Thousands defy protest ban
THOUSANDS of protesters demonstrated in Bangkok yesterday, defying a ban imposed to end three months of anti-government action that has targeted King Maha Vajiralongkorn as well as Prime Minister Prayuth Chanocha, a former junta leader.
Despite police appeals over a loudspeaker to disperse, the group spilled across the Ratchaprasong Intersection in one of Bangkok’s busiest commercial districts.
It was the scene of bloodshed in 2010, during more than a decade of violence between supporters and opponents of the Thai establishment.
“Like dogs cornered, we are fighting till our deaths,” said Panupong “Mike Rayong” Jadnok, one the high-profile protest leaders who remains free.
“We won’t fall back. We won’t run away. We won’t go anywhere,” he told the cheering crowd.
Protesters also filled the walkways of the nearby shopping complex, holding up the three-finger salute adopted as a symbol of opposition after Prayuth’s 2014 coup. The Thai pro-democracy movement can be boiled down to three main demands: the resignation of the ruling government, the inauguration of a new constitution and reforms to the powerful monarchy.
Prayuth, a former army chief, has ruled the country since seizing power from an elected government in a 2014 military coup. The junta he led had introduced a new constitution with electoral laws that favoured his return to power in an election last year.
According to the new laws, a 250-member Senate appointed by Prayuth is eligible to take part in the vote for prime minister, for example.
To end the cronyism, protesters have demanded for Prayuth’s government to step down and for a new constitution to be drafted which excludes the stipulations introduced by Prayuth’s junta.
However, some activists say that Prayuth strictly follows the interests of the king and the royal family. They see the monarchy as the root of Thailand’s political problems.
Three months of protests in the country of 70 million have been largely peaceful, as was a march by tens of thousands of people on Wednesday.
Overnight, the government banned political gatherings of five or more people and the publication of news and online information that could threaten national security.
“The measures were necessary to ensure peace and order and to prevent further incidents after protesters affected the royal motorcade and violated the monarchy with provocative language,” government spokesperson Anucha Burapachaisri said.
“We don’t want anyone or the next generation to have to put up with this. We have to end it with us,” said Mameaw, 17. She declined to give her full name.
Police said they had arrested protest leaders Parit “Penguin” Chiwarak and rights lawyer Arnon Nampa. Arnon said on Facebook he was being forced to board a helicopter to the northern city of Chiang Mai.
Pictures on social media later showed student leader Panusaya “Rung” Sithijirawattanakul being taken away in a wheelchair as she gave the three-finger salute.
The protest movement aims to remove Prayuth, saying he manipulated an election last year to keep hold of power. He says the election was fair.
Those marching on the streets also want a new constitution and have called for a reduction in the powers of the king.
Criticism of the monarchy is punishable by up to 15 years in prison under lese majeste laws, though Prayuth said earlier this year the king had asked that they not be enforced for now.
“The clearance of the assembly (of protesters) was very reasonable because the protesters apparently harassed the queen,” royalist politician Warong Dechgitvigrom commented on Facebook.