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BANGKOK: Thai protesters scaled a Bangkok monument on Saturday night (Nov. 14) to display a giant banner scrawled with anti-government slogans and calls to reform the monarchy.
For months, the country has witnessed mass demonstrations led by students calling for the resignation of Prime Minister Chan-o-cha, who came to power in a coup in 2014, as well as a new constitution and changes in the operation of The Royal Family.
READ: Comment: Will Anxious Thai Protesters Wait for a New Constitution?
A crowd of several thousand attended a carnival-themed rally called “Mob Fest” at the Democracy Monument, a major intersection in Bangkok.
In the afternoon, high school students and other anti-government protesters wrote with marker pens and spray-painted messages on giant white sheets.
A person writes on a poster during a rally calling for the removal of Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha’s government and reforms in the monarchy in Bangkok, Thailand, on November 14, 2020. REUTERS / Soe Zeya Tun
“You’ve been stealing my bright future,” read a message. “Democracy will win.”
25-year-old graphic designer from Bangkok Pearl watched as a group of protesters used ladders to climb the 10-foot-high central tower of the Democracy Monument, while musicians beat a drum.
“This is a symbolic act of freedom of expression,” he told AFP.
People write on a poster during a rally calling for the removal of Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha’s government and reforms in the monarchy in Bangkok, Thailand, on November 14, 2020 (Photo: REUTERS / Soe Zeya Tun) .
The protesters sang a Thai version of Do You Hear the People Sing? From Les Miserables and the Crowd raised their hands in three-fingered salutes, a pop culture reference to the Hunger Games movies.
The crowd raised their hands in three-fingered salutes, a pop culture reference to the Hunger Games movies. (Photo: AFP / Lillian SUWANRUMPHA)
Before they turned their backs on him and made the same gesture that the royal caravan passed.
King Maha Vajiralongkorn and Queen Suthida were on their way to open a new train line in another part of the city, with thousands of yellow-clad royalist supporters turning out to show their support.
In the afternoon, angry high school students calling themselves the bad student movement demonstrated in front of the Thai Ministry of Education before marching to join the main rally.
They want the Minister of Education, Nataphol Teepsuwan, to resign and organized a fake funeral for him.
“He has not managed to reform the educational system, so he is dead for us,” Anna 15 told AFP, while placing flowers in a wooden coffin, along with a photo of the minister.
READ: Thai police use water cannons against protesters in Bangkok
The students are asking for a review of the school system, curriculum, strict rules, dress codes, and standardized haircuts.
Thai authorities deployed 8,000 police officers to patrol Saturday’s protest, which is expected to last until midnight.
Police used water cannons against protesters at a rally last Sunday. It was only the second time such tactics were used.
