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BANGKOK: Protesters gathered in Bangkok’s Silom shopping district on Thursday (October 29) to express their opposition against a royal fashion brand owned by the daughter of King Maha Vajiralongkorn, Princess Sirivannavari Nariratana.
Princess Sirivannavari’s fashion brand was scheduled to showcase its 2020-2021 fall / winter collection at 8pm on the same day at the “French Flair Runway” show at Mandarin Oriental in Bangkok.
Thailand’s princess Sirivannavari Nariratana, daughter of King Maha Vajiralongkorn. (Photo: Sirivannavari website)
Thursday’s protest adopted the theme of “People’s Runway” and took place on Silom Road, starting from the Sri Maha Mariamman Temple. It’s a satire on the princess’s fashion business.
As night fell, the protesters spoke out against the government of Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha and repeated his calls for reform of the monarchy, with some expressing their discontent through performances.
The protesters were in a good mood on Silom Road in Bangkok on October 29, 2020, but their serious calls for reform remained the same. (Photo: Pichayada Promchertchoo)
Before the rally, the organizers had announced the meeting plan on social media. They also cited an earlier local media report that allegedly detailed Thailand’s 2020 national budget bill and appropriations worth more than 29 billion baht (US $ 929 million) set aside for the monarchy.
These included a 13 million baht budget for the International Trade Promotion Department to display Sirivannavari brand products in foreign countries.
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Thursday’s protest marked another challenge to Thailand’s monarchy, which is protected by the strict lese majesty law. The law punishes anyone who defames, insults or threatens the King, the Queen, the apparent Heir or the Regent with imprisonment from three to fifteen years.
A simulated airstrip on Silom Road in Bangkok on October 29, 2020, with a sign that reads: “Ministry of Commerce budget of 13 million supports Sirivannavari business.” The sign refers to a local media report on the 2020 national budget bill and the allocation of 13 million baht to promote Princess Sirivannavari’s fashion brand. (Photo: Pichayada Promchertchoo)
On Monday, protesters marched to the German embassy in Bangkok to send letters to the German government, asking them to investigate whether King Maha has exercised political power during his extended stays in Bavaria.
The protesters also demanded clarification from Germany on whether the king is obliged to pay inheritance tax as stipulated by German law, after inheriting a fortune from his father, the late King Bhumibol Adulyadej.
On Monday, German Foreign Minister Heiko Maas told reporters that the government was following developments in Thailand and was aware of the demonstrations.
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Thursday’s rally is part of the Thai youth-led movement, which has been protesting the Prayut government for months. They are calling for the end of their government, the amendment of the statutes and the reform of the monarchy.
Prayut staged a coup in 2014 to democratically topple the Yingluck Shinawatra government and controlled Thailand for five years, before an election in 2019 installed his political party in government.
A sign displayed on Silom Road as part of the “People’s Runway” protest in Bangkok on October 29, 2020. Depicts a three-finger salute, a symbol of defiance used in protests led by Thai youth, encased in a golden cage . The Thai constitution is located under a throne at the top of the cage. (Photo: Pichayada Promchertchoo)
On Tuesday, the prime minister dismissed calls from opposition parties to resign in a session of parliament that he had called to discuss months of protests.
This came after he addressed the nation last week and called for a parliamentary solution to the current gap in society.
“The protesters have made their voices and opinions heard. Now is the time for them to allow their views to be reconciled with those of other segments of Thai society through their representatives in parliament, ”said Prayut.
“Let us respect the law and parliamentary democracy, and let our views be presented through our representatives in parliament.”
