Protesters blocked from reaching Palace, drop petitions for monarchy reform in post box

By The Nation

 

 

Thousands of pro-democracy protesters in Bangkok were prevented by police on Sunday evening from reaching the Palace Office to petition for reform of the monarchy.

 

 

The protesters from various pro-democratic groups, including the Ratsadon and the red shirts, started gathering at Democracy Monument on Sunday afternoon. They occupied the streets and later decided to march to nearby Sanam Luang to deliver speeches criticising the government and show some performances.

 

 

The Sanam Luang ground was taken over by the protesters who also enjoyed some rest as well as “CIA” street vendor's food, while having conversations about Thai politics. Some volunteered to collect trash to make sure the ground remained clean.

 

 

The protesters raised a three-finger salute at 7.50pm when they saw the authorities approaching, and called them “servants of the dictator”. They asked for gloves and helmets for those who were in the front row to protect themselves in case more violent methods were used against the demonstrators.

 

 

Earlier, at around 6.45pm, police had used high pressure guns to spray water on the protesters.

 

 

The protest leaders later said that the authorities had apologised for "accidentally" spraying the high-pressure water on the crowd. They said they accepted the apology with a grain of salt, and asked them to explain their past behaviour.

 

 

At around 8.30pm, the protesters were blocked by police from marching towards the Palace Office in the Grand Palace, so they dropped their petitions seeking reforms to the monarchy in post boxes.

 

 

The pro-democracy protesters have been rallying for months, seeking the resignation of the prime minister and the government, dissolution of Parliament, rewriting of the Constitution and reform of the monarchy.

 

They dispersed at around 9pm.

 

Source: https://www.nationthailand.com/news/30397586

 

-- © Copyright The Nation Thailand 2020-11-09

 

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Thammasat student body condemns police actions against protesters

By THE NATION

 

 

The Thammasat University Student Union (TUSU) on Sunday condemned the police’s use of water cannons on pro-democracy protesters at Sanam Luang earlier the same day.

 

Protesters from various pro-democracy groups, including the Ratsadon and the red shirts, had gathered at Democracy Monument on Sunday afternoon. They occupied the streets and later decided to march to nearby Sanam Luang. At around 6.45pm, police used high pressure guns to spray water on the protesters. However, protest leaders later said that the authorities had apologised for "accidentally" spraying the high-pressure water on the crowd.

 

“The authorities have tried to obstruct peaceful political activities at Sanam Luang on Sunday. They have deployed blockades as well as used water cannons with no necessary reason and no early warning,” said the TUSU. “These actions are against international standards in dispersing public gathering and are a violation of people’s rights.

 

“The Thammasat University Student Union therefore condemns these actions and demands related authorities to take responsibility in a swift and sincere manner for these unconstitutional actions that are against democratic ways. Furthermore, the government must stop oppressing the people’s political expression.”

 

Source: https://www.nationthailand.com/news/30397596

 

-- © Copyright The Nation Thailand 2020-11-09

 

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