Despite not being in charge of how the demonstrations were organized, the two gave the movement their personal support. Lookkate, 30, mediated with police as the street protests took place using her legal expertise and passion for human rights. Toto, on the other hand, was a member of WeVolunteer, an organization that protected the demonstrators from the police.
The two are now trying to run for office on May 14 in order to further their cause.
Lookkate, who is knocking on doors to urge people to cast their ballots in the upcoming election, could spend time in jail after being accused of inciting sedition and defaming the Thai king during historic riots in 2020. Her liberal Move Forward party is waging a push to lessen the severity and application of the penalties for royal disrespect. Many of the issues that the young movement addressed in 2020, such as calls to change the nation’s draconian lese majeste law, are now, according to political observers, a part of the country’s mainstream political conversation.
“I genuinely believe that both the legislative process and street protests need to move forward together if you want to change in this country to achieve a true democracy,” she said.
The 2020 pro-democracy demonstrations, which began as an anti-government movement in Thailand by challenging the monarchy’s absolute power, were eventually put down, with hundreds of people being detained and prosecuted on criminal charges.
According to documents maintained by Thai Lawyer for Human Rights, the law, which deems criticizing the monarchy a criminal offense punishable by up to 15 years in prison, has been applied against at least 240 persons since the protests began in late 2020.
Lookkate claims that she currently faces 28 criminal charges, including two for lese majeste, which would end her bid for a parliamentary seat. Anyone found guilty of a crime is prohibited from serving in the legislature.
Lookkate, who is running for the third district of Pathum Thani, a province north of Bangkok, said: “I want to use my knowledge and skills in order to work with the party, including revoking any laws that take away people’s right of expression or (work on) the law on torture and enforced disappearance.”Toto is running for the same party in Bangkok on a similar platform. He drives into the neighborhoods where he lives and meets people on the street in the hopes that they will give him the momentum for change that was lacking from the at times violent street protests.
He is currently facing more than a dozen legal proceedings stemming from his activist days, including the 112 and 116 accusations, which carry a combined sentence of 50 years in prison.
I will not bend, no matter how much you try to. I know myself; I take everything I do seriously. Acting quickly has become a goal for me, especially if I am certain that it is the appropriate course of action, stated Toto.
According to political observers, other parties including the Pheu Thai and Thai Sang Thai have also welcomed youth activists into their ranks either as candidates or policymakers before the election.
The Move Forward Party has new ideas that they think would appeal to younger voters, including those that address LGBT rights or repealing the military draft.
“A new leaf is changing; the old manner of doing politics is dying. This election will serve as a test to see if I am correct. After the May 14 (election), we’ll have to see, Toto remarked.
