Thai protesters scale Bangkok’s Democracy Monument calling for abolition of royal insults law

Scores of police in full riot gear faced off with the protesters who are calling for reforms to the unassailable monarchy

Momentum for the youth-led movement has slowed in recent months due to a fresh wave of coronavirus cases in Thailand

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Anti-government protesters cover the Democracy Monument with a crimson cloth during a rally in Bangkok on Saturday. Photo: EPA-EFE

Published: 10:48pm, 13 Feb 2021Updated: 3:59pm, 14 Feb 2021

Thai pro-democracy protesters scaled a massive Bangkok monument on Saturday, draping it in a crimson cloth and calling for the kingdom to abolish its draconian royal defamation laws.

Momentum for the youth-led movement calling for an overhaul to Premier Prayuth Chan-ocha’s government has slowed in recent months due to a fresh wave of coronavirus infections in Thailand.

But the recent detention of four prominent leaders has spurred protesters into action, bringing hundreds back to the Democracy Monument intersection in Bangkok’s historic quarter – under the close watch of scores of riot police.

The leaders were charged under the lèse-majesté law, which carries penalties of up to 15 years per charge if found guilty of insulting the monarchy.

“I want to stress the purpose of today’s rally is to call for 112 to be abolished,” said Panupong “Mike” Jadnok, referring to the law by its penal code section.

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