Thousands join protest in Bangkok demanding prime minister's resignation

[webfact]

Demonstrators show the three-finger salute during a protest over Thai government's handling of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic and to demand Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-ocha's resignation, in Bangkok, Thailand, September 2, 2021. REUTERS/Chalinee Thirasupa

 

BANGKOK (Reuters) - Thousands of people protested in central Bangkok on Thursday to call for the resignation of Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-ocha and said they would return every day until he leaves office.

 

The demonstration at the Asoke intersection in central Bangkok was one of the biggest such gatherings this year despite a warning from the police earlier in the day that protests are banned due to coronavirus restrictions.

 

Protests against Prayuth have gained momentum since late June as groups who sought his removal last year return with broader support from people angered by a worsening coronavirus situation.

 

Thailand has recorded more than 1.2 million infections and 12,103 deaths since the pandemic started last year, with most of the cases and deaths occurring since April this year.

 

The demonstration is also taking place while Prayuth is facing a grilling in parliament in a censure debate  that started earlier this week. The political opposition accuse the prime minister and five other cabinet ministers of corruption, economic mismanagement and of bungling the coronavirus response.

 

Prayuth and his ministers have rejected the opposition accusations and defended their performance to parliament.

 

They are expected to survive the no-confidence vote scheduled for Saturday, due to the ruling coalition's clear parliamentary majority, but the protesters say they will keep up pressure on Prayuth.

 

"The members of parliament have to chose between the people and Prayuth who has failed, causing losses and deaths of more than 10,000 people," said Nattawut Saikua, one of the main organisers of the protest.

 

"If Prayuth passes the no-confidence vote and remains prime minister we will continue to drive him out," he said.

 

While the demonstration at Asoke was peaceful, a smaller group of anti-government protesters set off fire crackers and burn car tires on Thursday near the prime minister's residence in another part of the city.

 

(Reporting by Panu Wongcha-um and Panarat Thepgumpanat; Editing by Frances Kerry)

 

-- © Copyright Reuters 2021-09-03

 

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[Soikhaonoiken]

It's about time the Thai people stood up to these clowns in office, he's been ruining peoples lives for the past 6 years. 

[Gottfrid]

May the force be with you!

[hotchilli]

5 hours ago, webfact said:

Thousands of people protested in central Bangkok on Thursday to call for the resignation of Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-ocha and said they would return every day until he leaves office.

Looks like it's ramping up again.

[hotchilli]

5 hours ago, webfact said:

"The members of parliament have to chose between the people and Prayuth who has failed, causing losses and deaths of more than 10,000 people," said Nattawut Saikua, one of the main organisers of the protest.

So the parliament will back Prayut because they know which side their bread ids buttered.

[mtls2005]

Shut Down Bangkok worked for the minions in 2014.

 

One massive central permanent protest site is required.

 

Keep it peaceful. (easy to say as the yellows have the police and army as their violent wing)

[Artisi]

Vive la revolution...... 

[hotandsticky]

1 minute ago, Artisi said:

Vive la revolution...... 

 

 

Yep...................bring on the next Coup.....

[crazykopite]

I support the protesters trouble is the PM is going nowhere the only way they can get rid of him is by people power but it will have to escalate up to a million on the streets then he might get the message 

[harada]

You would think that after 90 years of the same BS Thais would realise that getting rid of Prayut under the current “ system “ won’t matter one iota, he will simply be replaced with another of the same or worse by those with BIG money and guns what’s going on with in the parliament now is simply theatre.

[law ling]

30 minutes ago, harada said:

You would think that after 90 years of the same BS Thais would realise that getting rid of Prayut under the current “ system “ won’t matter one iota, he will simply be replaced with another of the same or worse by those with BIG money and guns what’s going on with in the parliament now is simply theatre.

1. Well said. If the Czar goes, who would replace him?

 

2. If they want him to go, they should give him what he really wants: an amnesty - he gave himself one coming in, and he'll need one before he goes.

[Eric Loh]

39 minutes ago, harada said:

You would think that after 90 years of the same BS Thais would realise that getting rid of Prayut under the current “ system “ won’t matter one iota, he will simply be replaced with another of the same or worse by those with BIG money and guns what’s going on with in the parliament now is simply theatre.

Not BS but their constitutional rights to protests. What comes next worry me too. Hope a general election can be held in the near future to elect the government. Prayut's government is faux.

Edited September 3, 2021 by Eric Loh
wrong word

[Artben]

4 hours ago, Gottfrid said:

May the force be with you!

And it will take force.

[spidermike007]

Hopefully these protests will only grow. The more flac the people can give this toxic regime, the better. Any way to show disapproval, any way to show dissatisfaction, any way to show how much they are despised is very healthy for society right now. Hopefully, they will only escalate. The car mobs are a brilliant idea. The crooked and totally compromised cops cannot cite them for any of the drummed up, totally unjust, repressive (covid social distancing) and nonsensical laws. 

Let them have it. Let them know how much we hate them. Go for it. Victory to the youth! Down with the regressive dinosaurs. 

 

Edited September 3, 2021 by spidermike007

[hotandsticky]

1 minute ago, spidermike007 said:

Hopefully these protests will only grow. The more flac the people can give this toxic regime, the better. Any way to show disapproval, any way to show dissatisfaction, any way to show how much they are despised is very healthy for society right now. Hopefully, they will only escalate. The car mobs are a brilliant idea. The crooked and totally compromised cops cannot cite them for any of the drummed up, totally unjust, repressive (covid social distancing) and nonsensical laws. 

Let them have it. Let them know how much we hate them. Go for it. Victory to the youth! Down with the regressive dinosaurs. 

 

 

Yep.........the quicker we can get a new coup/coup leader the better.

 

 

I think this one is past his sell by date.

[CrunchWrapSupreme]

Great timing for these daily Covid cases to be supposedly falling.

 

My moo ban and Thai coworkers say the same. We've got vacation time coming next month, yet they're still postponing any travel plans.

[Will B Good]

Not read the thread, but my concern is be "careful what you wish for".

 

Not a fan of Prayut by any means, but imagine if Thamanat manages to install himself as PM!

 

Power vacuums are not pretty.

[Mr Meeseeks]

7 hours ago, Soikhaonoiken said:

It's about time the Thai people stood up to these clowns in office, he's been ruining peoples lives for the past 6 years. 

They had the chance 2 and a bit years ago not to vote for his political party. 

 

At some point the Thais have to start taking responsibility for their actions including, protesting with Thailand's most corrupt politician and mafia godfather against an elected administration to force a coup, supporting or condoning coups and voting for political parties backed by vested interests in self-enrichment, cronyism and corruption. 

[Mr Meeseeks]

4 minutes ago, Will B Good said:

Not read the thread, but my concern is be "careful what you wish for".

 

Not a fan of Prayut by any means, but imagine if Thamanat manages to install himself as PM!

 

Power vacuums are not pretty.

Thamanat or Apirat would set the country back decades.

 

Thailand would then be on par with Libya, Iraq and Syria. 

[NanaSomchai]

27 minutes ago, hotandsticky said:

Yep.........the quicker we can get a new coup/coup leader the better.

Be careful what you wish for...

[hotandsticky]

4 minutes ago, NanaSomchai said:

Be careful what you wish for...

 

No problem..... it is what we have (which, although inept, I can live) or, we can try some new Coup blood.

[Deerculler]

Stop Bitching you lot.

It is not your country.

[Dont confuse me]

Thailand has been home to more military coup d'états in modern history than any other country.

That's not going to change, Thai politics are just a merry-go-round of coups.

Bring on the next one this one has definitely run its course! 

[Mr Meeseeks]

10 minutes ago, Deerculler said:

Stop Bitching you lot.

It is not your country.

Spoken like a true tourist.

 

You shouldn't generalise. Some of us are permanent residents and citizens. Many more of us have vested interests here, families, businesses etc.

[spidermike007]

1 hour ago, Deerculler said:

Stop Bitching you lot.

It is not your country.

Oh stop. Very lame. Nearly every time I see someone complaining, or observing a shortfall within Thailand, some lame guy, who has not taken the time to think things through, nor to devote any focus or effort to a reasonable reply, says something like "Perhaps Thailand is not for you", or stop bitching, or maybe you should leave, or the top prize, "if you do not like it here, go back to your own country". Hard to even respond to such inane statements. Why? Because I have some issues with the place? Sorry to inform you, but the nature of a discerning mind, is to have issues. Though absolute contentment must be a beautiful state of mind, it is not something most of us are blessed with, in case you have not noticed. The fact that I complain, does not mean I do not love Thailand, nor most of it's people. I do. 

 

By saying it is not your country, you are implying that since we do not have Thai passports, we are entitled to nothing, and have no rights. Not even the right to complain. We live here, we spend alot of money here, we build businesses, and homes, and some support Thai families. And yet we have no right to complain, or say anything? Just keep our opinions to ourselves, and be obedient little sheep? That is really a dumb and regressive thing to say.

I love my life here. I have a very good life here. But, I do have some complaints, and there are some things I would love to see improved. I should leave because of that? Please. Next time you make a post, try to devote at least two moments of thought to it.

Edited September 3, 2021 by spidermike007

[Artisi]

17 minutes ago, spidermike007 said:

Oh stop. Very lame. Nearly every time I see someone complaining, or observing a shortfall within Thailand, some lame guy, who has not taken the time to think things through, nor to devote any focus or effort to a reasonable reply, says something like "Perhaps Thailand is not for you", or stop bitching, or maybe you should leave, or the top prize, "if you do not like it here, go back to your own country". Hard to even respond to such inane statements. Why? Because I have some issues with the place? Sorry to inform you, but the nature of a discerning mind, is to have issues. Though absolute contentment must be a beautiful state of mind, it is not something most of us are blessed with, in case you have not noticed. The fact that I complain, does not mean I do not love Thailand, nor most of it's people. I do. 

 

By saying it is not your country, you are implying that since we do not have Thai passports, we are entitled to nothing, and have no rights. Not even the right to complain. We live here, we spend alot of money here, we build businesses, and homes, and some support Thai families. And yet we have no right to complain, or say anything? Just keep our opinions to ourselves, and be obedient little sheep? That is really a dumb and regressive thing to say.

I love my life here. I have a very good life here. But, I do have some complaints, and there are some things I would love to see improved. I should leave because of that? Please. Next time you make a post, try to devote at least two moments of thought to it.

Or at least 1 brain cell, assuming that's possible. 

[khunPer]

The problem with some thousands that attends "the parliament of the streets" is that they are not democracy, they might not represent a majority of the population.

 

A general election shows better what a democratic majority wish for a nation - noting that some seats in a parliament might be reserved for selected, and thereby non-elected, members, the result of a general election still shows what the population wants, and the voters can still express their opinion by voting "none" if they don't like any of the candidates - perhaps the people agrees with the parliament of street, and perhaps they don't agree. We will not know by speculation, only after an election.

 

When thinking back on the last periodes with elected governments, then both red-shirts and yellow-shirts come to mind, and chaotic chaos in the streets - some news articles even mentioned the country was on edge to a civil war - thereafter came a peace, which many wished for, and also better economic performance. Just look at stats, unfortunately the better economy with lower national debt compared to GNP, resulted in a stronger Thai baht currency, which numerous aliens cried about.

 

Looked historically the last 90 years in Thailand have been an ongoing shift between elected governments and military leadership, I'm not sure what is best - even economic stats are in favor of one side - and I'm not sure if it would change in the near future, no matter what "the parliament of the streets", or general elections, might indicate. However, order and stability might be the best for the people in long terms.

[NoshowJones]

4 hours ago, hotandsticky said:

 

 

Yep.........the quicker we can get a new coup/coup leader the better.

 

 

I think this one is past his sell by date.

We don't want any new coups, do you want another self elected PM with a Military Academy education again?

We need a government elected by the Thai people, not another bunch of Tinpot soldiers.

[khunPer]

50 minutes ago, spidermike007 said:

Oh stop. Very lame. Nearly every time I see someone complaining, or observing a shortfall within Thailand, some lame guy, who has not taken the time to think things through, nor to devote any focus or effort to a reasonable reply, says something like "Perhaps Thailand is not for you", or stop bitching, or maybe you should leave, or the top prize, "if you do not like it here, go back to your own country". Hard to even respond to such inane statements. Why? Because I have some issues with the place? Sorry to inform you, but the nature of a discerning mind, is to have issues. Though absolute contentment must be a beautiful state of mind, it is not something most of us are blessed with, in case you have not noticed. The fact that I complain, does not mean I do not love Thailand, nor most of it's people. I do. 

 

By saying it is not your country, you are implying that since we do not have Thai passports, we are entitled to nothing, and have no rights. Not even the right to complain. We live here, we spend alot of money here, we build businesses, and homes, and some support Thai families. And yet we have no right to complain, or say anything? Just keep our opinions to ourselves, and be obedient little sheep? That is really a dumb and regressive thing to say.

I love my life here. I have a very good life here. But, I do have some complaints, and there are some things I would love to see improved. I should leave because of that? Please. Next time you make a post, try to devote at least two moments of thought to it.

As long as we aliens are not citizens of the nation, we are a kind of guests, even that we might mingle with locals, and bring some foreign currency into the country, and some of us invest in small business. As guests we follow the host's rules. If we wish our expressed views about the nation's leadership to be taken seriously, and being part of electing those that are going to lead the nation, we should apply for citizenship.

 

So it's correct, Thailand is not your country, US is your country, even you don't like US and left it. And as there also seems to be numerous things that don't like in Thailand, perhaps somewhere else might be a better choice; you already talked about moving out in other of your posts.

 

In my view, even that I feel that I have contributed a relative lot financially - "relative" compared to my financial status - and also have Thai family, I haven't applied for citizenship, so I'm still a guest. Therefore shall I follow the host's rules, or leave the nation if I cannot accept the rules...????

[NoshowJones]

1 hour ago, spidermike007 said:

Oh stop. Very lame. Nearly every time I see someone complaining, or observing a shortfall within Thailand, some lame guy, who has not taken the time to think things through, nor to devote any focus or effort to a reasonable reply, says something like "Perhaps Thailand is not for you", or stop bitching, or maybe you should leave, or the top prize, "if you do not like it here, go back to your own country". Hard to even respond to such inane statements. Why? Because I have some issues with the place? Sorry to inform you, but the nature of a discerning mind, is to have issues. Though absolute contentment must be a beautiful state of mind, it is not something most of us are blessed with, in case you have not noticed. The fact that I complain, does not mean I do not love Thailand, nor most of it's people. I do. 

 

By saying it is not your country, you are implying that since we do not have Thai passports, we are entitled to nothing, and have no rights. Not even the right to complain. We live here, we spend alot of money here, we build businesses, and homes, and some support Thai families. And yet we have no right to complain, or say anything? Just keep our opinions to ourselves, and be obedient little sheep? That is really a dumb and regressive thing to say.

I love my life here. I have a very good life here. But, I do have some complaints, and there are some things I would love to see improved. I should leave because of that? Please. Next time you make a post, try to devote at least two moments of thought to it.

Brilliant post, and I agree with every single word. If any farang ever tells me that if I don't agree with something here I should go home, he had better be a faster runner than me.