Tens of thousands of protesters have taken to the streets of major urban centers in Thailand to demonstrate against the Thai monarchy.
Speaking in front of a massive crowd in Bangkok on Thursday, pro-democracy protest leader Panupon Jadnok said activists were lobbying for press freedoms, democratic reforms of the Thai monarchy, and a relaxing of restrictions on gatherings placed on citizens during the coronavirus pandemic.
“Like dogs cornered, we are fighting till our deaths,” Jadnok said. “We won’t fall back. We won’t run away. We won’t go anywhere.”
Police advanced on protesters who had camped outside the Thai Government House on the main road of Bangkok’s central business district with the hope of forcing the ouster of Thai Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-ocha. Chan-ocha is a former army chief whose rise to power in 2014 was called a coup by Western media and whose election in 2019 was marred by controversy.
Protesters blamed Chan-ocha’s victory on the country’s flawed constitution and called for a new document to be adopted.
The Thai government responded by declaring a severe state of emergency for the capital and arrested more than 20 protesters who are demanding the easing of restrictions placed on gatherings and the Thai news media.
Thousands returned to the city center to demand the release of the 20 arrested activists before the citywide curfew at 6 p.m.
“Under a true democratic country, demonstration is a basic right,” protest group Free Youth wrote in a statement following the event. “No one should get arrested because they speak truth. This is an action to perpetuate the authoritarian power of the state, not for the greater good of the people.”
