The Thai capital Bangkok has again demonstrated for monarchy reform. The demonstrators reacted to a ruling by the Thai constitutional court. It ruled on Wednesday that three protest leaders had called for the overthrow of the monarchy.
The demonstrators disagree: they argue that the protest movement wants to implement democratic reforms. They took to the streets in anger at the verdict. “Reforming is not the same as overthrowing,” a protest leader said in response to the verdict, writing Al Jazeera.
The demonstrators walked to the German embassy. They did this because in Germany there is a villa where the Thai king Maha Vajiralongkorn often goes, to the dismay of the protesters. The king is said to have flown there again this week with a household of 250 people and 30 poodles.
Police fired rubber bullets in Bangkok; at least three people were said to have been injured.
protest movement
The Thai people have been demonstrating for new elections and for reforms in the monarchy since August 2020. They also demand that Prime Minister and former army chief Prayuth resign, who came to power in 2014 after a coup.
The demonstration against the royal family is special: in Thailand, lèse majesté carries a 15-year prison sentence. More than 150 people have been arrested for the protests since the start of the protests.
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