Thai king demands love from protesters
THAILAND’S King Maha Vajiralongkorn said his country needed people who “love the monarchy” as he broke his silence on anti-royal protests rocking Bangkok.
His comments were broadcast on state television as Thai police used water cannons, riot shields and batons to disperse thousands of protesters who defied a ban on protests for a second day. The king has made no direct comment on three months of protests that have called for curbs to his powers as well as for the removal of Prayuth Chanocha, the prime minister.
He said “the country needs people who love the country and love the monarchy”, adding: “All your experience and the things that you’ve done. You can teach the new generation of your experience. This will be greatly useful.”
Around 2,000 pro-democracy demonstrators had been chanting for the release of arrested activists and hurled obscenities at the prime minister in the city’s main shopping mall district.
Several hundred riot police advanced towards them, calling on the protesters to go home or face the water cannon.
A few metres away, hundreds of activists blocked the road behind a barrier, calling for the riot police to “get out” and singing the national anthem.
Police fired chemical-laced water from the cannon, pushing back the protesters who used umbrellas against the blue liquid. “The younger generation will not stand for the status quo any longer,” design student Pim, 20, said earlier, as the protesters raised their arms to display their three-fingered salute. “The poor are becoming poorer and the rich are becoming richer.”
On Thursday, Mr Prayuth had banned gatherings of more than four people, but some 10,000 ignored the measure. Yesterday’s rally came after the arrests of around two dozen activists, including two under a rarely used law banning violence against the queen.