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Sunday, October 18, 2020
Young people in Thailand protest against the ban on gatherings: for four days in a row, tens of thousands take to the streets and demand democratic reforms. The monarchy is also a thorn in his side. Seven activists have been arrested, but the government is afraid.
Despite the ban on gathering, tens of thousands of people have taken to the streets in Thailand’s capital Bangkok to protest against the government. For the fourth day in a row, pro-democracy protesters called for the resignation of Prime Minister Prayut Chan-O-Cha. “Down with the dictatorship,” they shouted, and “Reform the monarchy.” The protesters, mostly young, occupied a large intersection in Bangkok despite strict government measures and held up posters with images of detained activists.
Prime Minister Prayut declared a state of emergency on Thursday, banning gatherings of more than four people. The following day, the police used water cannons against the protesters. On Sunday, however, the police were notably contained when, according to local media, 20,000 people demanded the release of the detained activists.
Meanwhile, the Prayut government renewed its willingness to speak. “The government reiterates that it is ready to listen to everyone,” the prime minister said in a statement. “The government wants to find a way out together,” the spokesman for the head of government, Anucha Burapachaisri, told the Reuters news agency. The Prime Minister was concerned that the protests could spread and incite disruptors to violence. Who Prayut wants to talk to remained open.
Breaking a taboo: the monarchy is also in the crosshairs of protesters
The pro-democracy protest movement calls for the resignation of the government and an open debate on the role of the monarchy in Thailand. The arrests of democracy activists also caused outrage. Some of them face life in prison under a law that has not been enforced for decades. Seven people have been arrested, said the legal aid group Thai Lawyers for Human Rights. Among them was Panupong Jadnok, one of the few free minds in the democratic movement until then. Plainclothes officers took him away.
For three months, thousands of people have been protesting the government and calling for the resignation of Prayut, the head of the military junta at the time, who took power in 2014. Prayut was re-elected as prime minister last year, but this it is controversial in much of the population. Meanwhile, criticism is also directed against the monarchy, a taboo break. Several protesters called for the power of King Maha Vajiralongkorn to be limited. Lese Majesty is punishable by up to 15 years in prison in Thailand.
There have been several military coups in Thailand in the recent past, the most recent of which took place in 2014. In a parliamentary election overshadowed by allegations of fraud last year, former army chief Prayut was victorious.
