The largest anti-government event in years took place in the Thai capital Bangkok on Saturday. Tens of thousands of protesters in an open letter demand the resignation of the government and reforms of the all-powerful monarchy.
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By nightfall, organizers said 200,000 people had gathered on an open plain near the royal palace. The police took it to 20,000 demonstrators. A journalist from the French news agency AFP estimated that 30,000 people attended, making the event the largest political manifestation in Thailand since the 2014 coup.
Reform of the monarchy
Some of the protesters also demand reforms from the monarchy. The movement thus touches on a theme that has always been regarded as a taboo in Thailand. In his speech, protest leader Panusaya Sithijirawattanakul called for, among other things, the repeal of the particularly strict laws against lese majesty. He also demanded greater financial transparency from the palace
Victory
The protesters who planned to march to the government house were blocked by hundreds of unarmed police officers. The protesters decided to hand over their open letter, demanding for monarchy reform, to the police of the Royal Guard.
As the Royal Guard agreed to hand over their letter to the police headquarters, the protest leaders declared victory. “Our biggest win in the past two days is to show that ordinary people like us can send a letter to the royals,” said protest leader Parit Chiwarak, who told the crowd to return next week for another demonstration.
The protesters are demanding reforms and the resignation of Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-ocha’s government. Prayuth has led the country since the military coup of 2014. The junta has pushed through laws that critics say have weakened Thai democracy and put Prayuth in a comfortable position for last March’s elections.
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