Thais Protest Coup With ‘Hunger Games’ Salute

Many people in Thailand are adopting a symbol of resistance from The Hunger Games to protest their loss of civil and political rights as a result of last month’s military coup. Thais are using the three-fingered “District 12” salute as “a symbolic act of peaceful defiance.” The country has banned gatherings of more than 5 people, and the Southeast Asian nation’s ruling junta is pondering whether to officially ban the salute from The Hunger Games, now that is has become an emotionally charged symbol of resistance.

From Time:

If life does imitate art, Thais may have reason to worry. The Southeast Asian nation’s ruling junta is pondering whether to officially ban the three-fingered “District 12” salute from The Hunger Games, now that is has become an emotionally charged symbol of resistance among opponents of the May 22 military coup.

Already, scores of those proffering the salute during weekend street protests have been dragged off by troops, in scenes eerily reminiscent of the Suzanne Collins novels and movie franchise, which depict a dystopian future society ruled by the totalitarian Panem regime.

Image by Manik Sethisuwan Thai army deputy spokesman Colonel Winthai Suwaree told the Bangkok Post that the military top brass are discussing how best to respond to the barbed gesture. “[The junta] must look at [the protester’s] intention, what they want to communicate and surrounding circumstances,” he said.

Over the weekend, the sight of unarmed and peaceful protesters being detained for flashing three fingers — including a woman dragged into a taxi by plainclothes police in tourist-thronged central Bangkok — did little to assuage fears of what the military may have in store.

Brad Adams, director of Human Rights Watch’s Asia division, calls the Hunger Games salute “a symbolic act of peaceful defiance” amid a situation that “is spiraling downwards in terms of rights abuses.”

“The fact that the [junta] is closing down sections of the city to chase a handful of protesters reveals a totalitarian mind-set that discounts respect for human rights as a hindrance, and sees youthful defiance as the enemy,” he said by email.