Thai Farmers and Fishermen Protest IMF and World Bank Meetings in Bangkok Thai farmers, fishermen and workers protested in Bangkok on October 16, 2026, as global leaders met for IMF and World Bank meetings, demanding a say in policies affecting their livelihoods. Hundreds of Thai farmers, fishermen and workers marched through Bangkok on Friday, October 16, 2026, as global finance and business leaders gathered for International Monetary Fund and World Bank meetings, demanding a say in policies shaping their livelihoods. The protesters cited mounting debt, meagre farm earnings and declining fish stocks, blaming some World Bank-backed projects for harming ecosystems and communities. Bangkok Protest Blocked by PoliceDemonstrators had hoped to reach the main conference centre but were stopped by a line of police more than a kilometre away, with the road blocked by shipping containers. Many wore straw hats and colourful scarves, and some carried fishing nets and hoisted banners reading World Bank, stop destroying the poor, a reference to criticisms that the global lenders extract too high a price from countries which borrow money.On Thursday, there were brief scuffles when police blocked protesters as they tried to hang a banner from a footbridge in the Thai capital, but there was no sign of trouble on Friday morning. The march remained peaceful as protesters gathered below a footbridge during the demonstration.Pak Mun Dam and LivelihoodsSome protesters highlighted specific projects, notably the World Bank-backed Pak Mun dam, a hydropower project completed in 1994 that fishing communities say damaged their livelihoods. Putta Muansaen, a 67-year-old fisherman who travelled overnight from northeastern Ubon Ratchathani province, said there were no more fish and that they could not swim upstream.Somporn Yamyong, 62, travelled from rice-rich central Suphan Buri province to draw attention to years of debt and meagre earnings. The rice farmer said she wanted Thai leaders and the IMF and World Bank to hear about the hardships facing farmers like her. Thailand received an IMF loan three decades ago but paid this off in 2003. It has some projects with the World Bank.Coconut farmer Sombat Chuekrod, 51, from Prachuap Khiri Khan province, south-west of Bangkok, added that Thai people are already poor and asked not to be made any poorer.Global Debt Criticism at IMF MeetingsThere were some non-Thai protesters in the crowd, including Harry May, a 59-year-old South African activist and researcher, who said global lenders were bankrupting countries, especially developing countries. He argued that people should not be indebted to the same institutions that claim they will relieve debt and provide development, only to create more debt for those countries.The protest comes as the IMF and World Bank hold their annual meetings in Bangkok, bringing together finance ministers, central bankers and business leaders. The lenders have faced longstanding criticism over the impact of their policies on developing nations, including debt conditions and large infrastructure projects.Protesters said they wanted to ensure that the voices of farmers, fishermen and workers are heard in decisions that affect their livelihoods. The gathering was one of several demonstrations expected around the meetings, though no further disruptions were reported on Friday morning.