Protest vocabulary for next week's demonstration

Large-scale protests, both yellow and red, have been commonplace in Thailand for the past several years. By now, it is quite easy to predict what kind of vocabulary our journalists will use to describe the mass red-shirt demonstration that begins this weekend. Below are many of the words you are sure to see in the English-language coverage of the upcoming red-shirt rally in Bangkok.

Go through the sections below slowly and carefully, learning the vocabulary you don't know. There are also daily updates on list. Then follow actual stories from the Bangkok Post each day. Many of these stories will be covered in our general news section, complete with vocabulary explanations.  For news in the Thai language, your first choice should be our own Post Today.

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Focusing on Thaksin

Former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra will certainly play a big role in the news this week and next. Expect to see him referred to as ousted or deposed premier or as the fugitive former prime minister. You can also expect him to complain about the injustice of the recent Supreme court verdict (ruling) that ordered the seizure (confiscation) of 46 billion baht of his family’s assets. You will also see him tweeting messages to his loyalists or talking to them by video link.

play a role – to carry out a particular function or duty มีบทบาท
ousted – forced out of a position of power ขับออกจากอำนาจ
deposed – forced from a position of power ที่ถูกปลด ไล่ออกจากตำแหน่ง
fugitive – someone who has done something illegal and is trying to avoid being caught by the police ผู้หลบหนี
injustice – failure to treat someone fairly and to respect their rights ความไม่ยุติธรรม
verdict – a decision by a court of law คำพิพากษา
ruling – a decision by a court of law คำตัดสิน คำชี้ขาด
assets seizure – officially taking away things own by a person or organisation, e.g., money, equipment, property, etc. การยึดหรืออายัดทรัพย์สิน
confiscation – officially remove someone’s possessions for legal reasons or as a punishment   การยึดทรัพย์
assets – things owned by a person, company etc., particularly money and property ทรัพย์สิน
loyalist – a person or group that strongly supports someone or something, especially the government or ruler in power ผู้ซื่อสัตย์,ผู้จงรักภักดี

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The red shirts are coming

The core leaders of the United Front for Democracy Against Dictatorship (UDD), better known as the red-shirt movement, are busy mobilising their supporters for a major showdown with the Abhisit government. Their plan is to have up to one million red-shirts converge on Bangkok for a mass demonstration intended to force a dissolution of parliament. Their strategy appears to be to paralyse the city for several days until the government cracks. Tactics may include besieging key government buildings, police stations and military installations.

At the red-shirt rallies, expect the speakers to keep reiterating the main themes of their campaign, condemning the double standards in the judicial system and lambasting a puppet government they say is controlled by the elite bureaucracy (amataya) and aided by the coup-makers who toppled the Thaksin government. In particular you can expect them to continue to demand the resignation of Privy Council chairman Prem Tinasulanonda. Expect regular estimates of the size of the demonstrations.

core leader – one of the most active or most important leaders of a group แกนนำ
United Front for Democracy Against Dictatorship (UDD) – the group originally formed to demonstrate against the 2006 coup and which is now leading the fight against the current government. They are known for wearing red shirts แนวร่วมประชาธิปไตยต่อต้านเผด็จการแห่งชาต
mobilise – to bring people together for a particular purpose ระดมพล
showdown – a big fight, meeting, argument, etc. that settles a disagreement between people and proves who is the best or strongest การเผชิญหน้า
converge – to come from different directions to reach the same point ไปยังจุดหมายเดียวกัน
mass demonstration – a very large public gathering of people to support someone or to protest against something การชุมนุมใหญ่
dissolution of parliament (of the lower house) – ending a parliament, normally to call a new election การยุบสภา
strategy– a plan or method for achieving something, especially over a long period of time ยุทธวิธี, แผนการ  
paralyse – to cause to be unable to move ทำให้เป็นอัมพาต
tactics – particular methods for achieving something วิธีการ  ไม้เด็ด
besiege – to gather round a person or place in a way that threatens or annoys them ล้อม,โอบล้อม
installation – a building or structure, especially one that is important for an army, industry, or government
rally – a large public gathering of people to support someone or to protest against something การชุมนุม massed rally – a very large public gathering of people to support someone or to protest against something การชุมนุมใหญ่
reiterate – to repeat something in order to emphasise it พูดซ้ำ ย้ำ
theme – the main subject of something ใจความสำคัญ, ประเด็นหลัก
campaign – a series of actions intended to produce political or social change การรณรงค์
condemn – to say publicly that you think someone or something is bad or wrong ถูกประนาม
double standard – a rule or standard of good behaviour which, unfairly, some people are expected to follow or achieve but other people are not สองมาตรฐาน
judicial system – a country’s court system ระบบศาลยุติธรรม
lambast – to criticise someone or something severely
puppet government – a government which is under control of someone else รัฐบาลหุ่น
elite – the richest, most powerful, best educated or most highly trained group in a society คนที่มีอภิสิทธิ์ที่สุด
bureaucracy – the people employed to run government organisations กลุ่มของข้าราชการ
coup (d’etat) – the seizure of power in a country by a small group of people, usually members of the armed forces รัฐประหาร
topple – to force out of power; to cause to fall (also oust,  unseat or overthrow)  โค่นอำนาจ
resignation – the act of leaving a job permanently การลาออกจากตำแหน่ง
Privy Council – the group of appointed advisors to the King of Thailand   สภาองคมนตรีไทย
estimates - guesses of what the size, value, amount, cost, etc. of something might be การประมาณค่า

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The Government prepares

On the government side, most of the news will be concerned with preparations to contain and counter the huge influx of protestors for what is likely to be one of the biggest mass demonstrations in Thai history. Government, police and military authorities are busy monitoring the activities of the red-shirts, beefing up their intelligence-gathering capabilities and planning measures to keep traffic moving at the very least. The government will very likely invoke the Internal Security Act which restricts the actions of the protestors and allows extensive use of the military to keep control.

Security forces will be deployed in large numbers throughout the week, and when the demonstrators arrive, the police and soldiers will carry shields and batons for protection. They will likely place many barricades at vulnerable locations like the Government House compound. Reinforcements will be on alert in case they are needed. Volunteers might be recruited to help at important sites as well.

Watching the various members of the coalition government will also be interesting. If things go badly, you can expect sources from some of the member parties to hint they may be changing sides.

contain – to prevent from spreading; to keep within limits จำกัด,ควบคุมไว้
counter – to take action to oppose or stop something ต่อต้าน
influx – a large number of people or things coming in to a place การหลั่งไหล (เข้าไปยังที่ใดที่หนึ่ง)
protester – someone who shows that they disagree with something by standing somewhere, shouting, carrying signs, etc  ผู้ต่อต้าน, ผู้ประท้วง
authorities – people who have the power to make decisions or enforce the law เจ้าหน้าที่ผู้มีอำนาจ
monitor - keep track of; to regular check to find out what is happening ตรวจ, ติดตาม, เฝ้าสังเกต
beef up – to strengthen เสริมกำลัง
intelligence – information collected about the secret plans of an enemy, criminal organisations, competitors, etc. ข่าวกรอง  ข้อมูลลับ
measure – an action that is intended to achieve or deal with something มาตราการ
invoke – to use a rule or law as a reason or basis for doing something อ้าง (กฎหมาย)
deploy – (of police or soldiers) to put in place ready for action ส่ง (ทหารตำรวจ) ประจำการ
Internal Security Act – a special law which allows the country's top security agency, the Internal Security Operations Command, to impose curfews, operate checkpoints and restrict the movement of demonstrators Under the act, the military has the authority to search protesters for weapons and use force in case of any violence. พรบ.ความมั่นคง
restrict – to limit or control จำกัด, ควบคุม
demonstrators – people who march with other people in public to show that they support or oppose something ผู้ชุมนุม
(anti-riot) shield – a shield used to protect police during a violent protest by a group of people เกราะป้องกันตัว
baton – a stick used as a weapon by a police officer or soldier ตะบอง
barricade – a temporary structure that is built across a road to prevent people from getting through แผงหรือแนวรั้วกั้น
reinforcements – extra soldiers or police officers who go to help an existing group of soldiers or polce officers
on alert – ready to deal with a dangerous situation เตรียมพร้อม อย่างเต็มที่
volunteer – someone who is not paid for the work that they do อาสาสมัคร
recruit – to get someone to work in a company or join an organisation  รับคนใหม่,
coalition government – a government formed by two or more political parties working together รัฐบาลผสม
source – someone who gives information แหล่งข่าว
hint – to say what you are thinking or feeling in an indirect way

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If things get out of hand (control)

I’m sorry if this sounds frightening. I just trying to pack as much vocabulary in the section as possible.

If the situation starts to get out of control, you will see a whole new set of vocabulary. A clear warning that things are getting bad is when the situation starts being described as fragile, precarious, tense or deteriorating. Chaotic is a sure sign that things may have reached the riot stage. Violent incidents may incite many protestors to become violent themselves. Radical elements among them may try to whip up (stir up) emotions further. And perhaps so-called third parties will use sabotage to create unrest, like lobbing a few grenades into a crowd. The violence could start as clashes and quickly escalate to a full-scale uprising, and, in a worst-case scenario, it could culminate in a civil war. In that case, a bloodbath is a possibility.

The security forces will do everything possible to prevent that from happening, avoiding confrontations with protestors wherever they can. If things become bad, tear gas, rather than war weapons, is the likely choice for quelling trouble and dispersing unruly crowds.  The government would also declare a state of emergency giving greater power to the military.

The UDD guards will also try to maintain control, keeping a close watch on people coming to the rallies, and checking to see that they do not try to smuggle in weapons.

fragile – easy to break or damage ที่เปราะบาง ที่หักง่าย
precarious – likely to change or become dangerous without warning; not safe or likely to fall ที่ไม่ปลอดภัย,  ไม่มั่นคง, ใกล้อันตราย
tense – making you feel nervous or worried ทำให้เครียด
deteriorating – worsening แย่ลง เลวร้ายลง
chaotic – happening in a confused way and without any order or organisation ยุ่งเหยิง วุ่นวาย
riot – a violent protest by a group of people ความไม่สงบ การจลาจล
violent – involving the use of physical force, with the intention of causing damage to property or injury or death to people ความรุนแรง
incident – something that happens, usually something bad เหตุการณ์
incite – to encourage people to be violent or commit crimes by making them angry or excited ยั่วยุ ยุยงให้เกิดความรุนแรง
radical –extreme; believing that important political or social changes are necessary หัวรุนแรง
whip up – stir up; to encourage strong emotions or behaviour in people กระตุ้น, ก่อ
so-called – said to be something but which may not be true ที่เป็นที่รู้กัน (ซึ่งบางครั้งอาจไม่เป็นจริงก็ได้)
sabotage – deliberate damage that is done to an enemy or opponent การบ่อนทำลาย
unrest – angry or violent behaviour by people who are protesting against something
lob – to throw something so that it goes high into the air  ปาโด่ง
grenade – a small bomb that someone throws or fires from a gun ลูกระเบิดเล็ก
clash – a fight between groups of people การปะทะกันสองฝ่าย
escalate – to become much worse or more serious  ทำให้มากขึ้น
uprising – a political situation in which a large group of people opposes and tries to defeat the government or a rule การจลาจล, การกบฎ
worst case scenario – worst possible situation you can imagine
culminate – to end with, after developing for some time สิ้นสุด, ถึงขั้นสุดท้าย
bloodbath – a period of fighting in which a lot of people are killed or injured
civil war – a war fought between different groups of people within the same country สงครามกลางเมือง
confrontation – a situation in which people or groups are arguing angrily or are fighting การเผชิญหน้า
tear gas – a gas used by some police and armed forces to control crowds of people. It hurts the eyes and makes them produce tears ก๊าซน้ำตา
quell – to get rid of unpleasant thoughts or feelings, or to prevent them from becoming stronger
disperse – (of a crowd of people) to separate and leave in different directions  สลายฝูงชน
unruly – difficult to control ยากที่จะควบคุมได้
state of emergency – a dangerous situation in which the government takes on special powers and the rights of the people are often limited in some way ภาวะฉุกเฉิน   
maintain – to keep รักษา
smuggle – to take things or people to or from a place secretly and often illegally  ลักลอบนำเข้า
 

Posted by Terry Fredrickson at 03:36 PM