Thai protesters take to streets in protest for royal insults law
11 February, 2021
Hundreds of Thai protesters gathered in Bangkok on Wednesday to demand the let go of a number of activists remanded found in custody pending trial on expenses of insulting Thailand's king, a good crime punishable by 15 years in prison.
Many protesters banged pots and pans, borrowing from nightly displays of discontent on neighbouring Myanmar at last week's coup, although some kept Myanmar flags showing support for the country's pro-democracy movement.
The Bangkok demonstration had at first been organised showing solitary with protesters in Myanmar, but it morphed into calls to improve or end the strict "lese majeste" law following the four activists were detained on Tuesday.
Protesters collect to bang pans and pots during a rally demanding the primary minister to resign and reforms on the monarchy, in Bangkok's store shopping district, Thailand on Feb 10, 2021. (Image: Reuters/Athit Perawongmetha)
Police in riot equipment briefly scuffled with protesters when activists marched around a law enforcement station. A smoke canister was experienced on the ground near to the protest site.
"If we turn out to the streets found in the hundreds of thousands, we are able to reform monarchy," protest head Panusaya “Rung” Sithijirawattanakul said.
Youth-led protests on Thailand this past year broke classic taboos by openly calling for reform of the strong monarchy and the denial of bail for the four protest leaders prosecuted for royal insults has got enraged activists.
Protesters grab at a shield throughout a clash with riot police at a rally demanding the end of Thailand's royal defamation regulation found in Bangkok on Feb 10, 2021. (Picture: AFP/Jack Taylor)
About 1,000 protesters had gathered by nightfall, some holding signs having said that "free our friends" and "abolish 112", discussing this article of the criminal code that covers royal insults. Others struck steel pans bearing the quantities 112.
Some 44 opposition lawmakers earlier on Wednesday submitted a proposal to amend the article.
Protest leaders declared the rally a resumption of last year's street demonstrations, that have been disrupted by another wave of coronavirus attacks that has seen Thailand's cases rise five-fold since mid-December.
A good protester shines a laser beam at riot law enforcement during clashes as activists hold a rally demanding the finish of Thailand's royal defamation laws in Bangkok on Feb 10, 2021. (Photo: AFP/Jack Taylor)
"Today may be the first gathering, first opening and a fight after an unjust system jailed our close friends," Panupong Jadnok, a good protest leader said.
They renewed last year's three requirements: ousting Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha, rewriting the military-backed constitution and reforming the monarchy.
Panupong said events in Myanmar should inspire the Thai movements.
Prayut, who led a coup found in 2014, said the go back of protests will injury Thailand.
"Is it appropriate? Whether it's not, then don't move support them. Haven't we'd more than enough in Thailand?" he stated.
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