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BANGKOK: Prominent leaders of Thailand’s pro-democracy movement vowed to return to the streets on Sunday to protest Prime Minister Prayut Chan-O-Cha, after his deadline for his resignation was ignored.
The former military chief who starred in the 2014 coup faces pressure from a student-led movement that has organized mass demonstrations for months calling for his resignation.
They consider their domain of power – renovated after the widely contested elections last year – as illegitimate and Wednesday had given him three days to resign.
When the deadline for Prayut to resign at 10 pm Saturday came and went, activist Jatupat “Pai” Boonpattararaksa said protesters would be coming in force Sunday at a major Bangkok intersection.
“We listened to the prime minister’s response to our request,” Pai told a crowd outside the Bangkok remand prison, where protesters had gathered to call for the release of fellow activists.
“Tomorrow as citizens, we will protest against Prayut in Ratchaprasong at 4 pm.”
Prayut stood firm on Saturday while attending a nationwide prayer ceremony at a historic Bangkok temple, saying “all problems can be solved” through compromise.
“The government has real intentions to solve the problems as long as it is in line with the laws,” he told reporters, adding that “he will not resign.”
The movement largely lacks leaders, although different groups are united when it comes to their demands for a reform of the Prayut government.
Some are also issuing controversial calls to reform the kingdom’s impregnable monarchy, questioning the role of King Maha Vajiralongkorn in Thailand. – once a taboo act due to the draconian royal libel laws.
Another group called the Popular Movement announced a march to the German Embassy on Monday afternoon. – in apparent defiance of the king, who spends long periods of time in Germany.
Offensive Charm
The monarch has been back in Thailand for the past week and a half to mark a Buddhist holiday and the death of his late father Bhumibol Adulyadej.
He has not commented on the protests, despite mounting tension in Bangkok as the protesters grow bolder in their defiance of the royal institution.
But the king has made rare public visits with his followers waiting outside the palace. – an offensive of charm for an army of local and international media.
On Friday, he broke royal protocol to praise a man who had displayed a portrait of the king’s parents at a pro-democracy rally.
“Very brave. So good. Thank you,” the king told the man according to images posted on Facebook.
That quote was trending as a hashtag on Twitter in Thailand after the interaction.
Another trending topic on Sunday morning was the hashtag “25 Oct mob” – a sign that protesters were preparing to gather for Sunday’s rally.
Prayut had initially imposed emergency measures banning gatherings of more than four, but lifted it a week later when he failed to quell the tens of thousands who attended guerrilla demonstrations in the capital.
A special parliamentary session has been called for Monday to discuss ways to reduce tensions.
