Thailand: A Time of Change

There was a Coup d’état in Thailand on 22 May 2014 following months of unrest, anti-government protests and civil disobedience. The protests drew large crowds and were essentially peaceful at the beginning, but after months of rallies and attempts to shut down Bangkok, the nations capital, violence was introduced and there were almost nightly attacks by anti-protest vigilantes at the protest sites. By May the death toll was 28 with over 800 injuries. The protests did succeed in forcing the resignation of PM Yingluck Shinawatra. On 7 May 2014, the Thai high court ordered Yingluck to step down. This created a political vacuumed opening the door for a military coup on the 22nd of May.

Photographer Lee Craker has documented much of the turmoil in Thailand during this eventful and historic time. His documentary photographs cover the beginning of the protests, the “Shutdown Bangkok” movement, the Anti-Coup protests and the mass exodus of migrant Cambodian workers after the coup. Lee’s insightful and humanistic photographs make this book a wonderful read for anyone interested in Thailand.