
Last October, in front of Shibuya Station in Tokyo.
About 100 Thais living in Japan held a rally in response to the movements of their home countries.
A 29-year-old Thai woman working in Japan, along with four friends in her 20s and 30s, started a blog to tell about the demonstration in Japanese.
We are disseminating the details of the reforms that we are requesting from the Thai government.
A woman from Hong Kong introduced me to me, "I'm always getting help."
It is said that the activities of Thai residents in Japan seeking democratization are being sent to Hong Kong.
Thai woman
"Hong Kong democrats have been arrested and I think it's a lot of trouble. Let's do our best together."
A Thai woman called for cooperation.
Here in Japan as well, the "Milk Tea Alliance" between Thailand and Hong Kong was born.
Japanese young people
How do young Japanese people see these movements?
We asked Mr. Yuki Murohashi (32), who is the representative director of the Japan Youth Council, which is working to convey the voices of young people, and attends a graduate school in Tokyo.
Mr. Murohashi's group was invited to participate in the signing activities for the democratization movement in Hong Kong, and students in Hong Kong said, "I want you to know about the democratization movements that are taking place in various parts of Asia." We had a lot of discussions about whether to express our intentions.
Among them, the members said, "I have a desire to do something about it," but I'm worried that "I can feel it in a distant story," or "I'm worried that the Chinese government will notice me or I won't be able to travel." There were many voices such as ".
After all, I gave up taking action as a group this time.
Mr. Murohashi said that it is significant that Mr. Agnes Chow of Hong Kong and others tried to change politics by running for parliamentary elections as well as demonstrations, and that there is much to learn from young people in Asia. I will.
On the other hand, I analyze that Japanese young people do not feel that "democracy is lost" as a skin sensation.
Mr. Yuki Murohashi
"There are problems with democracy, such as politicians not exhausting explanations in Japan. Still, unlike Hong Kong and Thailand, they are not arrested just for their activities, and the level of crisis is different. Many Japanese high school and university students feel that even domestic issues are "far". "
Mr. Murohashi's group is now working to reflect the opinions of young people in their policies.
We are focusing on establishing "youth democracy" rather than "silver democracy" that emphasizes the opinions of middle-aged and older people with high turnout.
He points out that environmental issues and the "#MeToo movement" that accuses sexual violence and sexual harassment are familiar issues for young Japanese people, and it is easy to solidarity with the same generation in each country.
Yuki Murohashi
"Introduction of" international solidarity tax "to secure funds for measures against environmental problems and poverty, and issues related to women's rights are of great interest in Japan. Political participation of young people overseas is with Japan. The level is different, so the stimulation is great. "
Young people in Thailand and Hong Kong are crying out without giving in to pressure to achieve democratization.
Its appearance is spread through SNS, pushing the backs of people of the same generation who face each challenge all over the world.
Reporter Keisuke Matsuo,
Directorate General of Asia
After working at the Shizuoka Bureau in
2010
, he
was in charge of the Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare in the Social Affairs Department, covering employment issues.
Since 2nd year of Reiwa, he has been in charge of coverage of Thailand and Laos at the Directorate General of Asia.
International Department
Rei Ito reporter
2015 it joined from commercial TV reporter
in charge of Southeast Asia and South Asia, the coverage of Oceania in the international section through the Morioka stations.