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BANGKOK (REUTERS, AFP) – Thousands of people protested in Bangkok on Saturday (November 14) in recent months of anti-government demonstrations that have also called for reforms from Thailand’s powerful monarchy.
Some of them later scaled a Bangkok monument to display a giant banner scrawled with anti-government slogans and calls to reform the monarchy.
A few kilometers away, thousands of royalists gathered in yellow shirts and waved Thai flags as they waited to greet King Maha Vajiralongkorn, who arrived in a caravan with Queen Suthida for the opening of a new railway line.
The protesters reportedly turned their backs on the caravan as it passed through central Bangkok and gave the three-finger “Hunger Games” salute to pro-democracy activists.
The King was greeted with a show of support when he arrived at the railway ceremony in the west of the city, where people in yellow jerseys waved national flags and chanted “Long live the King.”
“He told me to show the children how important the unity of the country is,” said Donnapha Kladbupha, 48, a teacher who posed for selfies with the King.
The initial focus of the protests that began in July was to seek the removal of Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha, a former leader of the junta.
“He is not only incompetent, he also lacks legitimacy,” activist Sombat Boonngamanong said from the loudspeakers in the back of a truck wearing a pirate hat. “Thailand has made no progress thanks to Prayut.”
Some 2,500 protesters gathered at the Democracy Monument in Bangkok, according to police, singing and dancing mocking the government.
Prayut’s government has a majority in parliament because its board elected the entire upper house ahead of an election last year that opponents said was designed to keep it in power. He says the vote was fair.
Police said they would not use violence to suppress protesters and deployed 5,100 soldiers to maintain order.
But last week, thousands of people were greeted with water cannons as they marched to the Grand Palace to demand restrictions on the power of the monarchy.
Two kilometers away, thousands of royalists awaited the arrival of the King, where he was to attend the inauguration ceremony of a subway station.
The protesters turned their backs and raised their hands in three-fingered salutes, a pop culture reference to the “Hunger Games” movies, as the royal caravan passed.
Protesters have increasingly called for reforms to the powerful monarchy, breaking a long-standing taboo against criticism of the institution.
“Some people want to take him down, but we have come out to support him and show that all Thais love him,” said Donnapha Kladbupha, 48.
The Royal Palace has not commented since the protests began, but the King said two weeks ago that the protesters were still loved and that Thailand was a land of compromise.
Criticism of the monarchy can be punished by 15 years in jail under Thailand’s lese majesty laws, but has become widespread in recent weeks.
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