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Thousands of people gathered in the country’s capital for this weekend’s demonstrations, which began on Saturday and were part of a protest movement that has been gaining momentum since July.
Student leader and activist Panasaya “Rung” Sitthijirawattanakul, 21, took to a public stage on Saturday night to address King Vajiralongkorn of Thailand directly, an act that under strict national laws could be punishable by 15 years of jail if your comments are deemed defamatory. to the monarchy.
Panasaya listed to the crowd the ten demands of the United Front of Thammasat and Demonstration, a student union group for which she is a spokesperson. They include the repeal of the laws against the defamation of the monarchy, a new constitution, the abolition of royal offices, the removal of the military junta, and the dissolution of the king’s royal guard.
In an interview with CNN, Panasaya said: “I do not mean to harm the monarchy.” But he also shared a message to the king: “You should reform it so that the monarchy can continue to exist in Thailand … If you pay attention to what I am saying, I would like you to consider our demands.”
On Sunday, with thousands still out, a group from the rally announced that it intended to hand over the ten demands to the Privy Council, the king’s advisers.
However, Panasaya and other protesters were detained by the police when they tried to approach the council. In an exchange broadcast live on television, Panasaya agreed to hand over the demands to the police and declared a victory for the protesters.
Speaking to the crowd before they dispersed, protest leader Parit “Penguin” Chiwarak said: “Our victory is that we deliver our letter directly to the king, so that we can show that they are all the same. They are all the same color of blood. : It’s red. Thank you all for celebrating our victory. We told people to raise their hands. “
Government spokesman Anucha Burapachaisri told CNN: “I am glad it ended peacefully. As we have made the safety of the protesters our priority. And that has been handled very well by our officers.”
When asked about submitting a reform letter to the king, he said: “I am aware of your demands on the reform of the monarchy from listening to your speeches on stage, but I do not have them in detail yet. I would need time to gather info. before we have any further comment on this. ”
Weekend protests increase
Before this weekend, official figures had tried to dissuade protesters from demonstrating and allay fears that the demonstrations could turn violent.
On Thursday, the prime minister warned protesters that they could cause economic destruction if the coronavirus spreads in meetings, although he did not name the protest groups individually or specifically refer to the demonstrations planned for the weekend.
And in a briefing on Saturday morning, the Royal Thai Police commander told people not to believe what he called rumors that the police will “crack down on mobs,” and urged officers not to react. if they “provoked” them.
Later that afternoon, the protest leaders opened the doors of Thammasat University, a heartland of student activism in Thailand. They met on campus and in Sanam Luang, a public square near the king’s official residence in the Grand Palace.
The protesters and their supporters are calling for a series of institutional changes; for example, Pita Limjaroenrat, of the opposition Move Forward Party, said her group will propose a council meeting to “peacefully rewrite the constitution.”
The best solution, Limjaroenrat says, is to choose a “group of people” to rewrite. He told the media that if there is no change in the country, “people will continue to take to the streets.”
That’s a radical idea in Thailand, where many regard the mighty royal institution with a deity-like reverence. – but dissatisfaction, especially among young Thais, has been simmering for years.
Years of increasing resistance
Thailand has endured years of political turmoil. A military coup in 2014 was followed by failed promises to restore democracy, and what activists say is a crackdown on civil rights and liberties.
It is within this atmosphere that his anger is now directed towards King Maha Vajiralongkorn, who assumed the throne in 2016 and was crowned in May 2019.
Vajiralongkorn is believed to spend much of his time abroad and has been largely absent from public life in Thailand as the country grappled with the coronavirus pandemic.
The Crown Property Act, passed in 1936, reorganized the assets of the Thai royal family into separate categories for royal assets. The repeal of the law meant that the personal possessions of the Crown and the King were placed in a single category to be administered by King Vajiralongkorn.
Although the absolute monarchy was abolished in Thailand in 1932, the monarch still wields significant political influence. Thais are expected to carry on a long tradition of worshiping the royal institution.
However, the change seems to take root.
CNN cannot independently verify the videos.
Traditionally, Thai citizens are supposed to stand still to pay their respects to the anthem, which is played twice a day in public spaces, and the rule is even stricter in schools.
“The protests in Thailand are historic because it is the first time in Thai history that urban protesters are demanding such reforms,” Paul Chambers, lecturer and special adviser at the ASEAN Center for Community Studies at Naresuan University, told CNN. last month.
CNN’s Jaide Garcia and Emma Reynolds contributed to this report.
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