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"The country belongs to the people": Thousands demonstrate in Thailand demanding to limit the king's power - Walla! news

2020-09-20T08:43:52.981Z


For the first time in many years, residents of Thailand have publicly challenged the rule of Maha and Chiralongkon, which is illegal in the country. A letter with their demands will be sent to the National Police Headquarters, and the protesters stamped outside the palace a plaque commemorating the protest: "In this place the people have expressed their will"


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"The country belongs to the people": Thousands demonstrated in Thailand demanding the limitation of the king's power

For the first time in many years, residents of Thailand have publicly challenged the rule of Maha and Chiralongkon, which is illegal in the country.

A letter with their demands will be sent to the National Police Headquarters, and the protesters stamped outside the palace a plaque commemorating the protest: "In this place the people have expressed their will"

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  • Thailand

  • Demonstrations

  • Bangkok

  • Mahe and Chiralongkon

Reuters

Sunday, 20 September 2020, 10:59

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In video: Thousands demonstrate in Thailand demanding restriction of the king's power (Photo: Reuters, edited by Assaf Drori)

Thousands of protesters marched on the streets of Bangkok today (Sunday) demanding a list of demands that include reforms to reduce the power of King Maha and Chiralongkon, publicly challenging his rule.

The marchers were blocked by hundreds of unarmed police forces who set up roadblocks to gain control of the crowd.



The protesters have become bolder in the last two months of protests against the country's military-monarchical establishment, breaking the long-standing fear of criticizing the monarchy - something illegal under laws banning insulting the monarchy.



The kingdom has not yet responded to the latest developments.

The king, who spends much of his time in Europe, is not in Thailand at the moment.

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Break the long fear.

Protest in Bangkok today (Photo: Reuters)

Protest leaders declared victory after handing over to the police a letter detailing their demands.

Pakpong Pongftra, the metropolitan police chief, said on the scene that the letter would be passed on to police headquarters so they could decide how to proceed.



"Our great victory in the last two days proves that ordinary people like us can send a letter to kings," activist Parit "Penguin" Chivarak told the crowd, before dispersing.



As part of the biggest protest in recent years, tens of thousands of protesters last night called for reforms in the kingdom as well as the ouster of Prime Minister Priyot Chan Ucha, the former junta leader, the establishment of a new constitution and elections.

The marchers were blocked by unarmed police forces (Photo: Reuters)

"We have proved that ordinary people can send a letter to kings."

The demonstration in Bangkok, today (Photo: Reuters)

In the morning, protesters drowned a plaque near a palace in Bangkok, in an area known as Sanam Luang, or the Royal Field.

"In this place the people have expressed their demand: this country belongs to the people and is not the property of the king as we have been deceived," it read.



A government spokesman said that "the police will not use violence against the protesters, and the determination that this or that speech is illegal and requires prosecution is at its discretion".

According to the deputy police chief in the city, "The authorities in Bangkok will have to determine if the plaque is illegal, and if that is the case it will have to go down."

"The rule of the monarchy should be subject to the constitution."

Protest in Bangkok today (Photo: Reuters)

"Achieving what their parents and grandparents did not even dare to dream."

Protest in Bangkok tonight (Photo: Reuters)

Not all Thais support the new plaque, reminiscent of another plaque commemorating the end of the absolute monarchy in 1932 and removed from the area next to the royal palace in 2017, after Shuchiralongkon came to power.

Prominent right-wing politician Warong Dzegitigrom said the protesters' actions were inappropriate and that the king was above politics.

"It did not achieve anything," he claimed.

"These actions are a symbol against the king, but the king is not an adversary."



Authorities in Thailand have said that criticism of the government is unacceptable in a country where the constitution states that the king is "reigned to a revered position".

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To the full article

"In this place the people have expressed their will."

The plaque stamped outside the palace (Photo: Reuters)

Protests that began that universities attracted a growing number of older protesters.

"The new generation is achieving what their parents and grandparents did not even dare to dream. I am very proud of that," said 50-year-old Somporn Outsa.

"We still respect the rule of the monarchy, but it should be subject to the constitution."



Protesters claim the constitution gives the king too much power, and that it was designed to allow fertility to retain its power after last year's election.

According to the prime minister, the election was fair.



Protest leaders called on residents to take a day off from work on Thursday to attend the demonstration and support change.

"It's hard to make a radical change in Thailand, but the movement has at least maintained momentum," said the dean of political science at Ubon Rachatani University.

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Source: walla

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