Thai protesters gather in Bangkok suburbs
Protesters gathered in and around Bangkok to demand a litany of government reforms Saturday as Thailand continues to grapple with a wave of demonstrations against Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-ocha.
Protesters held a duck parade and blocked a major junction in the outskirts of Bangkok to demand Prayuth’s removal, a new constitution and reforms to the monarchy.
#VIDEO Thailand has for months been rocked by youth-led protests demanding a new constitution, reform of the untouchable monarchy, and for Prime Minister Prayut Chan-O-Cha to resign https://t.co/YJAIIihRCP pic.twitter.com/233IgYoLzr
— AFP News Agency (@AFP) November 28, 2020
The protests Saturday come amid monthslong demonstrations, which have not been quieted despite threats from Prayuth to press charges against demonstrators for insulting the monarchy.
The unrest has centered around claims that Prayuth rigged an election to help him stay in power last year. He first took office in 2014 following a coup that toppled the government and has denied claims the election was engineered in his favor.
Demonstrators have also demanded that the monarchy’s widespread powers be curtailed.
“We have had too many years of corrupt dictatorship. We want an election in which our voices are really heard,” a 24-year-old recent graduate, who only identified herself by her nickname “A,” told Reuters.
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