Thai anti-government protesters demanding political reforms turn their backs to king’s motorcade
- Protesters raised the three-finger salute of resistance borrowed from the Hunger Games film series
- At the same time, a crowd of royalists on the other side of the road shouted ‘long live the king’
Thai protesters demanding political reforms and democratic rights turned their backs toward a royal motorcade carrying King Maha Vajiralongkorn, in a gesture of defiance against the powerful monarchy.
Thousands calling for a new government, constitution, and reform of the monarchy gathered in Bangkok on Saturday, the latest in near daily protests held for several months.
The protesters turned their backs, raised the three-finger salute of resistance borrowed from the Hunger Games film series, and sang the national anthem as the king’s heavily guarded motorcade drove past them.
At the same time, a crowd of royalists on the other side of the road shouted “long live the king” towards the motorcade, which was headed to another part of Bangkok for a ceremony to open a new train line.
Saturday's anti-government protesters also draped Bangkok's landmark Democracy Monument with a large white cloth that contained writing by the crowd.
The protesters have become increasingly bold in their calls for monarchical reform, which they say is not aimed at overthrowing the institution.