Thailand’s protests are scattering Taboos, but making little change so far

BANGKOK – In unison, anti-government protesters on Wednesday called the King of Thailand a giant monitor lizard, one of the worst things anyone could say about Thailand, and his sexual activity with sprayed painted bus stops and sidewalks in the capital’s central business district.

Contempt demonstrated the increased courage of the opposition in one country King Maha Vajiralongkorn Pothindradebayavarangun, 68, may be a criminal offense, and the security apparatus has a history of suppressing dissent. They are gathering thousands across Thailand calling for the resignation of the prime minister associated with the military and for the constitutional monarchy to actually come under the constitution.

As protesters marched on the gates of Thailand’s parliament on Tuesday, one of their leaders, Arnan Namba, stood on a truck and doubled to a point, throwing a bold final warning to the country’s ruling elite.

“One day, if there is no reform, we will revolt,” said human rights lawyer Mr. Arnon announced in the middle of the tear gas.

The firm has advised patience. Last month, Thai Prime Minister Prayut Chan-ocha withdrew an emergency order targeting protests by a former general who came to power six years ago during a military coup. He acknowledged that spraying water cannons on youth protesters was not the most effective strategy, and said parliament needed time to do its job in dealing with the reform.

But on Wednesday, parliament delivered its verdict: parts of the constitution could be amended in the coming months, but there are no sections on monarchy.

A few hours ago, on Tuesday night, police again used water cannons to spray protesters with liquid with corrosive agents. Dozens of people were hospitalized, some with bullet wounds. Mr. Prayut is the Prime Minister.

He has been charged with treason and other crimes for decades. Arnon, who could be jailed for decades, expressed little surprise at the state of the game.

For all the energy of the protesters – they used humor, logistics strength and magnified rubber ducky floats to protect themselves from water cannons – the demonstrations have so far made little change in how Thailand is governed.

“If the house is very dilapidated, we should not fix it,” he said. Arnon said in an interview Wednesday. “We have no hope of reforming the monarchy through parliament.”

Therefore, the rallies are now focusing directly on the most vulnerable of the protesters’ demands: controlling the powers of one of the world’s richest and most powerful monarchies.

“Now, we are fighting face to face,” he said. Said Arnon. “There is no hidden agenda.”

Wednesday’s demonstration was called with the slogan “If we burn, burn with us”. Some protesters, angered by the use of tear gas and water cannons the previous day, threw paint buckets at police headquarters and identified nearby signs as Mr. Closed with the condemnations of Prayut and Raja.

Just down the road, a spray-painted sign in English read: “The King is Dead. Long live the people. “A man urinated on a bottle and flew it towards the police officers who were standing behind the riot shields.

The Thai monarchy, protected by some of the world’s strictest anti-defamation laws, has gone from being an untouchable entity for months, and only personally, subject to open criticism.

Protesters have questioned why King Maha Vajiralongkorn spent most of his reign outside Thailand. Their taxes finance his stay in Europe. His complicated family arrangements are ridiculous. (Last year, he married his fourth wife, and later named another woman royal spouse Refined Wife for trying to get the queen to the stage. He regained his position in September.)

After all, protesters have called for an inquiry into the billion-dollar wealth of the crown, which they now have Under the personal control of the king. He has also brought in key military units under his command Powers considered loyal to him were quickly encouraged.

Led by students and other youth, the anti-Thai movement has embraced many issues, supported gay rights and trade unions, called for an end to strict school rules and a tax on menstrual products.

But the increasingly direct condemnation of the monarchy by opponents – although this is seen as an impetus for reform rather than a move to overthrow the entire institution – has shocked some Thais. On Tuesday, protesters carried a large balloon: “We told you to stay under the constitution.” That edict to the king used the minimal form of “you” in a language that reflected many standards of social hierarchy.

“The language used is unacceptable to Thais,” said Warong Dechitvikrom, a prominent statesman. “They are not measures for reform, but for the removal of the monarchy.”

It is difficult to see a place for political compromise, as anger erupted on Tuesday and Wednesday. Protesters have called for another mass rally within a week.

“If I say I believe, I will lie, and if I say I do not believe, I will lie,” said opposition legislator Rangsiman Rome, who did not attempt to pass some controversial constitutional amendments. On Wednesday.

In the background is the fear that the security forces may strike hard on the protesters, as the security forces have done in many cases with dangerous force. There are concerns that the military may even Unleash a conspiracyIt has happened a dozen times since the overthrow of the monarchy in 1932.

The palace itself has been largely silent during the struggles. King Maha Vajiralongkorn returned from Germany last month and remained in Thailand for several weeks.

On Tuesday, at the same time as water cannons began firing on protesters in Bangkok, he attended the graduation ceremony for a police cadet school, in which he urged graduates to “gain trust and confidence from others.”

Three days ago, he attended the opening ceremony for a new Bangkok electric railway line ahead of his official coronation last year. After greeting the well-wishers, signing the autograph and accepting cash donations from them – a break from the usual dismissal he had made to the public – the king settled in the seats of the train with his queen.

At their feet they knelt in a line of men in white uniforms as a symbol of submission to the modern constitutional monarchy of Thailand.