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Protest in Thailand Expands: Thousands Demonstrate in Bangkok Against Government

Student demonstrations continue to expand, demanding new elections, a change in the military constitution and an end to the persecution of opponents of the administration. The protest even touches on the mighty power of the palace, a subject that until recently was considered taboo. "The dictatorship keeps coming back, it's time to end the vicious circle"

• Thailand
• Chan Ocha Fruits

IP

Thousands demonstrated today (Sunday) in the Thai capital against the government, in the biggest protest in recent years in the country. Student demonstrations are constantly expanding, and they make three key demands: new elections, a change in the constitution, and an end to the persecution of opponents of the administration. They gathered at the Democracy Monument of Bangkok, a traditional hotspot for political protests in the kingdom. Hundreds of policemen were present, as well as protesters against supporters of the monarchy.

"It is clear that students from several different generations are driving the forces of change in Thai society," said Nerin Isriasith, a 20-year-old student. "We have done this before, but in Thailand there is not yet full democracy. .

Thailand has undergone a coup almost every six years on average since the military overthrew the absolute monarchy in 1932 and replaced it with a constitutional monarchy. However, since 2014, the military has effectively remained in power. The current prime minister, Feriot Chan-ucha, then led the coup as chief of staff and later served as prime minister in the interim military regime. .

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Last week the protest leaders caused a scandal when it expanded their demands and expressed an unusual public protest against the palace. They published a ten-point manifesto calling for reforms. The law protecting the royal house provides for three to 15 years in prison for anyone convicted of insulting him, and the sensitivity of the issue was illustrated by the fact that the main media in the country did not report the protesters' demands regarding the palace.

Police in riot gear stormed a rally on Friday, removing hundreds of protesters by truck. They were released on bail, but promised to take part in today's demonstrations, in what appeared to be a breach of their conditions of release.

Many young people who took part in the protest today did not seem deterred. The demonstrators made with their three fingers a gesture like the one from the "Hunger Games" series, a symbol of the government's resistance.

"I came here because I want to express my opinion against the dictatorship, to demand equal rights and a better future," said a 14-year-old girl who identified herself only by the Fang family name. She is a tenth-grade student from a prestigious girls' school, and she said this was not her first demonstration. She and some of her friends stood at a table and sold books and other items to fund a protest movement.

It is not yet clear to what extent the escalation in protesters' demands will affect the popularity of the protest. Many in Thailand consider the royal house a sacred thing and others may fear the reaction of the authorities against them. The government may also be in a dilemma, as it is committed to defending the palace, but on the other hand any harsh hand against its opponents may skew public opinion against it. The government successfully dealt with the curb of the corona plague, but the precarious economic situation was in its infancy even before the outbreak.

Supporters of the palace responded to the student movement through online and petition statements, and in the presence of a small counter-demonstration. They have already announced that they will monitor and follow up on any insult hurled at the royal family.