Thai king demands unity after protesters turn back on motorcade
16 November, 2020
Thailand's King Maha Vajiralongkorn told well-wishers of the importance of unity as he marked the opening of a new railway line on Saturday (Nov 14), after a large number of protesters had turned their backs on his motorcade since it passed through central Bangkok.
Around 2,500 demonstrators had gathered at the capital's Democracy Monument in the most recent of months of protests against Prime Minister Prayut Chan-ocha, demanding changes to the constitution and also reforms of the monarchy.
The protesters draped the centrepiece of the monument, which includes become a rallying point for the protests, in a cloth covered in grievances and insults. “Dictatorship be destroyed, democracy shall prosper," shouted protesters who scaled the 3m-tall structure.
As the motorcade carrying the king and Queen Suthida passed by they turned their backs, gave the three-fingered Hunger Games salute of anti-government campaigners, and sang the national anthem in the latest show of disaffection with the monarchy.
The king was greeted with a show of support when he attained the rail ceremony in the west of the town, where thousands of men and women had gathered in yellow shirts, waving national flags and chanting “long live the king”.
“He told me showing children how important the unity of the country is,” said Donnapha Kladbupha, 48, a teacher who posed for selfies with the king.
The Royal Palace hasn't commented since the start of protests, however the king said fourteen days ago that the protesters were still loved and that Thailand was a land of compromise.
"Think well, do good, be hopeful, endure. Have unity in being Thai," the king wrote on the trunk of a picture of himself and the queen which had been organized by one supporter.
The original focus of protests that started out in July was to seek removing Prime Minister Prayut Chan-ocha. But demonstrators have increasingly called for reforms to the monarchy, breaking a long-standing taboo against criticising the institution - an offence punishable with 15 years in jail.
"Without the people, the government and monarchy could have no power," said Panusaya Sithijirawattanakul, one of the protest leaders. "Are they ready to have a step back or locate a consensus that people can agree on?"
Source:
TAG(s):