Thai protesters defy government’s emergency decree banning large gatherings, demanding police ‘release our friends’
- The state of emergency includes a ban on gatherings of five or more people and online information that could ‘affect national security’
- Thousands of protesters were removed from outside PM Prayuth Chan-ocha’s office, where they were demanding his resignation
“Release our friends,” protesters chanted at police, referring to the arrest of some 40 protesters this week. They held up the three-finger salute adopted as a symbol of opposition after Prayuth’s 2014 coup.
Despite police appeals over a loudspeaker to disperse, the group spilled across the Ratchaprasong Intersection in one of Bangkok’s busiest commercial districts.
A protester tied a white bow to the wrist of one policemen, saying: “One day we will stand side by side when Thailand is better.”
02:55
Thousands defy gathering ban to attend pro-democracy protest in Thailand
Three months of protests in the country of 70 million have been largely peaceful, as was a march by tens of thousands of people on Wednesday.
The crackdown took place on day after protesters challenged a royal motorcade – flashing the three-fingered salute adopted from The Hunger Games books and films – in an unprecedented act of defiance against the monarchy.
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“The clearance of the assembly [of protesters] was very reasonable because the protesters apparently harassed the queen,” royalist politician Warong Dechgitvigrom commented on Facebook.
Overnight the government banned political gatherings of five or more people and the publication of news and online information that could threaten national security.
“The measures were necessary to ensure peace and order and to prevent further incidents after protesters affected the royal motorcade and violated the monarchy with provocative language,” government spokesman Anucha Burapachaisri said in a statement.
02:54
Thai pro-democracy and monarchy supporters clash at Bangkok rally
Other reasons given for the emergency measures were damage to the economy from protests and the risk of spreading the coronavirus, of which only one locally transmitted case has been reported in more than four months.
“The situation right now is tantamount to a coup,” said Tattep Ruangprapaikitseree, one of the few protest leaders still free.
Leading opposition figure Thanathorn Juangroongruangkit decried the crackdown, calling for the government to “free all arrested people”.
“The government must quickly find a way to respond to protesters’ demands, otherwise the situation will fan out nationwide,” he said.
Campaign group Amnesty International said the measures were unjustified and would sow fear.
“This vague, drastic order will lead to more people unfairly arrested, detained and prosecuted,” said Amnesty’s Ming Yu Hah in a statement.
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Pictures on social media later showed student leader Panusaya “Rung” Sithijirawattanakul being taken away in a wheelchair as she gave the three-finger salute.
“We haven’t been able to restore a true democracy yet,” said 54-year-old Sun Pathong, a veteran of a decade of anti-establishment protests and counterprotests before the 2014 coup. “I’ll be back. We have to continue the fight even if we risk our lives.”
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Thai police arrest 21 at pro-democracy rally, drawing chants against royal motorcade
Those marching on the streets also want a new constitution and have called for a reduction in the powers of the king. They want his role to be clearly subject to the constitution and seek the reversal of orders that gave him control of the palace fortune and some army units.
Such overt challenges to the monarchy are unheard-of in Thailand, where the royal family’s influence permeates every aspect of society.
The king spends much of his time in Europe but has been in Thailand in recent days for an annual Buddhist ceremony and the anniversary of his father’s death. Enormously wealthy, he is supported by the powerful military – which has long positioned itself as the defender of the monarchy – as well as the establishment elite.
Additional reporting by Agence France-Presse
