BANGKOK (REUTERS) - Thousands of Thai protesters demonstrated in Bangkok on Thursday (Oct 15) in defiance of a ban imposed to end three months of anti-government action that has targeted King Maha Vajiralongkorn as well as Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-o-cha, a former junta leader.
Despite police appeals over a loudspeaker to disperse, the group spilled across the Ratchaprasong Intersection in one of Bangkok’s busiest commercial districts.
It was the scene of bloodshed in 2010, during more than a decade of violence between supporters and opponents of the Thai establishment.
"Like dogs cornered, we are fighting till our deaths," said Mr Panupong "Mike Rayong" Jadnok, one the high-profile protest leaders who remains free.
"We won’t fall back. We won’t run away. We won’t go anywhere," he told the cheering crowd.
Protesters also filled the walkways of the nearby shopping complex, holding up the three-finger salute adopted as a symbol of opposition after Mr Prayuth’s 2014 coup.
"The people who came know that there is a ban against public gathering of five or more," police spokesman Kissana Phathanacharoen told Reuters. "We will take things step by step."
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."
Three months of protests have been largely peaceful, as was a march by tens of thousands of people on Wednesday (Oct 14). But in one incident, police pushed jeering protesters away from a motorcade carrying Queen Suthida.
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.
Other reasons for the emergency measures were damage to the economy from protests and the risk of spreading the novel 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.
'END IT WITH US'
The protests have largely been driven by students and young people.
"We don’t want anyone or the next generation to have to put up with this. We have to end it with us," said Mameaw, 17, who came to the protest right after school exams. She declined to give her full name.
Pictures on social media later showed student leader Panusaya "Rung" Sithijirawattanakul being taken away in a wheelchair as she gave the three-finger salute of pro-democracy campaigners.
"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 counter-protests before the 2014 coup.
"I’ll be back. We have to continue the fight even if we risk our lives."
The protest movement aims to remove Mr Prayut, saying he manipulated an election last year to keep hold of power. He says the election was fair.
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 they seek the reversal of orders that gave him control of the palace fortune and some army units.
Criticism of the monarchy is punishable by up to 15 years in prison under lese majeste laws, though Prayut said earlier this year the king had asked that they not be enforced for now.
“The clearance of the assembly (protesters) was very reasonable because the protesters apparently harassed the queen,” royalist politician Warong Dechgitvigrom commented on Facebook.
Thailand’s benchmark stock index was down 1.8 per cent at 0849 GMT. The baht weakened slightly against the dollar.
https://news.google.com/__i/rss/rd/articles/CBMiYmh0dHBzOi8vd3d3LnN0cmFpdHN0aW1lcy5jb20vYXNpYS9zZS1hc2lhL3RoYWktZ292ZXJubWVudC1hbm5vdW5jZXMtZW1lcmdlbmN5LWRlY3JlZS1vdmVyLXByb3Rlc3Rz0gEA?oc=5
2020-10-15 10:48:33Z
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