Thousands of protesters in Thailand capital call for new elections, changes to monarchy
BANGKOK — Thousands of demonstrators defied police warnings and occupied a historic field in Thailand’s capital Saturday to support the demands of a student-led protest movement for new elections and reform of the monarchy.
A fiery late-night speech with harsh criticisms of the royal institution set the crowd abuzz, even though the country has a harsh law that mandates a three- to 15year prison term for defaming the monarchy.
The speaker, Arnon Nampha, is a lawyer who broke the taboo on criticism of the monarchy ahead of the pack at a small rally early last month with some mild questions about the institution.
He recalled Saturday night how the crowd went silent on that occasion, and he compared its reaction with the much more enthusiastic reception he was now receiving for significantly more strident remarks.
The protesters, whose rally was continuing past midnight, have more activities planned for Sunday. They have been purposely vague about a planned march, but Arnon revealed in his speech that the protesters would lay down a plaque dedicated to the power of the people.
The action appears to be an implicit reference to the mysterious disappearance in 2017 of another plaque, which commemorated the 1932 revolution that turned Thailand — then known as Siam — from an absolute monarchy into a constitutional monarchy.
The crowd at Sanam Luang, a large field that has seen many historic events, were a disparate batch. An LGBTQ contingent waved its iconic rainbow banners, while red flags sprouted across the area, representing Thailand’s Red Shirt political movement, which battled the country’s military in Bangkok’s streets 10 years ago.
Organizers had predicted that as many as 50,000 people would take part in the weekend’s protest. Estimates of attendance at mass political events in Thailand are notoriously unreliable, but Saturday’s crowd appeared as big as any protest held at that venue in the past three decades. Associated Press reporters estimated that around 20,000 people were present by early evening, while people were still arriving.
As the night progressed, there were skits, music and speakers on the stage. They touched on issues including the alleged incompetence of the government, corruption in the military and women’s rights.
“The people who came here today came here peacefully and are really calling for democracy,” said Panupong Jadnok, one of the protest leaders.
At least 8,000 police officers reportedly were deployed for the event.
Core demands declared by the protesters in July were the dissolution of parliament with fresh elections, a new constitution and an end to intimidation of political activists. They have held a series of rallies since then.
They believe that Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-ocha, who as then-army commander led a 2014 coup toppling an elected government, was returned to power unfairly in last year’s general election because the laws had been changed to favor a pro-military party. A constitution promulgated under military rule is likewise undemocratic, they charge.
The activists raised the stakes dramatically at an Aug. 10 rally by issuing a 10-point manifesto calling for reforming the monarchy. Their demands seek to limit the king’s powers, establish tighter controls on palace finances and allow open discussion of the monarchy. Their boldness was virtually unprecedented, as the monarchy is considered sacrosanct in Thailand.
Arrests for earlier actions on charges including sedition have failed to faze the young activists. They had been denied permission to enter the Thammasat University campus and Sanam Luang on Saturday, but when they pushed, the authorities retreated, even though police warned them that they were breaking the law.
Students launched the protest movement in February with rallies at universities around the country in reaction to a court ruling that dissolved the popular Future Forward Party and banned its leaders from political activity for 10 years.
The party won the third-most seats in last year’s general election with an anti-establishment stance that attracted younger voters, and it is widely seen as being targeted for its popularity and for being critical of the government and the military.