Thai protesters take aim at army after anti-government rallies

 

Pro-democracy activists attend a protest demanding the resignation of Thailand's Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha in front of Royal Thai Army headquarters, in Bangkok, Thailand, July 20, 2020. REUTERS/Jorge Silva

 

BANGKOK (Reuters) - Protesters rallied at the headquarters of Thailand's army on Monday, accusing it of wasting taxpayers' money on procurements and renewing demands for Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-ocha's resignation, the latest show of public opposition to his rule.

 

About 200 demonstrators denounced the government and the army, accusing it of inappropriate defence spending and of interfering in politics by backing Prayuth's bloodless 2014 putsch, which saw him installed as prime minister.

 

Though Prayuth now leads a civilian government following an election last year, critics say the military ensured the deck was stacked in his favour by writing a constitution that virtually guaranteed victory for his party.

 

The rally followed a protest in Bangkok on Saturday of about 2,500 people, who demanded the government dissolve parliament, step down and end harassment of its critics, in one of the biggest street demonstrations since the 2014 coup that ousted the last elected administration.

 

That rally and subsequent, smaller protests on Sunday in Chiang Mai, Ubon Ratchathani, were in defiance of a coronavirus ban on gatherings. Though police were present, there were no arrests.

 

Demonstrators on Monday displayed signs of detained or missing dissidents and carried placards saying "no coup" and reminding soldiers their duty was to the public.

 

One leader tore up a large poster of the army chief, General Apirat Kongsompong.

 

Prayuth, a former army chief, has seen opposition to him grow recently. Since Thursday six of his Cabinet members have resigned.

 

Their exit comes as Southeast Asia's worst performing economy, which the central bank says could shrink by a record 8.1% this year, tries to recover from the impacts of the coronavirus crisis.

 

(Reporting by Jorge Silva; Writing by Martin Petty; editing by Jonathan Oatis)

 

-- © Copyright Reuters 2020-07-21

 

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Thai military coups always end in tears.

For a moment I wondered how the Nation suddenly mentioned much higher, more accurate, numbers now, but then I saw it was a Reuters report (which is more in line with various other reports on these protests).

 

Anyhow there was also a sign In Thai asking why we need an army? 

1 hour ago, AlexRich said:

Thai military coups always end in tears.

For the ones who lose.

Call me when the number of protesters is more like 25,000...

2 hours ago, AlexRich said:

Thai military coups always end in tears.

Actually if you mean those who positioned themselves in places of power during the coups then I don't think so

 

Figure the current crop & how they have been in power since 2014

 

How much do you think they have drained from the trough? Whether by flat out robbery

or by  claiming they were making padded purchases of say Chinese subs etc?

 

That is just the tip of the iceberg...So IMO no tears but instead they have enriched their families for

generations to come. This is not unsurprisingly why Thailand has a constant stream of coups.

 

Generals are waiting in the wings for their turn at the trough after having seen how the current crop has enriched themselves

and later how they will walk free with impunity

 

 

 

 

3 hours ago, webfact said:

About 200 demonstrators

not too many turned up I see ....  guess they were cousins of the organizers.

Better hurry or you'll be late for school.

41 minutes ago, steven100 said:

not too many turned up I see ....  guess they were cousins of the organizers.

Better hurry or you'll be late for school.

Seeing as the Thai army has killed more Thais in recent history than they have foreigners; I’d say these lot are immensely brave. 

Let’s hope the army listen and don’t resort to violence (making progress, as you said). 

 

57 minutes ago, meechai said:

Actually if you mean those who positioned themselves in places of power during the coups then I don't think so

 

Figure the current crop & how they have been in power since 2014

 

How much do you think they have drained from the trough? Whether by flat out robbery

or by  claiming they were making padded purchases of say Chinese subs etc?

 

That is just the tip of the iceberg...So IMO no tears but instead they have enriched their families for

generations to come. This is not unsurprisingly why Thailand has a constant stream of coups.

 

Generals are waiting in the wings for their turn at the trough after having seen how the current crop has enriched themselves

and later how they will walk free with impunity

 

 

 

 

I agree up to a point, but I suggest there's an even bigger/ more powerful aspect.

 

The military's strong self glorification and specific to the Thailand 'model' it's strong belief that it should be/is the ultimate ruler tolerating the extra 'arm' of part democracy which came into the picture in 1932, but should always be ready to forceably take over control of the country and the people. 

Edited July 21, 20205 yr by scorecard

2 hours ago, Donutz said:

For a moment I wondered how the Nation suddenly mentioned much higher, more accurate, numbers now, but then I saw it was a Reuters report (which is more in line with various other reports on these protests).

 

Anyhow there was also a sign In Thai asking why we need an army? 

dangerous questions are being asked, logic is creeping its way into Thai society.

3 hours ago, AlexRich said:

Thai military coups always end in tears.

The end of a coup is the beginning of a coup.

Critics say it was stacked. Was there ever a doubt about that. It was stacked to his favour we know

1 hour ago, rkidlad said:

Seeing as the Thai army has killed more Thais in recent history than they have foreigners; I’d say these lot are immensely brave. 

 

The...only....real...purpose of the Thai army is to threaten and point weapons at Thai people.

 

Their only other function is to occasionally dress up for Hi-So parties and try to look pretty.

 

If Thailand were ever invaded by some foreign 'threat'....the Thai army would surrender so fast they probably wouldn't even have time to try and sell their gear.

 

 

 

Edited July 21, 20205 yr by Hayduke

I guess the around 150 showed up after the photo was taken, I can count about 60 in that photo, some of those are wearing brown with shiny medals, some pointing cameras.

6 hours ago, webfact said:

Prayuth, a former army chief, has seen opposition to him grow recently. Since Thursday six of his Cabinet members have resigned.

Thais are starting to show open dissent, Prayut has had six years to turn Thailand around.. nothing has happened except installing a dictatorship.

People want freedom to work, earn a living and say what they think... he's taken all 3 of those away. 

2 hours ago, scorecard said:

I agree up to a point, but I suggest there's an even bigger/ more powerful aspect.

 

The military's strong self glorification and specific to the Thailand 'model' it's strong belief that it should be/is the ultimate ruler tolerating the extra 'arm' of part democracy which came into the picture in 1932, but should always be ready to forceably take over control of the country and the people. 

Well yes but it would take us into a sector that is deemed unspeakable so we cannot comment here

 

Suffice it to say though that ultimately the Military is just the horse...The jockey is the same as it ever was unmentionable/untouchable

6 hours ago, steven100 said:

not too many turned up I see ....  guess they were cousins of the organizers.

Better hurry or you'll be late for school.

You seem to be confusing this protest with the one that took place on Saturday. No mention of students in this report.

7 hours ago, meechai said:

 

 

Suffice it to say though that ultimately the Military is just the horse...The jockey is the same as it ever was unmentionable/untouchable

 

Look again.