Thai protests: thousands brave rain to call for political, royal reforms in Bangkok
- Pro-democracy supporters, unions and opposition figures such as Thanathorn Juangroongruangkit gathered near the royal palace in a peaceful rally
- Over 10,000 police officers were deployed to the area, where protesters planned to camp overnight before delivering a petition to Government House on Sunday
In a twist from the previous rally on August 16, supporters from the red-shirt movement – loyal to former premier Thaksin Shinawatra, who was deposed in a 2006 coup – also turned out on Saturday, suggesting the youth-led movement was widening.
“I thought the pro-democracy movement was over,” said Nid Khoomwichien, 60, referring to the 2006 and 2014 coups which sparked mass protests.
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Weekend of anti-government protests in Thai capital Bangkok continue to challenge monarchy
History teacher Patipat, 29, said the government would not be able to ignore the event. “Today is one of the turning points in Thai history,” he said.
Earlier at noon, a crowd of hundreds forced open the locked gates of the nearby Thammasat University campus, chanting “Down with dictatorship, long live democracy!” and “Prayut get out!”
Deputy police spokesman Krissana Pattanacharoen said more than 10,000 officers had been deployed in the area, adding that they had no instructions to carry weapons.
As the protest stretched deep into the night, police estimated the turnout to be 18,000 – but thousands, possibly tens of thousands, more people milled around the streets surrounding Sanam Luang.
Event organisers said the crowd size was closer to 50,000 – five times the turnout seen at the August rally, and a number that would make the weekend rally one of the largest gatherings the kingdom has seen since the 2014 coup.
The demonstrators said they planned to camp in the area overnight before marching to Government House to deliver a petition on Sunday morning.
One protester, Somchai Weaingkum, said his father had accompanied him to the rally.
“We want a full democracy, not just a pretend one,” said Somchai, whose dad had brought him to protests in 2010 when he was 15 years old.
Thitiphat Khokseeumnuay, 23, a Thammasat student who queued to sign a petition calling for a constitutional amendment, said: “Change has to come from the people.”
Thailand protests: how Hong Kong inspired the revolution of Thais
A student named Coco, 22, said: “I just want this government out. I can’t stand them anymore. They’re making everything worse.”
Piyanuch Saengsawang, 70, said she joined the rally with two friends her age, because “I’m worried about the future for my grandchildren”.
“Over the past decade, we have seen this country heading in the wrong direction,” Piyanuch said. “The fight led by this generation gives us hope.”
The protest also drew members of labour unions and supporters of the country’s political opposition, including the Pheu Thai Party – a political vehicle of Thaksin.
Speaking to a media scrum, Thanathorn said the country was at a “crossroads”.
“Don’t just put it on the kids to fight this fight alone,” he said. “We’re all responsible for this (deadlock). This is a journey no one has walked before ... Thailand is at a cross-roads.”
At the event, LGBTQ activists also flooded into the Sanam Luang field and unfurled rainbow flags.
“We are calling for Prayut Chan-ocha ... to resign immediately,” prominent activist and protest organiser Parit Chiwarak, known as Penguin, said.
Around the world, small, colourful protests in support were led by Thai expats from Denmark and France to Taiwan, while Hong Kong pro-democracy icon Joshua Wong posted a tweet endorsing the rally.
“On our cause for democracy, #Hongkongers’ hearts will always be with you,” he said.
Saturday marked 14 years to the day since former premier Thaksin was ousted.
He wrote a post on Facebook decrying the military’s role in government, its stewardship of the economy and the shrinking futures of young Thais.
“It’s time to change the way we think and govern our country, because these past 14 years we have fallen so far behind the world,” Thaksin said.
Ahead of the weekend protests, there were fears for the safety of the youth protesters, whose movement has threated to plunge Thailand into yet another political crisis.
Past student rallies in Thailand – and at Thammasat University in particular – have ended in bloody crackdowns.
They fear the assertive king has pushed the boundaries of his constitutional role by moving army units as well as billions of palace funds under his direct control.
In principle, we all want to change the status quo and dismantle the current power structure
But the strength of the group’s calls – in a country where reverence and fear means the monarchy has traditionally been discussed in hushed tones, if at all – has caused friction inside the leaderless student movement over its tactics.
“We’re all travelling in different vehicles, but we’re going to the same destination,” said Siraphop Attohi, 21, member of Free People, a separate group which pulled a turnout of between 15,000 and 20,000 people to Bangkok’s democracy monument last month.
“In principle, we all want to change the status quo and dismantle the current power structure Thailand has long suffered under,” he said.
A nation divided
Thailand has endured 14 years of chaos with coups and court interventions toppling elected governments and rival street protests leaving scores dead on Bangkok’s streets.
Previous rounds of protests between the “red shirts” and the royalist pro-establishment “yellow shirts” left Thai democracy on life support.
The young protesters, many who were not politically literate during Thaksin’s polarising era, have widened the lines of dispute to include the army-scripted constitution, a lacklustre education system, deep economic inequality and gender rights.
Prayuth, the army chief who toppled the last civilian government in 2014 and later became an elected leader, is the lightning rod for much of the youth movement’s ire.
“I have heard your voice, I respect your opinion,” the elderly ex-general, famous for his throwaway lines in the face of criticism, said in a televised address on Thursday.
But “I would ask for the country to beat Covid-19 first … then we can get back to politics”, Chan-ocha said.
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Thailand prime minister warns of national ‘collapse’ if protests keep rattling the country
Thailand, which has broadly headed off a damaging outbreak for now, is expected to be one of Asia’s hardest hit countries by the economic fallout of the virus, with the economy predicted to shrink 8-10 per cent by the end of the year.
The protesters want the nation’s army-drafted constitution to be binned – specifically to scrap the 250 appointed members of the upper house – all establishment loyalists – who give Prayuth an easy parliamentary majority and an effective veto on reform.
“The constitution is at the very heart of the issue,” said Parit Wacharasindhu, a nephew of the establishment-leaning former premier Abhisit Vejjaiva who is now behind calls for a new constitution.
“The only way to solve it is to amend it … with a democratic process creating the space where people who are the co-owners of this country have a platform to write the rules of this country,” he added.
Additional reporting by Bloomberg, AFP, Kyodo
