Thai protests: some students skip graduation ceremony graced by king

King Maha Vajiralongkorn on Saturday handed out diplomas at the liberal Thammasat University

The youth-led protest movement charges that the king wields an inordinate amount of power in what is nominally a democracy under a constitutional monarchy

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Thai King Maha Vajiralongkorn at a graduation ceremony at Thammasat University on October 30, 2020. Photo: Reuters

Published: 10:23am, 31 Oct 2020Updated: 9:28pm, 25 Nov 2020

For a second straight day on Saturday, many university students in Bangkok snubbed a graduation ceremony attended by Thai King Maha Vajiralongkorn, as they push for reforms of the monarchy.

Pro-democracy activist groups had called for students to skip the ceremony, which involves each person walking up to the king, paying respects, and receiving the degree from his hands.

University graduations in Thailand are traditionally presided over by the king or another senior member of the royal family.

Thai King Maha Vajiralongkorn and Queen Suthida, centre at a graduation ceremony at Thammasat University on October 30, 2020. Photo: Reuters

The youth-led pro-democracy movement wants Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-ocha to step down, the constitution to be amended to make it more democratic, and reforms to make the monarchy’s activities more transparent and accountable. It has been holding almost daily rallies around the country, some attracting upwards of 10,000 people.

Thammasat University has a reputation for liberal views and was the scene of a bloody crackdown on pro-democracy protesters in 1976.

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