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Thailand’s prime minister and army chief have ruled out the possibility of another coup, but this has only increased speculation that one could be in the cards.
Thousands of pro-democracy activists have blocked a major crossing in Bangkok to test “coup prevention” strategies in Thailand’s latest round of anti-government protests.
The country has been rocked for months by youth-led protests demanding a new constitution, the reform of the untouchable monarchy and the resignation of Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-ocha, but they say they do not want him to replace him with another general.
Prayuth, who came to power in a coup in 2014, this week downplayed the prospects of being toppled or introducing martial law.
Inflatable Santa Claus figures were joined by the bright yellow rubber ducks that have become a symbol of the movement when some 5,000 protesters gathered on Friday in the shadow of a highway overpass in the north of the capital. .
Inflatable yellow ducks, which have become humorous symbols of the resistance during anti-government demonstrations, rise above a crowd of protesters in Bangkok, Thailand. [Sakchai Lalit/AP]
Natalie, a 32-year-old office worker from Bangkok, said the latest blow was disastrous for Thailand and warned that the country should not take that path again.
“Now is a time of crisis in Bangkok and Thailand. I want new elections and change prime minister and form a new government to really listen to the people, “he told the AFP news agency.
One of the protest leaders, Panupong “Mike Rayong” Jadnok, told the crowd: “Coup 14 will not happen because people will come out and resist.”
Some protesters burned photographs of Prayuth.
As part of what they called “hit prevention” drills, protesters ran an armada of pool toy ducks over their heads, to represent the military passing over people to take the front row in Thai politics.
Pro-democracy protesters hold large inflatable yellow ducks in a mock ‘coup prevention’ during an anti-government rally in Bangkok [Lillian Suwanrumpha/AFP]
Another group displayed portraits of generals who had led coups before ritually burning them.
Prayuth and Thailand’s army chief Gen. Narongpan Jittkaewtae this week ruled out the possibility that another coup was imminent, but that has only increased speculation that one might be in the cards.
“The government does not intend to use martial law or speak of a coup,” said government spokesman Anucha Burapachaisri.
Political scientist Titipol Phakdeewanich of Ubon Ratchathani University believes that another coup is unlikely today.
“I don’t think he is going to be removed because he still has strong support from the conservatives … and big business,” he told AFP.
But in a country that has seen a dozen coups since it became a democracy in 1932, the current round of protests, which began in July, has increased rumors that another is looming.
The movement has broken new ground for Thai political activism by demanding changes to the monarchy, an institution that was once revered and that some in the kingdom are beginning to question.
A large demonstration on Wednesday targeted King Maha Vajiralongkorn’s enormous wealth, demanding more transparency about his financial arrangements.
The protesters also accuse the monarchy of allowing decades of military domination and have demanded restrictions on the king’s powers, including his power to approve future coups.
The Royal Palace has not commented on the protesters, although the king recently said they were loved “anyway.”
Next week, a constitutional court in Bangkok will decide whether Prayuth has broken the rules by living in an army house, even though the former general is no longer among the high command of the army.
Losing the case could result in Prayuth being forced out of office.
At least seven of the most prominent protest leaders face charges of insulting the monarchy, which could carry jail terms of up to 15 years, for comments they have made at different protests.
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