Germany warned of “immediate consequences” if Thailand’s King Maha Vajiralongkorn broke the law on his territory, as thousands of protesters gathered outside his embassy in Bangkok on Monday, increasing pressure on his campaign for changes to the monarchy.
The protesters presented a letter questioning the king’s legal status in the European country and asking Germany to investigate whether he has exercised royal authority during his stay there in violation of the country’s law. The petition is intended to help Thailand return “to the path of truthful constitutional monarchy,” according to a joint statement issued by the organizers of the protest.
“We have not only been investigating it in recent weeks, but on a regular basis,” German Foreign Minister Heiko Maas told a news conference. “If there are things that we consider illegal, that will have immediate consequences.”
The king, who is currently in Bangkok, spends much of his time in Germany. Calls to the Royal Household Office seeking comment went unanswered.
The march came as lawmakers began a debate over pro-democracy demonstrations that challenge the royalist elite that has ruled Thailand for much of its history. The protesters want Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-Ocha to resign, changes to a constitution drawn up after a 2014 coup, and greater accountability and transparency for the monarchy, the country’s most powerful institution.
Parliament debate
Prayuth, who ignored calls to resign, said on Monday that parliament will consider the statute amendment process next month with the goal of wrapping it up in three readings in December. But the new constitution will not go into effect until broad public hearings are concluded, he said.
The prime minister previously said that the government is open to amending some unspecified parts of the constitution, although last month parliament halted the process of amending the charter. Protesters say the constitution, which allows a military-appointed Senate to vote for the prime minister, was instrumental in helping Prayuth stay in power.
Sompong Amornwiwat, leader of the opposition Pheu Thai Party, said Prayuth must resign to alleviate the situation and urged the government to consider the protesters’ demand to amend the constitution without delay. He also called for the immediate release of the detained pro-democracy activists and an end to the harassment of those who oppose the government.
The protesters said the parliament session was being used to insult and defame the anti-government movement. “If the policy is good, there would be no protests today,” said the Thammasat group on Facebook.
The protesters also asked Germany to clarify whether King Vajiralongkorn will be obliged to pay inheritance tax given his long stay in the European country and to investigate the human rights record of the king and his courtiers, a copy of the letter released by pro-democracy groups. . Show.
Prayuth has fought to quell the protest movement, forcing him to withdraw the state of emergency in the capital a week after it was imposed and calling on protesters to “step back” to ease the situation. But the protesters rejected the olive branch and called for more protests.
Prayuth performance
An opinion poll by Suan Dusit University showed that more than 62% of respondents felt that dissatisfaction with Prayuth’s performance was the key reason for the escalation of the protest movement. Another survey by the National Institute for Development Administration showed that 59% of 1,336 respondents are concerned that protests will lead to violence and conflict.
The Thai government may be drawn into a “protracted standoff with protesters, along with arrests and harassment of leaders, in the hope that the movement will lose momentum,” said Christopher Ankersen, associate professor at the Center for Professional Studies at the New York University. for Global Affairs.
If the government is forced to make any compromises, the drafting of a new constitution, “a slow, long and arcane process,” could be used to buy time, Ankersen said, adding that Prayuth’s resignation could also be on the table. .
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