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BANGKOK – The beleaguered King of Thailand greeted crowds of worshipers in central Bangkok on Wednesday (November 25) as protesters gathered in front of a bank linked to the palace demanding a royal reform.
Accompanied by Queen Suthida, King Maha Vajiralongkorn mingled with royalists at Lumpini Park after paying his respects at a monument dedicated to his late great-uncle, King Vajiravudh.
Many had waited for hours, waving small Thai flags and carrying photographs of the monarch, whose wealth and spending have come under increasing scrutiny amid the pandemic-induced recession.
“The issue of the monarchy can be discussed, but with respect, not with hatred,” royalist leader Warong Dechgitvigrom told The Straits Times in the park. “If you are disappointed in the government, blame the government, not the monarchy.”
Royalists see the monarchy as a central element of Thai identity and have condemned the insolent language used by protesters in the institution they revere.
About 7 kilometers away, the protesters demonstrated in front of the headquarters of the Siam Commercial Bank, 23% of which is directly owned by King Vajiralongkorn.
Although the protest ended peacefully, local media reports say a protester was shot in the abdomen afterward. The suspect has reportedly been arrested.
The monarch became a major landowner and shareholder in several Thai corporate giants in 2018, after he assumed personal ownership of assets worth an estimated US $ 40 billion (S $ 53.7 billion) managed by the Property Office. of the Crown, which controls the properties that belong to the institution of the Thai monarchy. This fiscal year, nearly 9 billion baht (S $ 398 million) in the national budget has also been set aside for direct real spending.
Thailand is officially a constitutional monarchy. But protesters allege that the monarch, who leads two army units, exercises powers beyond the charter and wants his personal wealth to be separated from that of the Crown.
In June, Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha revealed that the king had asked the government not to apply the lese majesty law to civilians. The moratorium appears to have been lifted this week, with at least seven protest leaders summoned to acknowledge the charge of insulting or defaming the monarchy, which could result in their being jailed for up to 15 years.
In a defiant statement released Wednesday morning, Juventud Libre, one of the key organizations driving the protests, said: “Under this state, having the king above the constitution not only dishonors the people but also reinforces inequality. “.
The demonstration moved to the bank at the last minute after police barricaded the vicinity of the Crown Property Bureau, the original location.
Last week, lawmakers voted to begin the process of amending the Constitution, a central demand of the protesters, but rejected any measures that affect the powers of the monarchy. Meanwhile, the protesters rejected the attempts of the Speaker of the Lower House, Chuan Leekpai, to convene a “reconciliation committee”, arguing that it will get nowhere.
With the help of the stimulus measures, Thailand’s tourism-dependent economy contracted 6.4 percent less than expected in the third quarter compared to a year ago. But economic uncertainty means that most of next year’s 500,000 new graduates are likely to be unemployed.
After police fired chemical water cannons and tear gas at protesters outside parliament last week, Prayut promised to apply all available laws, saying: “This situation has shown no signs of abating, although the government has been forthright. and serious in trying to find a solution. “
Amid the unrest, King Vajiralongkorn, who usually spends most of the year in Germany, has been on a tour of Thailand and greets his followers with more flexible protocols.
As enthusiastic royalists huddled near him to take pictures with their cell phones on Wednesday night, he wrote a book that was presented to him: “Love your nation. Love your fellowmen. Act for the collective happiness and benefit.” .
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