Thai protesters to rally again as pressure on king, Prayuth’s government deepens

Protesters on Sunday handed police a letter of demands calling for royal reforms, a new constitution and the resignation of PM Prayuth Chan-ocha

Activists also installed a ‘People’s Plaque’ in a bold show of defiance in a country where the king is revered

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Student activist Panusaya Sithijirawattankul hands a demands letter to police on September 20, 2020. Photo: Reuters

Published: 11:10am, 20 Sep 2020Updated: 1:35pm, 21 Sep 2020

Thailand’s anti-government protesters, emboldened by their weekend demonstration which attracted crowds of 50,000, on Sunday called for a general strike in October as the pro-democracy movement deepens its calls for monarchy reform and political change.

The demonstrators submitted an open letter addressed to King Maha Vajiralongkorn which contained three major key demands: monarchy reform, the resignation of Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-ocha and his government, and the drafting of a new, more democratic constitution to replace the current one drafted under military rule.

The protesters’ letter, which also called for an end to feudalism and dictatorship, was hand-delivered to Bangkok metropolitan police chief Pakkapong Pongpetra, after they dropped their demand to meet a representative of the king’s privy council.

Police guard the area surrounding the Grand Palace on September 20, 2020. Photo: AP

Activists declared victory after sending the letter. “Our greatest victory in the two days is showing that ordinary people like us can send a letter to royals,” Parit “Penguin” Chiwarak, told the crowd.

The protesters then dispersed without marching to Government House as earlier planned. Saturday’s rally attracted more than 50,000 demonstrators.

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