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(CNN) – Thailand’s prime minister announced that he is prepared to lift the emergency measures imposed on Bangkok after more than a week of daily anti-government protests in the country’s capital and other cities.
In a prerecorded speech that was televised on Wednesday, Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha said he is taking the first steps to “reduce” the political tensions that have seen tens of thousands of protesters take to the streets in recent months. , calling for a new constitution, reform of the monarchy and the resignation of Prayut.
“The protesters have made their voices and opinions heard,” Prayut said. “As the leader of the nation who is responsible for the well-being of all Thais, be they protesters or the silent majority with any political convictions, I will take the first step to reduce the escalation of this situation.”
Prayut said he plans to lift the severe state of emergency in the capital on the condition that “there are no violent incidents” and called on the protesters to work through representatives in parliament.
“I ask the protesters to reciprocate sincerely, to turn down the volume of hateful and divisive conversations, and to allow us, together, to disperse this terrible dark cloud before it moves over our country,” the Prime Minister added. .
Meanwhile, an extraordinary parliamentary session has received royal consent and will be convened from Monday, according to an announcement by the Royal Gazette of Thailand. Thailand’s parliament is in recess, but will be called upon to debate the crisis. The order said that King Maha Vajiralongkorn approved the session “out of the need for the national interest.”
Student-led protesters have continued to defy an emergency decree imposed last Thursday that banned public gatherings of more than five people, restricted the release of information that is seen as inciting fear among the public, and gave the forces broader powers. of security.
Tens of thousands of pro-democracy protesters demonstrated in Bangkok and other cities over the weekend, fueled by clashes between police and protesters on Friday. Many people, including celebrities, have publicly condemned the use of water cannons by the police to disperse protesters.
“Last Friday night, we saw things that should never happen in Thailand,” Prayut said in Wednesday’s speech, referring to some of the violent clashes between protesters and police. But he also recognized the peaceful “well-intentioned” protesters.
Initiated by students, the protest movement has been largely peaceful and has attracted support from a broader section of society. Flash-mob-style marches and rallies are organized online via messaging platforms such as Telegram, with protest locations announced at the last minute on social media.
On Wednesday, protesters said they were giving Prayut three days to resign or face further demonstrations.
A representative of the pro-democracy protesters handed a mock resignation letter to the head of the Bangkok Metropolitan Police and a government representative, and at the end of the letter there was a blank space for the Prime Minister to sign.
“Prayut must resign within three days, or else he will face the people again,” said a local protest leader.
They said they would suspend their activities for three days to give the government time to respond. Prayut has previously said that he will not resign.
The group is also demanding the release of detained protesters in custody, including several protest leaders. Thai police said 77 people have been arrested in the protests in Bangkok since October 13. Thai human rights lawyers estimated the number of people arrested nationwide at 87, with 81 indicted.
The charges range from misdemeanors to more serious crimes such as sedition, which carries a maximum of seven years in prison, and violation of the Cybercrime Act.
Last week, two activists were arrested on charges of attempted violence against the Queen after their caravan was obstructed by anti-government crowds. The couple faces a possible life sentence.
The threat of prison, the arrest of the protest leaders and the emergency decree have not deterred the protesters. A central demand is to reform the powerful monarchy of Thailand to curb the powers of the king and make him responsible for the constitution.
The protesters have examined the immense wealth and power of King Vajiralongkorn. Vajiralongkorn has consolidated his power by expanding his own designated military unit, the King’s Guard. He has also vastly increased his personal wealth and has transferred billions of dollars in real assets held by the Thai Crown directly to its control.
Another central demand from the protesters is that the military-written constitution be redrafted, as they say it allows the military to hold on to political power. True democracy cannot happen in Thailand, protesters say, until the top-down ruling system made up of the monarchy, military and wealthy political elites is reformed.
This story was first published on CNN.com, “The Prime Minister of Thailand says he is prepared to lift the state of emergency. Protesters give him three days to resign.”
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