Small Hotels and Inns Open Doors for Protesters in Bangkok

For months, Thais have been protesting in the capital Bangkok for more democracy and the resignation of the government of ex-coup leader Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-ocha.

Dozens of hotels and inns, normally populated by backpackers from the West, open their doors to weary protesters. Some inns support the demonstrations by offering their new guests shelter for free.

The confrontations with the riot police often last until late at night, when many protesters fall asleep exhausted in the street. The government this month announced a measure against encampments set up by protesters in parks or near government buildings.

The now ‘homeless’ protesters can count on sympathy from the innkeepers as well as from private individuals who offer places to sleep and food.

A Twitter account has been opened, Mobmeeteenon (protesters have sleeping places), to give an idea of where the protesters can go to sleep after the demonstrations.

Sometimes it is not just a place to sleep, but the demonstrators also get food and drink from the hosts. The inns or hotels usually do not have to turn tourists away, because the corona measures have virtually stopped tourism to Thailand.

The authoritarian government of former general and coup leader Prayuth has been under fire for months. Prayuth has been in power since his coup in 2014 and became prime minister a year ago after controversial elections.

He is also a songwriter. For example, he wrote the often heard on radio and TV ‘Happiness back to Thailand’. He wrote this song shortly after his military coup in 2014. Many Thais are fed up with his regime, which is partly based on the ‘saint status’ of the king who supported Prayuth.