Log in to hire Andre

Andre Malerba

Photographer

www.andremalerba.com

Voices of Change: Thailand's Youth Fights Back

Follow Hire

Clients: US Holocaust Memorial Museum, The New York Times, Bloomberg, Rest of World, The Washington Post

School: The International Center of Photography The University of Vermont

Pro-democracy protestors react ...ated around the Din Daeng area.

1 of 24 © 2024 Andre Malerba

Pro-democracy protestors react to tear gas from riot police during a rally near Din Daeng intersection in Bangkok, Thailand, August 2021. This day marked the beginning of an escalation in violent protests that continued through the rest of the year, primarily located around the Din Daeng area.

A pro-democracy protestor holds...into a constitutional monarchy.

2 of 24 © 2024 Andre Malerba

A pro-democracy protestor holds up a sign reading "Ratsadon" during a motorbike rally from Ratchaprasong intersection to Victory Monument in Bangkok, Thailand, August 2021. The Ratsadon protest group is a reference to Khana Ratsadon (The People's Party), founded in 1926, that organized a peaceful revolution against King Prajadhipok, leading the country from an absolute monarchy into a constitutional monarchy.

Riot police get into formation ...Bangkok, Thailand, August 2021.

3 of 24 © 2024 Andre Malerba

Riot police get into formation under an overpass relying on numbers to overwhelm pro-democracy protestors in Bangkok, Thailand, August 2021.

Pro-democracy protestors flee f... limited to running and hiding.

4 of 24 © 2024 Andre Malerba

Pro-democracy protestors flee from chemical water cannons during clashes with riot police at Din Daeng intersection in Bangkok, Thailand, August 2021. Riot police switched to the strong chemical water seen here, after protestors began to counter tear gas with gas masks and tear gas canister neutralization methods, defense against water cannons is limited to running and hiding.

Pro-democracy protests use sali...Bangkok, Thailand, August 2021.

5 of 24 © 2024 Andre Malerba

Pro-democracy protests use saline solution and water to rinse eyes, mouths and recover from tear gas launched at them by riot police in Bangkok, Thailand, August 2021.

A pro-democracy protestor lays ...gkok, Thailand, September 2021.

6 of 24 © 2024 Andre Malerba

A pro-democracy protestor lays unconscious after being hit with a water cannon spraying a strong chemical water with similar effects to tear gas in Bangkok, Thailand, September 2021.

Pro-democracy protestors wearin...Bangkok, Thailand, August 2021.

7 of 24 © 2024 Andre Malerba

Pro-democracy protestors wearing gas masks and ponchos run away from riot police perched on the overpass in a heavy rain in Bangkok, Thailand, August 2021.

Riot police march towards Victo...Bangkok, Thailand, August 2021.

8 of 24 © 2024 Andre Malerba

Riot police march towards Victory Monument, using tear gas and overwhelming numbers to drive back pro-democracy protestors, as homemade explosives were thrown back at them, in Bangkok, Thailand, August 2021.

Pro-democracy protestors wave t...Bangkok, Thailand, August 2021.

9 of 24 © 2024 Andre Malerba

Pro-democracy protestors wave the Thai flag while holding a bridge as riot police launch tear gas just in front of them in Bangkok, Thailand, August 2021.

Empty water bottles used to rin...Bangkok, Thailand, August 2021.

10 of 24 © 2024 Andre Malerba

Empty water bottles used to rinse tear gas from the eyes of pro-democracy protestors lay in the street after clashes with riot police in Bangkok, Thailand, August 2021.

A young pro-democracy protester...ber bullets down at protestors.

11 of 24 © 2024 Andre Malerba

A young pro-democracy protester hides behind corrugated metal during a protest in Bangkok, Thailand, August 2021. Riot police often used the overpass to fire rubber bullets down at protestors.

“No 112” gr...cuses of the protest movement.

12 of 24 © 2024 Andre Malerba

“No 112” graffiti is illumined by a fire during a pro-democracy protest in Bangkok, Thailand, August 2021. This graffiti refers to Thailand’s draconian lese-majesty laws, and were one of the main focuses of the protest movement.

A riot police officer fires rub...Bangkok, Thailand, August 2021.

13 of 24 © 2024 Andre Malerba

A riot police officer fires rubber bullets from between two water cannon trucks during clashes with pro-democracy protestors near Din Daeng intersection in Bangkok, Thailand, August 2021.

Pro-democracy protests take ref...Bangkok, Thailand, August 2021.

14 of 24 © 2024 Andre Malerba

Pro-democracy protests take refuge inside of a soi (small side street) during clashes with riot police in Bangkok, Thailand, August 2021.

A young girl holds up the three... simple of dissent in Thailand.

15 of 24 © 2024 Andre Malerba

A young girl holds up the three-finger salute during a peaceful pro-democracy protest in Bangkok, Thailand, August 2021. This gesture, taken from the popular Hunger Games films, became a widely used simple of dissent in Thailand.

Paint covers the Ministry of Ju...Bangkok, Thailand, August 2021.

16 of 24 © 2024 Andre Malerba

Paint covers the Ministry of Justice sign after a pro-democracy demonstration in Bangkok, Thailand, August 2021.

Pro-democracy protestors drive ...Bangkok, Thailand, August 2021.

17 of 24 © 2024 Andre Malerba

Pro-democracy protestors drive motorbikes near a burning police booth after clashes with riot police in Bangkok, Thailand, August 2021.

Riot police huddle together in ...ce to see and catch protestors.

18 of 24 © 2024 Andre Malerba

Riot police huddle together in the rain during a pro-democracy protest in Bangkok, Thailand, August 2021. Protests often ramped up into the night, when the darkness made it harder for police to see and catch protestors.

A bystander covers her head wit...gkok, Thailand, September 2021.

19 of 24 © 2024 Andre Malerba

A bystander covers her head with a plastic bag to get momentary relief from tear gas fumes during pro-democracy clashes with riot police in Bangkok, Thailand, September 2021.

A portrait of Warit Somnoi, 15,...ok, 28, who denied all charges.

20 of 24 © 2024 Andre Malerba

A portrait of Warit Somnoi, 15, is seen next to flowers and the blurry image of someone holding an unidentified firearm, at his memorial in front of Din Daeng police station in Bangkok, Thailand, October 2021. Warit Somnoi was shot by an unidentified person after dark, following a protest in the Din Daeng area, and passed away two months later due to his injuries. Thai police insisted they were not connected to the shooting, and arrested Chutipong Tidkratok, 28, who denied all charges.

Pro-democracy protestors use a ...Bangkok, Thailand, August 2021.

21 of 24 © 2024 Andre Malerba

Pro-democracy protestors use a laser pointer to blind riot police as they retreat during clashes in Bangkok, Thailand, August 2021.

Pro-democracy protestors rest d...and how a protest will proceed.

22 of 24 © 2024 Andre Malerba

Pro-democracy protestors rest during clashes with riot police at Din Daeng intersection in Bangkok, Thailand, September 2021. Anti-police sentiment is strong among younger protestors, and sits at odds with the older generation's relationship with police which focuses on a mutual understanding of where and how a protest will proceed.

Riot police get into formation ...Bangkok, Thailand, August 2021.

23 of 24 © 2024 Andre Malerba

Riot police get into formation next to Democracy Monument, as storm clouds roll over Bangkok, Thailand, August 2021.

A pro-democracy protestor waves...Bangkok, Thailand, August 2021.

24 of 24 © 2024 Andre Malerba

A pro-democracy protestor waves a Thai flag in the direction of riot police at the end of a day of clashes at Din Daeng intersection in Bangkok, Thailand, August 2021.

PLAY

STOP

GRID

FULL

LOVE

Close

Thumbnail of Pro-democracy protestors react t_cated around the Din Daeng area.

Thumbnail of A pro-democracy protestor holds _ into a constitutional monarchy.

Thumbnail of Riot police get into formation u_ Bangkok, Thailand, August 2021.

Thumbnail of Pro-democracy protestors flee fr_s limited to running and hiding.

Thumbnail of Pro-democracy protests use salin_ Bangkok, Thailand, August 2021.

Thumbnail of A pro-democracy protestor lays u_ngkok, Thailand, September 2021.

Thumbnail of Pro-democracy protestors wearing_ Bangkok, Thailand, August 2021.

Thumbnail of Riot police march towards Victor_ Bangkok, Thailand, August 2021.

Thumbnail of Pro-democracy protestors wave th_ Bangkok, Thailand, August 2021.

Thumbnail of Empty water bottles used to rins_ Bangkok, Thailand, August 2021.

Thumbnail of A young pro-democracy protester _bber bullets down at protestors.

Thumbnail of “No 112” gra_ocuses of the protest movement.

Thumbnail of A riot police officer fires rubb_ Bangkok, Thailand, August 2021.

Thumbnail of Pro-democracy protests take refu_ Bangkok, Thailand, August 2021.

Thumbnail of A young girl holds up the three-_d simple of dissent in Thailand.

Thumbnail of Paint covers the Ministry of Jus_ Bangkok, Thailand, August 2021.

Thumbnail of Pro-democracy protestors drive m_ Bangkok, Thailand, August 2021.

Thumbnail of Riot police huddle together in t_ice to see and catch protestors.

Thumbnail of A bystander covers her head with_ngkok, Thailand, September 2021.

Thumbnail of A portrait of Warit Somnoi, 15, _tok, 28, who denied all charges.

Thumbnail of Pro-democracy protestors use a l_ Bangkok, Thailand, August 2021.

Thumbnail of Pro-democracy protestors rest du_ and how a protest will proceed.

Thumbnail of Riot police get into formation n_ Bangkok, Thailand, August 2021.

Thumbnail of A pro-democracy protestor waves _ Bangkok, Thailand, August 2021.

Public Project

Voices of Change: Thailand's Youth Fights Back

Copyright Andre Malerba 2024

Updated Jan 2022

Topics Breaking News, Conflict, Confrontation, Dictatorship, Documentary, Editorial, Essays, Human Rights, International Stories, Journalism, Oppression, Photojournalism, Politics, Revolution

"We have nothing left to lose," was a sentiment often echoed by Thailand's youthful protest groups throughout 2021. Many felt abandoned and oppressed by their government, magnified by the lack of an economic recovery plan during the Covid-19 pandemic. Others lost their parents to Covid and were homeless. Together they wanted Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-Ocha to resign, and for multiple months, faced daily clashes with police using tear gas, water cannons and rubber bullets. They learned to make homemade explosives in retaliation, and the violence eventually lead to the death of one boy, though the exact circumstance was kept from the public. Older generations of protest leaders advocated cooperating with police, arguing that they were not the real enemy, but feelings of betrayal and mistrust were too strong. Young protestors saw the police only as an arm of the government that was trying to stifle their voices.

4,895

Also by Andre Malerba —

Lampang: The New York Times Travel

Nov 8, 2024

Drone Photography

Nov 8, 2024

How The US Drives Gun Exports: Bloomberg

Nov 7, 2024

Extreme Heat Engulfs Thailand: The Washington Post

Nov 3, 2024

Cyber Trafficking: NZZ

Nov 3, 2024

Thailand's Recycling Problem: Bloomberg

Jan 27, 2023

Virus Hunters: The Washington Post

Apr 17, 2023

Shooting in Nong Bua Lamphu: The New York Times

Jan 27, 2023

Editorial Portraits

Sep 25, 2019

Single Images

Sep 25, 2019

Travel

Sep 25, 2019

Origins, Understanding Covid-19: Bloomberg

Andre Malerba / Thailand

May 3, 2021

Step Into My (Home) Office: Rest Of World

May 3, 2021

Thailand's Covid-19 Response

May 2, 2021

Published

Apr 9, 2017

Exodus

Sep 25, 2019

Built On Their Backs

Mar 29, 2017

Sign-up for
For more access