You know the part in The Hunger Games that makes you cry every time? No, not the part when Katniss dies at the end of Mockingjay, but the part when she first raises her middle three fingers in salute as a show of solidarity with her fellow poors at the reaping in District 12, and again when Rue dies and your entire world was torn asunder. You know the one.
In a chain of events not dissimilar from those that tarnished the 74th Annual Victory Tour, that sign of silent protest temporarily landed five Thai students in a military camp after they brandished the same gesture during a speech delivered by military backed Prime Minister Prayut Chan-O-Cha overnight, which is, unequivocally, not a chill situation.
According to Thai PBS [via the ABC], the students were ejected by army officials after removing their sweaters to reveal slogan tees spelling out ‘No coup’, turning their backs on Chan-O-Cha in the process. They were then handed over to a military camp and, in exchange for their release, were forced to sign undertakings not to engage in future political protests on threat of expulsion from the law faculty at their university. Human rights lawyer Sasinan Thamnithinan said they have not been charged.
It’s the second time this year protesters in Thailand have repurposed the Hunger Games gesture to protest the results of April’s military coup, after which time the salute became illegal.
Mockingjay opens in local and Thai theatres Thursday. It’s 
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