Thailand continues anti-government protests despite ‘public transport closure’

Entry 2020.10.18 01:41

Unlike the day before, when water cannons were mobilized, the peaceful protests
Prime Minister: “If protests intensify, night curfew will be applied”

It was reported on the 17th that protests demanding monarchy reform and the resignation of the prime minister continue in major Thai cities.

Thai media Bangkok Post reported that the Thai government closed the main transit stations of the Skytrain urban railway and the Bangkok subway to reduce the scale of the protests and blocked roads through the deployment of large-scale races in major cities.

However, when the protest organizers designated three stations outside the city center and prepared alternatives, such as gathering the protesters, and when these contents were announced through the social networking service (SNS), the protesters on motorcycles, tuk-tuk and taxis met in about an hour. Said the media.

When the place of the protest was changed, the police showed up late, but there were no special frictions. A man who appeared at the protest said in an interview with the Associated Press: “I can’t do a great job right now, but I wanted to show the power that we can do it abroad.” The day before, the police even mobilized water cannons to disperse the protesters, but a peaceful protest took place that day. The protesters voluntarily disbanded after 8pm.

Previously, the Thai government announced an order through the ’emergency decree’, such as prohibiting the gathering of five or more people, prohibiting online reports and messages that would negatively affect national security and prohibiting access to places designated by the authorities. like the Prime Minister’s Office.

The Bangkok Post said: “On this day, the police appeared on the scene with a water cannon, but it was not actually used.”

In Thailand, protests demanding the resignation of Prime Minister Prayut Chanocha and reform of the royal family have continued for more than three months since last July. Earlier, Prime Minister Prayut announced that “if the protests intensify, it is possible to enforce a curfew at night.”