Thai pro-democracy activists defy ban with mass rally in Bangkok

THOUSANDS of Thai pro-democracy demonstrators gathered in central Bangkok overnight in an act of mass defiance against the government’s sudden emergency ban on group meetings of more than four people and a sweep of arrests of protest leaders.

There were tense scenes as hundreds of police officers initially faced off with protesters flocking to the Rajprasong intersection in the heart of a major shopping district, despite an overnight decree aimed at quelling months of rallies demanding the prime minister’s resignation and curbs on the monarchy.

However, as evening fell last night, the protest swelled to an angry mass of people chanting “Free our friends!”.

They were calling for the release of those arrested in the early hours of yesterday morning outside the office of the prime minister, Prayuth Chan-ocha, as police moved in to clear an overnight sit-in demonstration.

The pre- dawn crackdown was launched just 30 minutes after the announcement of draconian new restrictions on gatherings.

The government also banned online posts on social media that are deemed to threaten Thailand’s national security.

Activists remained undeterred despite the detention of some of their leaders, at times blocking police vehicles from entering the protest area, and raising the now famous three-finger salute.

Protesters shouting “Get out! Get out!” – referring to the prime minister – broke through police cordons and were initially warned that officers would take action if they did not disperse by 6pm.

However, as the crowds grew, police vans and water cannon trucks remained on standby.

Addressing the rally, activist leaders said they were not afraid of the consequences of opposing the government.

“The dictatorship must be confronted by the people, even under the threat of arrest,” said Panupong Jadnok, one of the protest leaders. “There’s nowhere for us to retreat to. We’re like cornered dogs; we’ll fight until we die,” he added, according to a Channel News Asia reporter at the scene.

The flouting of the Thai government’s orders has pushed the South East Asian nation into dangerous territory. Calls to curb the powerful king’s powers and bring the monarchy under the constitution have prompted a backlash from Thailand’s pro-monarchy establishment.

There were volatile s cenes on Wednesday as the police tried to separate protesters on another mass march from large groups of royalists.

Ahead of this week’s events, John Winyu, a comedian running a popular political satire show, told The Daily Telegraph that he remained concerned about the safety of student protesters.

“I feel like the government, or the people who support the military government … are looking or waiting for some reason to have a bloody outcome,” he said.

To justify yesterday’s strict emergency decree that outlaws news or online content that “could create fear or intentionally distort information”, the government cited a confrontation with a royal motorcade on Wednesday as well as growing disorder, economic damage and the Covid-19 pandemic.

The incident with the motorcade, when protesters yelled slogans at King Maha Vajiralongkorn, has been seen as a watershed moment.

Such challenges are unprecedented in Thailand, where the royal family is still deified and protected by strict lèsemajesté laws that carry prison sentences of up to 15 years. The government has branded the demands for reform as “unconstitutional”.

30

Number of minutes between draconian restrictions on gatherings being announced and a pre-dawn crackdown