Thai Military Bans ‘Hunger Games’ Salute

Though originally written for young adults, The Hunger Games books and movies have become a worldwide phenomenon for people of all ages. The idea of a regular citizen (particularly a young female one) rising up to stand against an oppressive government is appealing to human beings from all walks of life.

The connection that people feel to The Hunger Games series took on a special meaning in Thailand recently when protestors began using the series’ “three finger salute” to show opposition to a coup which began last month.

Thailand has been calm since the army overthrew the nation’s elected government on May 22nd, saying it had to restore order after seven months of demonstrations that had triggered sporadic violence and left the country’s political rivals in a stalemate.

On Tuesday, The Associated Press reported that military rulers have announced they will mass arrest protesters who refuse to lower their saluting arms when ordered. In a statement, a spokesman from the ruling junta announced, “If it is an obvious form of resistance, then we have to control it, so it doesn’t cause any disorder in the country.”

Since staging its bloodless coup, the military has prohibited political gatherings of more than five people and tried to enforce a ban on criticism of the coup by closing politically affiliated television stations and blocking hundreds of websites.

In The Hunger Games, the heroine Katniss describes the salute: “It is an old and rarely used gesture of our district, occasionally seen at funerals. It means thanks, it means admiration, it means goodbye to someone you love.”

Later in the series, the salute became the citizens’ silent display of solidarity in resistance against totalitarian rule.

When asked what the symbol meant, protesters have given varying explanations. Some say it stands for the French Revolution’s trinity of values: liberty, equality, fraternity. Others say it means freedom, election and democracy. A photo montage circulating online paired a picture from The Hunger Games with a graphic of three fingers labeled, 1. No Coup, 2. Liberty, 3. Democracy.

Col. Weerachon Sukhondhapatipak, a spokesman for the junta, told The Associated Press.

“We know it comes from the movie, and let’s say it represents resistance against the authorities.”

The Hunger Games films have been popular in Thailand. The latest film, The Hunger Games: Catching Fire made $3.3 million last year, which ranked eighth among 2013 releases. The 2012 film The Hunger Games made $2.1 million, ranking 17th that year.

A spokesman for The Hunger Games films distributor, Lionsgate, said the company was aware of the Thai protest but had no comment.