Thousands of anti-government demonstrators rally in Bangkok as tensions rise

Thousands of anti-government demonstrators are marching on the streets of Bangkok today, as tensions rise over the youth-led protest movement.

Thai students are participating in their third major rally in recent months, demanding democratic change, the reform of the Southeast Asian nation’s revered monarchy, and the ousting of the prime minister.

The latest wave of Thailand’s pro-democracy movement has been largely peaceful since it began some three months ago but Wednesday’s demonstration, which coincides with a royal ceremony in the capital, has sparked fears of a confrontation between students and conservative royalists.

Protest organisers brought forward the timing of the march to 8am to secure the area around the city’s “Democracy Monument", the starting point of the event, but were unable to avoid initial minor clashes with rival groups wearing yellow shirts as a symbol of devotion to the monarchy.

King Maha Vajiralongkorn is on an infrequent trip back to the country from Germany, where he normally resides. His ceremonial duties, which will involve his motorcade skirting the outskirts of the protests, have complicated plans for the rally.

The protest leaders said they will make way for the king, but the possibility remains that protesters, widely seen as unsympathetic to the king, could show public disrespect for the crown. This would serve to spark further tensions with royalists.

This year’s anti-government movement has already seen student leaders call for reforms to curb the powers of the king and bring the monarchy under the country’s constitution – touching a subject that has long been taboo in Thailand.

Insulting the monarchy, a deified institution, can lead to a 15-year jail sentence under strict lese majeste laws.

The police arrested 21 protesters on Tuesday when the king made a similar drive and dozens of people gave his motorcade a three-fingered salute. This show of defiance has come to symbolise the pro-democracy movement.

The salute was also on display on Wednesday as demonstrators marched from the Democracy Monument towards Government House, the location of the country’s cabinet offices, calling for the resignation of Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-ocha.

Among the protesters’ demands is an end to the harassment of government critics and a new constitution. However, progress was thwarted in late September when Thailand’s parliament voted to delay making a decision on constitutional reform for another two months.

The vote all but guaranteed the continuation of street protests. Wednesday’s protesters have said they plan to surround Government House for at least a night.

“We have to fight,” university student Kanokwan Kawkaew, 20, told the Associated Press. “If we don’t fight, we will lose again.”

Social media posts showing municipal trucks carrying people in yellow shirts, many of them with military-style haircuts, prompted speculation that the counter-demonstrations were linked to the authorities.

The bold challenges to the royal court have raised suspicions among Thai royalist that the students are seeking to end the monarchy, an accusation they deny.

“I have a dream that I want to have the institution of the monarchy being truly under the constitution,” Patsaravalee “Mind” Tanakitvibulpon, a 25-year-old engineering student and one of the protest organisers, said ahead of the march.