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BANGKOK: Thousands of Thai protesters on Wednesday (November 25) called on King Maha Vajiralongkorn to relinquish control of a royal fortune worth tens of billions of dollars, in recent months of demonstrations directly focused on the monarchy.
Protesters have broken a long-standing taboo by criticizing the king and police summoned many of the best-known protest leaders on Tuesday on charges of insulting the monarchy, which can mean up to 15 years in prison.
“This law is old and barbaric. Every time it is used it damages the monarchy and the nation,” said Parit “Penguin” Chiwarak, who is among those facing charges. He dressed in a yellow duck suit, echoing the giant rubber ducks that have become emblems of the protest.
The demonstration had originally been scheduled at the Crown Property Office, which manages the royal assets.
But after police built shipping container and barbed wire siege barricades, the venue was moved to the headquarters of the Siam Commercial Bank, in which the king’s stake of more than 23 percent makes him the largest shareholder. .
The police put the number of protesters at 8,000.
“The shares of SCB should not belong to the king but to the finance ministry, so that the dividend can be used to develop the country,” said Boss, 28, a protester who declined to give his full name.
“The people demand the return of national assets from the king,” read a protest banner.
The bank’s shares rose more than 2% on Wednesday, more than double the overall market.
The palace has not commented since the protests began, but when the king was asked about the protesters recently, he said they were “loved anyway.”
READ: Thai protest leaders summoned for royal defamation
READ: Thai police will accuse protest leaders of royal insult
Some of the king’s critics sarcastically quoted those words after subpoenas on charges of insulting the monarchy, which Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha had said in June were not being used at the king’s request.
International human rights groups also condemned the use of the charges. Police sources said 15 protest leaders faced the charges, which they must acknowledge before the end of the month.
Responding to the criticism, government spokeswoman Rachada Dhnadirek said: “The government has been open-minded to rights and freedoms despite many reckless expressions that offend the majority. The government must use its authorized powers.”
Since July, protesters have been calling for the removal of Prayut, a former military leader. He rejects accusations that he engineered last year’s election to maintain the power he seized in a 2014 coup.
The protesters seek to make the king more accountable under the constitution, as well as reverse changes that gave him personal control of some army units and crown assets estimated at more than $ 30 billion.
Wearing yellow shirts, the color of the king, hundreds of supporters gathered to greet him before an event in Bangkok.
“We are here to protect the king. The king is the key to the unity of the people,” said Santi Yanothai, 67.
