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BANGKOK: Thousands of Thai anti-government protesters marched into an army barracks on Sunday (November 29) to challenge King Maha Vajiralongkorn’s personal control over some army units.
It was the latest act of defiance against the king by protesters who have broken taboos criticizing the monarchy. The Thai constitution says the monarchy must be revered and the laws forbid insulting the institution.
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The protesters, many of whom carried inflatable ducks that have become a protest mascot, stopped at the gates of the 11th Infantry Regiment, part of the King’s Guard that played a role in suppressing protests against the system in 2010.
Lines of riot police blocked the protesters at the gate.
“No democratic country sees a king control an army. In any democratic country with a king as head of state, the armed forces depend on the government,” said Arnon Nampa, a human rights lawyer and leader of the protests who has been a critic. frequent of the monarchy. .
“We have seen the monarchy expanding its powers. That is why we are here today.”
Protesters try to remove the barbed wire before a demonstration demanding the resignation of the prime minister and reforms to the monarchy, in front of the 11th Infantry Regiment, in Bangkok, on November 29, 2020 (Photo: REUTERS / Athit Perawongmetha).
The Royal Palace has not commented since the protests began, but the king himself recently said the protesters are loved “anyway” despite their actions.
The protesters accuse the monarchy of allowing decades of military domination. There have been 13 successful coups since 1932, when the absolute rule of the monarch came to an end.
The protests began in July and initially demanded the departure of Prime Minister Prayut Chan-ocha, a former military leader, and a new constitution. The protesters have since expanded their demands to include restrictions on the king’s powers.
Arnon is among several protest leaders facing charges under the lese majesty laws against insulting the monarchy after speeches he made at previous demonstrations.
The Foreign Ministry said in a statement that Thailand adhered to the rule of law and that the right to freedom of expression must remain within those limits.
“In all cases in which the law is violated, officials take measures in strict adherence to appropriate legal processes without discrimination,” the ministry said.
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The prime minister rejected the resignation demands and rejected accusations that he engineered last year’s elections to retain power after taking office in 2014.
The video shared on social media showed the soldiers taking a giant photo of the king and queen at the entrance to the barracks before the protest.
