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They promised a surprise at dawn, and in Bangkok, anti-government protesters accompanied him to the chorus of a pneumatic drill.
Under the skirt of a tent, we saw them tear apart a square of cement in front of the Great Palace of the country.
On it they placed a plaque declaring that Thailand belongs to the people.
Anti-government protesters rally in Bangkok
It is the latest challenge to the monarchy in a series of pro-democracy demonstrations that have taken place almost daily since July.
Many of Sunday’s attendees have been there all night, after attending a massive rally on Saturday that organizers said drew 200,000 supporters.
“Down with feudalism, long live the people,” protesters chanted, before lining up to buy their own miniature metal versions of the plaque, which sold out in minutes.
The plaque resembles one commemorating the end of the absolute monarchy in 1932.
In 2017, after King Maha Vajiralongkorn assumed the throne, he mysteriously disappeared from the exterior of one of the royal palaces.
Anti-government protesters wearing respiratory masks and protective glasses while protesting
It was replaced by one with a pro-monarchical motto.
Until recently, open criticism of the monarchy was unheard of in Thailand, which has strict defamation laws pertaining to the royal family.
Anyone convicted of violating them could face up to 15 years in jail.
Police officers stand guard in front of Thailand’s Grand Palace
But some of the movement’s leaders have been breaking this taboo.
In addition to reforming the monarchy, they want new elections, a new constitution and the resignation of the prime minister.
Today, they went further, leading the crowd to petition their demands, addressed to the king.
People take photos with the commemorative plaque.
As the convoy meandered towards the Grand Palace, it was stopped by a line of unarmed policemen.
People had been warned to avoid clashes and as officers and protesters confronted the barriers, student activist Panusaya “Rung” Sithijirawattanakul pushed through the masses to deliver her letter to the Bangkok police chief.
They hope that it will be transmitted to the king who is currently abroad.
“Now we have shown that even an ordinary citizen can communicate with the king, with the monarch, directly,” student leader Parit ‘Penguin’ Chiwarak told me.
If their demands go unanswered, they have said they will step up their movement.
The Royal Palace was not immediately available for comment.
Government spokeswoman Anucha Burapachaisri told me, before the weekend meetings: “We encourage people to come forward if they have any problems at the moment to discuss. But we will try to avoid any kind of confrontation and we will try to facilitate in terms of discussion in a constructive way. “
The protesters say they will meet again on Thursday.
