In 2010, another series of protests against the establishment ended in a military crackdown, leaving 92 people killed.

This week’s sweeping protests are a response to last Friday’s court verdict to dissolve the second largest opposition party, Future Forward (FFP), over a loan of close to $9 million that the group’s leader, Thanathorn Juangroonggruangkit, gave the party in order to finance their election campaign last year. The constitutional court claims the loan was illegal because it was over the 10 million baht ($316,756) limit, even though other parties have done the exact same thing. Young Thais hoped the FFP could finally bring liberty back to the people.