Anti-IMF Protesters Release Balloons as Police Deploy Containers
Anti-IMF protesters in Bangkok released green and black balloons marked 'NO WORLD BANK & NO IMF' and handed them to police stationed near the National Queen Sirikit Convention Centre. Demonstrators, who have been camping since October 15, criticized the government's ties to the World Bank and cited the impact of its loans since the 1997 crisis. Police responded with a heavy presence, sealing off the area with container barriers and closing nearby MRT stations to maintain security during the IMF-World Bank meeting.
Anti-IMF protesters faced off with police, releasing symbolic green and black balloons printed with 'NO WORLD BANK & NO IMF' and gathering them in black bags to present to officers. The rally occurred on October 16, 2026, at the Rama 4 junction close to the National Queen Sirikit Convention Centre, host of the 2026 IMF-World Bank annual meeting. The People's Network Against the World Bank and IMF organized the protest to amplify the voices of those harmed by economic policies, noting they had been demonstrating since the previous day. At 11:20 a.m., activists handed the balloon-filled bags to police opposite them. They said they opposed the government's engagement with the World Bank, claiming it brought no benefit to the public, and highlighted the plight of people who took World Bank loans after 1997. Security forces, including Metropolitan Police and provincial units, maintained a tight presence, barring entry without passes and using containers and plastic barriers to block the Rama 4 intersection. Prime Minister Anutin Chanwirakul attended the meeting's opening ceremony. Police also rotated crowd‑control units, shut the MRT Queen Sirikit National Convention Centre station from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., and prepared additional measures to ensure safety.
