Thailand protests: PM vows tougher response, activists plan to expand demands
- Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-ocha said the ‘situation is not improving’, after thousands marched in Bangkok and threw paint at the police headquarters
- Protest leader Arnon Nampa said they will also take on issues like same-sex marriage and property laws after generating support for their calls for reform
Activists who are planning to expand their set of demands voiced concern that this could mean the resumption of prosecutions under some of the world’s harshest royal insult laws.
02:34
Thai protesters direct anger against police after violent clash near parliament
Prayuth’s announcement came a day after thousands of protesters threw paint at Thai police headquarters in what they said was a response to the use of water cannon and tear gas that hurt dozens on Tuesday, the most violent day of protests since July. Some protesters also sprayed antimonarchy graffiti.
“The situation is not improving,” Prayuth said in a statement. “There is a risk of escalation to more violence. If not addressed, it could damage the country and the beloved monarchy. The government will intensify its actions and use all laws, all articles, to take action against protesters who broke the law.”
It did not specify whether this included Article 112 of the criminal code, which forbids insulting the monarchy. Prayuth said earlier this year that it was not being used for the moment at the request of the king.
“This could mean they are using Article 112 to arrest protest leaders,” said activist Tanawat Wongchai on Twitter. “Is this a compromise?”
06:15
Thai citizen living in Hong Kong supports pro-democracy demonstrations from afar
Although the Royal Palace has not commented on the protests, the king recently referred to Thailand as a “land of compromise” – a phrase that has been treated with scorn by protesters.