Anti-IMF Protest Ends in Bangkok, Calls for Constitutional Reform
Anti‑IMF protesters in Bangkok ended their demonstration on 16 October 2026 after calling for constitutional reform and Senate elections to counter what they describe as the entrenched ‘blue regime’ of the 2017 constitution. iLaw leader Yingcheep Atchanon criticized the government for ignoring public opinion and warned that without action a new constitution would remain biased toward the establishment. The rally concluded with symbolic gestures, including handing out marigold flowers and tearing up receipts representing debt to the IMF and World Bank.
Anti-IMF protesters announced the end of their demonstration, with 'Pao iLaw' appearing on stage urging constitutional amendment and elections to block the blue regime’s continuation. At 1:30 p.m. on 16 October 2026 at the Rama 4 intersection near the National Queen Sirikit Convention Centre where the annual IMF‑World Bank 2026 meeting is being held, the World Bank and IMF opposition network, which had been protesting since yesterday (15 October), announced it was preparing to close the rally. iLaw project manager Yingcheep Atchanon said: 'When the government wants to make an area a community, park, dam or mine, it never asks us. This is a country where they decide everything themselves, because the government under a constitution they don’t care about ignores what people think, and even if elections give them few votes, they still don’t care, because the Election Commission and Senate are theirs. We call this the blue regime written into the 2017 constitution; we cannot change it, we will have to keep living under this government.' He added that on 8 February 2026, during the election and referendum, they won the referendum, but if they do nothing, a new constitution will likely remain blue‑aligned; therefore, to get a new constitution they must campaign for a Senate election. Yingcheep also said they want to hear the people's voice, as public debt is already high; he was born when the country already had debt, averaging per person, and if the government borrows from the IMF or World Bank, it will have to listen only to those institutions, not the people. Then at 2:30 p.m. the network gathered for a closing activity, handing out marigold flowers to place in mourning for 'world‑cleansing capital', rejecting the IMF and World Bank, and tearing up receipts symbolizing tearing up debt bills. At 3:00 p.m. rally leaders read a statement opposing the World Bank to move toward drafting a constitution that gives real power to the people, sang together, and at 3:10 p.m. the leaders announced the end of the protest.
