Protests in Thailand: Things to know
What do the protesters want?
The protesters are rallying against the government of Prime Minister Prayut Chan-O-Cha. The former army chief led a coup in 2014 and kept the kingdom under military rule for five years. Under the junta, a new constitution was drafted before elections were held last year. Prayut was voted in to lead a civilian government -- a win analysts say was tilted by the new charter's provisions. Protesters say the whole process was a stitch-up and are calling for parliament to be dissolved, the constitution rewritten. They also have a list of 10 demands for the monarchy, including throwing out a defamation law that shields the powerful royal family from criticism.
Why now?
Discontent has been simmering since February when the leaders of Future Forward Party, popular among young people, were banned from politics. A pandemic lockdown, which sent Thailand's economy into freefall, exposed the chasm between the billionaire class and the poor. And in June, prominent activist Wanchalearm Satsaksit disappeared triggering huge outcry online. The online campaign spilled offline mid-July and a wave of protests across the country began. Wednesday's demonstration in particular has drawn the ire of authorities because of the reaction of protesters encountering a royal motorcade.
What's different this time?
True, Thailand has seen a cycle of violent street protests and military coups over the decades. But in the past the protest movements had vast financial and political clout behind them. Today's student demonstrators say there is no single leader -- a strategy partly inspired by the Hong Kong pro-democracy protests. Daring to take on the taboo topic of the monarchy is also a first. Under the constitution, the royals -- including super-rich King Maha Vajiralongkorn -- are supposed to stay out of politics, but they wield enormous clout in politics and military.
What comes next?
Despite the emergency decree banning protests and gathering of more than four people, protest leaders vowed to push ahead with demonstrations. Political analyst Thitinan Pongsudhirak from Chulalongkorn University says the situation is now "fluid and combustible". While the movement has suffered a setback because of the arrests of key leaders, it is likely to "maintain traction because popular grievances are so wide and deep", Thitinan says. "Repression without any reform will lead to more radicalisation and conflict... This is Thailand's grinding transformation to arrive in the 21st century."
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