Thai Theater Company Bans 'Mockingjay' - Apex Cinemas, one of the main chains of theaters in Thailand, decided to pull Mockingjay "The Hunger Games: Mockingjay - Part 1" out of their cinemas.
The reason behind such a rushed decision is the fact that the opposing group to the junta uses the three-fingered salute as part of the rebellion against the military coup.
The three-finger salute is used in the fiction of "The Hunger Games" as a sign of thanks, admiration and good-bye to a loved one, Fox News noted.
For instance, one memorable moment which includes this sign is when Rae dies in the first installment of "The Hunger Games" and Katniss does the three-finger salute to the cameras in the woods for everyone to see. In the district from where Rae was, everyone follows and does it too.
In Thailand, it is used by the younger people who oppose to the military coup that was settled back in May this year. The surprising matter of it all is that "Mockingjay" was released today in Thailand and even before that, it's been incredibly controversial.
On Wed. Prayuth Chan-ocha, Thailand's Prime Minister, was speaking in the city of Khon Kaen, where the former Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra maintains fervent support.
Five students attended wearing t-shirts that read, "We don't want the coup" and made the three-finger salute in a symbol of opposition, as well. They were arrested after this.
"Well, that's it. But it's O.K. Go easy on them. We will take care of the problems. Any more protests? Make them quick," said Chan-ocha, laughing the situation off, Time noted.
The five students were released the same day and then eleven more students were arrested in the democracy monument located in Bangkok, because they staged a picnic as a form of solidarity with the students detained in Khon Kaen.
After this particular situation, the Thai theater company, Apex Cinemas, decided not to show "Mockingjay" to the public.
"We feel our theaters are being used for political movements," the Thai theater company stated. Instead, they decided to replace it with "Magic in the Moonlight," according to Vanity Fair.
