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BANGKOK, Oct. 18 (AFP): Thousands of pro-democracy protesters took to a major Bangkok intersection on Sunday with placards bearing the faces of arrested activists, defying the ban on meetings and harsh warnings from authorities that have stepped up the repression in recent days.
The youth-led movement has suffered multiple blows this week, with dozens of arrests after protesters surrounded a royal caravan and delivered a pro-democracy salute to Queen Suthida during a protest Wednesday.
The government reacted by imposing “serious” emergency measures that prohibited gatherings of more than four people and allowed the arrest of the protest leaders, many of whom are calling for the removal of Prime Minister Prayut Chan-O-Cha, a former military chief. which was first brought to power in a 2014 coup.
Police also deployed water cannons against unarmed protesters on Friday in Bangkok’s central business district in an escalation of tactics that sparked outrage in Thai society.
But the crackdown has emboldened the movement’s mostly young supporters, who have turned out in large numbers for daily guerrilla protests in Bangkok.
The locations are announced an hour earlier to circumvent authorities, who shut down much of the city’s Skytrain and subway services to discourage people from joining.
“I can’t let the students fight alone,” said 24-year-old Phat, who first attended a rally and arrived at the site of Sunday’s protest at Bangkok’s Victory Monument.
“I want a true democracy,” he told AFP.
Thousands of people descended the main road from 4 pm (0900 GMT) shouting “Free our friends” while carrying placards of arrested activists.
Among them are human rights lawyer Anon Numpa, Parit “Penguin” Chiwarak, and Panusaya “Rung” Sithijirawattanakul, three of the most recognizable faces of the leaderless movement that have always called for reforms to the monarchy.
Pro-democracy protesters give way to an ambulance during an anti-government protest in Bangkok on Sunday (October 18, 2020). – Reuters
Among their demands is the abolition of a draconian royal defamation law, which protects King Maha Vajiralongkorn from criticism, and a call for the monarch to stay out of the country’s turbulent politics.
Once taboo in Thailand, the issue of actual reform demanded by protesters is one of the biggest challenges facing the Conservative government aligned with the kingdom’s armed forces.
Savvy social media protesters have also taken advantage of unorthodox ways to spread their messages, sending alerts via newly formed groups on Telegram, a secure messaging app, and have received advice from pro-democracy protests in Hong Kong. .
Across town in Asok, a popular shopping and restaurant district, a smaller group of protesters gathered and practiced hand signals to warn each other if the authorities were going to issue another harsh crackdown.
“I think the government used too harsh measures against the students on Friday, they were just empty-handed kids,” said Suk, 65. “All they had were their cell phones.”
National Police spokesman Yingyos Thepjumnong warned protesters early Sunday that demonstrations “causing disturbances and disorders” would not be allowed.
“If challenged, the police will do whatever it takes to enforce the law,” he said.
Later in the evening, thousands of Thai anti-government protesters took over key intersections in Bangkok, it reported. Reuters.
“Free our friends,” the protesters shouted as they stood in a rain, a mass of colorful ponchos and umbrellas. Some showed photographs of detained protest leaders. Thai human rights lawyers said that at least 80 protesters had been arrested since October 13 and that 27 remain in detention.
Police have not given a full breakdown.
Pro-democracy protesters hold up posters of protest leaders who have been arrested, during an anti-government protest at the Victory Monument in Bangkok, Sunday (October 18, 2020). – AP
They took no immediate steps to intervene when protesters seized the Victory Monument and Asok, two of Bangkok’s most important transportation hubs. Police said there were about 10,000 people at the Victory Monument alone.
“We are committed to maintaining peace and order. To do so, we are bound by laws, international standards and human rights.” Police spokesman Kissana Phathanacharoen said at a news conference.
However, the protesters distributed helmets and goggles to protect them during any attempts to disperse them by force.
The protesters also said that Prime Minister Prayut engineered last year’s elections to maintain power he seized in a coup in 2014, an accusation he denies.
The demonstrations have also become more openly critical of King Maha Vajiralongkorn’s monarchy, breaking a long-standing taboo and demanding restrictions on his powers despite possible jail terms of up to 15 years for anyone who insults the king.
During demonstrations by tens of thousands of people at various points in Bangkok on Saturday, protesters painted a flag on the road with the word “Republic of Thailand” written on it. The writing was erased overnight.
The Royal Palace has not commented on the protests.
The government banned the demonstrations in Bangkok on Thursday.
Across Thailand, demonstrations were being organized in at least 19 other provinces on Sunday. Solidarity protests were also being held or planned in Taiwan, Denmark, Sweden, France, the United States and Canada.
The protesters, who have adopted the swift tactics of Hong Kong activists, kept police guessing where the demonstrations would take place with a plethora of posts on social media.
Links have grown between protesters in Thailand and Hong Kong in the so-called Milk Tea Alliance, which refers to the popular drinks in both places. Hong Kong activist Joshua Wong tweeted in support of the Thai protesters.
“Their determination to #tailanddemocracy cannot be deterred,” he said.
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