⁍ Tens of thousands of people joined Thailand’s biggest protest in years on Saturday.
⁍ Crowd cheered calls to curb the powers of King Maha Vajiralongkorn’s monarchy.
⁍ Protest leader Arnon Nampa told the crowd gathered within sight of the Grand Palace in central Bangkok.
– Tens of thousands of protesters took to the streets of Bangkok on Saturday in Thailand’s biggest demonstration in years, calling for reforms and the removal of Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-ocha, who led a military coup in 2014. “The people want a king who protects democracy, not one who betrays the people’s democracy,” student leader Panusaya Sithijirawattanakul told the crowd, per Reuters. Protesters want to reduce King Maha Vajiralongkorn’s constitutional powers and his control of the palace fortune and military units, as well as a new constitution and elections, reports the AP. The military, which proclaims itself the defender of the monarchy and national stability, has carried out several bloody crackdowns on protesters since the end of absolute monarchy in 1932 as well as 13 successful coups. Sep. 19 is the anniversary of the coup against the populist then-prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra in 2006. Among the protesters were many of his red shirt followers, veterans of clashes a decade ago with pro-establishment yellow shirts. “I’m here to fight for the future of my children and grandchildren. I hope that by the time I die, they will become free,” said 68-year-old Tasawan Suebthai, a redshirt with amulets round her neck which she hoped would ward off bullets. The latest protests have been peaceful so far, but more than a dozen protest leaders have been arrested and released on bail.
Source: https://www.reuters.com/article/us-thailand-protests/biggest-thai-protest-in-years-cheers-calls-for-monarchy-reform-idUSKBN26A0EH