Amnesty expresses concerns over police conduct against IMF protesters

Amnesty International Thailand raised concerns over police conduct after observing the use of physical force against protesters, who gathered near the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and World Bank Group Annual Meetings on Thursday morning.

The Thai government has an obligation to protect peaceful assembly, Amnesty said in a statement on Friday. The organisation noted that at least seven protesters sustained injuries—including abrasions, bruising, swelling and general body pain — due to the force used by police, calling for an independent fact-finding investigation.

Hundreds of demonstrators representing the “People’s Network Against The World Bank And The International Monetary Fund” group assembled near the Queen Sirikit National Convention Center on Thursday morning before being blocked from marching closer to the venue.

A brief struggle ensued when protesters attempted to hang banners from a pedestrian bridge. Demonstrators reported being kicked, grabbed and pulled away by officers attempting to stop the action, despite an alleged prior agreement and the group’s pledge to demonstrate peacefully. Amnesty observers also reported officers using shields to strike individuals and pulling demonstrators by the hair.

“Actions such as pushing, pinning, yanking, kicking or striking individuals with shields constitute the use of physical force, which must be justified and subject to oversight,” Amnesty stated. “Simply breaching a police line or failing to comply with an officer’s orders does not, in itself, authorise the use of force — particularly when an individual has fallen or is otherwise rendered incapable of posing a threat.”

A protester shows her scuffed knee after being dragged by police. (Photo: Nannalin Tiengtae)

Demonstrators stayed in the area overnight and plan to remain near the convention centre till Friday evening. Protest leaders hope to open a dialogue with the IMF regarding economic policies that favour large-scale infrastructure developments, which they argue harm local communities, damage the environment and deepen public debt.

The group intends to continue monitoring the proceedings while seeking opportunities to engage directly with meeting participants to express their concerns. The 2026 Annual Meetings of the IMF and the World Bank Group will officially wrap up on Oct 18.

“The designation of protest areas or routes should take into account the objectives of the expression; protesters should not be pushed to a distance where they are unable to communicate with their intended target, unless such an action is justified by necessity and proportionality,” Amnesty added.