Three-finger salute (pro-democracy)

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Protesters in Thailand performing the three-finger salute at a July 2020 rally

The three-finger salute is a hand gesture made by raising the index, middle and ring fingers, while holding the thumb to the little finger, and raising the hand in a salute. The gesture originated in The Hunger Games, but has been adopted by pro-democracy protest movements in Southeast Asia, mainly in Thailand and Myanmar, as well as in other countries, including Hong Kong.

Origins[]

The gesture originated in The Hunger Games, the series of fiction books and films by Suzanne Collins. In the series, the gesture is made by pressing the three middle fingers of the left hand to the lips and then raising it to the air. It initially appears in the first book and film of the series, when the people of District 12 salute Katniss Everdeen after she volunteers to participate in the Hunger Games in place of her sister. Later, in the second part of the series (Catching Fire), an old man in the crowd salutes Katniss this way during a tour by the victors, and the gesture becomes a symbol of the revolution along with the mockingjay song whistled by Katniss in her first games.[1]

Asian democracy movements[]

Thailand[]

The salute first became a real-world pro-democracy symbol in the aftermath of the 2014 Thai coup d'état.[2] Due to its use, the symbol was made illegal in Thailand.[3] Protesters have since added symbolism to the gesture, stating that the three fingers stand for the French Revolutionary ideal of liberty, equality, fraternity.[4] The gesture was revived by protesters in the 2020 Thai political crisis.[5]

Hong Kong[]

The salute was used for a time during the Umbrella Movement in 2014 [6][7] before being revived in the 2019-20 Hong Kong protests, inspired by its renewed usage in Thailand,[8] and continues to be used to symbolize resistance against the Chinese government.[9]

Myanmar[]

The salute became a symbol of opposition to the 2021 Myanmar coup d'état.[10]

Cambodia[]

Mu Sochua, former vice president of the Cambodia National Rescue Party (CNRP), called on the opposition party's supporters to adopt the symbol as a sign of solidarity with Myanmar and as a protest against the current government of Hun Sen and the ruling Cambodian People's Party (CPP).[11] A representative of the CPP condemned these actions, saying that they were undermining the country.[12]

Other uses[]

Philippines[]

Before its adoption as a pro-democracy symbol, Philippine senator Miriam Defensor Santiago used it in a 2013 privilege speech in response to then-Senate president Juan Ponce Enrile, criticizing his personal and political conduct dating back to Ferdinand Marcos's regime, in response to his allegations about her mental health.[13] In this context, she deviated from her prepared remarks after declaring, "His mind is sick, sick, sick...[You are] three times sick!" using the language of Katniss Everdeen in The Hunger Games: Catching Fire.[14][15] In 2017, a group of critics of President Rodrigo Duterte also used the salute to express dissent towards his administration and the killings related to the country's war on drugs.[16]

United States[]

The non-profit organization Harry Potter Alliance used the three-finger salute to criticize economic and wage inequality in American companies such as Walmart and McDonald's.[17] The move was supported by the AFL-CIO, who responded by posting pictures of union leaders posing with the symbol.[18]

See also[]

References[]

  1. ^ Gallup, Jasmine (20 March 2021). "Hunger Games: Why District 12 Uses A 3 Finger Salute (& What It Means)". ScreenRant. Retrieved 14 April 2021.
  2. ^ "'Hunger Games' salute back". Bangkok Post. 18 August 2020. Retrieved 4 March 2021.
  3. ^ "Hunger Games salute banned by Thai military". The Guardian. Associated Press. 3 June 2014. Retrieved 4 March 2021.
  4. ^ Tharoor, Ishaan (20 November 2014). "Why are China and Thailand scared of the 'Hunger Games'?". Washington Post. Retrieved 4 March 2021.
  5. ^ Zheng, Sara (19 August 2020). "From Belarus to Thailand: Hong Kong's protest playbook is spreading everywhere". Inkstone. Hong Kong: South China Morning Post. Retrieved 6 March 2021.
  6. ^ "HK Protesters Express Aspirations for Freedom With 3 Finger Salute - Bringing you Truth, Inspiration, Hope". Vision Times. 29 November 2014. Archived from the original on 28 October 2020. Retrieved 6 March 2021.
  7. ^ Sim, David (11 December 2014). "Hong Kong: Defiant protesters give Hunger Games' three-fingered salute as police clear camp". International Business Times UK. Retrieved 6 March 2021.
  8. ^ Reuters (19 November 2020). "Campus march by Hong Kong graduates marks a year since university clashes". The Straits Times. Retrieved 6 March 2021.
  9. ^ Agence France-Presse (1 March 2021). "Crowds gather outside court after Hong Kong dissidents charged". Bangkok Post. Bangkok Post Public Company, Limited. Retrieved 6 March 2021.
  10. ^ Quinley, Caleb (8 February 2021). "Three-finger salute: Hunger Games symbol adopted by Myanmar protesters". The Guardian. Retrieved 4 March 2021.
  11. ^ "Cambodians urged to adopt three-finger salute - UCA News". ucanews.com. 22 February 2021. Retrieved 6 March 2021.
  12. ^ Sokhean, Ben (18 February 2021). "Gov't slams ex-opposition's call to adopt 'three-finger salute'". Khmer Times. Phnom Penh. Retrieved 6 March 2021.
  13. ^ Defensor Santiago, Miriam (4 December 2013). "Press Release - Santiago: Navigating the crimes of the plunder mastermind". legacy.senate.gov.ph. Senate of the Philippines. Retrieved 6 March 2021.
  14. ^ Dumaual, Miguel (4 December 2013). "Hip Miriam channels Katniss Everdeen vs Enrile". ABS-CBN News. Retrieved 6 March 2021.
  15. ^ "Livestream: Privilege Speech of Sen. Miriam Defensor Santiago". 4 December 2013. Retrieved 6 March 2021.
  16. ^ "Anti-Duterte coalition adopts 'Hunger Games' salute". GMA News. 19 September 2017. Retrieved 20 March 2021.
  17. ^ Ashoka (5 December 2014). "Hunger Games Salute Used By Black Friday Protesters Fighting For Higher Wages". Forbes. Retrieved 6 March 2021.
  18. ^ Tortora, Jackie (22 November 2014). "The Hunger Games Are Real | AFL-CIO". aflcio.org. AFL-CIO. Retrieved 6 March 2021.
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