As Thai princess hosts fashion show, protesters walk red carpet in mock event on the streets of Bangkok
- A large crowd gathered in Bangkok to watch fellow protesters parade down a red carpet in a mock fashion show, staged as Thai princess was hosting the real thing
- Anti-government protesters in Thailand have often used sarcasm and satire as weapons in their struggle to oust a military prime minister and rein in the king
Pro-democracy demonstrators in Thailand returned to the capital’s business district on Thursday, staging something akin to a street fair to bring attention to their contention that the country’s monarchy holds too much power and influence.
Their rally on the city’s Silom Road was billed as a counterpoint to a fashion show being held the same evening by Princess Sirivannavari Nariratana, a daughter of King Maha Vajiralongkorn.
The princess is a fashion designer and has several shops at malls and shopping arcades in Bangkok selling her luxury goods.
A large crowd that gathered after working hours took over a portion of the street, looking at a displays of artwork and posters, serious and satirical, and listening to mostly impromptu speeches.
Sarcasm and satire have played a major role in recent protests, and this was the case again as a red carpet was unrolled on the street to serve as a fashion runway for men and women to vamp in front of an amused crowd.