Risk intelligence (19/03/2021) - Thailand
THAI CIVIL UNREST UPDATE
Tensions are again running high in Thailand following the announcement of the Ratsadon protest movement in mid-February to intensify their protests after four of their key leaders were sent into pre-trial detention on royal defamation charges.
Their continued detention and the increasing number of key activists who face jail time over lese-majeste or sedition charges has become the main rallying cry for the protesters, suggesting that momentum has shifted in favour of the government.
Generally, the protest movement can be expected to mobilise several thousand supporters, but it is becoming increasingly unlikely that it will be able to generate the massive turnout it achieved at the height of the unrest in late 2020, before a second coronavirus outbreak brought an end to the protests.
Risk intelligence (05/03/2021) - Bangladesh
Bangladesh has reported protests against the Digital Security Act (DSA) following the death of writer and government critic Mushtaq Ahmed, who was detained under the controversial legislation and had been under pre-trial custody since May 2020.
Tension is running high in the capital Dhaka, where protesters clashed with the police on 28 February, while demonstrations were also reported in other parts of the country including Chattogram and Khulna.