Thailand protests
Kickflipping Thai skateboarders are flipping the bird at authorities, joining pro-democracy rallies in Bangkok to vent their anger over a lack of respect and dedicated public space for extreme sports in the kingdom.
A youth-led pro-democracy movement kicked off in Thailand in July last year, demanding reforms to the monarchy, a rewrite of the military-scripted constitution and the resignation of Prime Minister Prayut Chan-O-cha.
A deadly third coronavirus wave and the detention of protest leaders sucked much momentum from the movement this year, but there have been near-daily small-scale rallies since June.
The sluggish rollout of Thailand's vaccination programme, and the financial pain from restrictions has heaped political pressure on Prayut's government. — AFP
A Thai court denied bail Tuesday to four prominent democracy activists after they were indicted for violating the kingdom's royal defamation law -- the first formal charges laid against the leaders of a movement calling for reforms to the monarchy.
Demonstrations in Bangkok last year against the government of former army chief Premier Prayut Chan-O-Cha drew tens of thousands at their peak, with many calling for changes to the country's once unassailable royal family.
Criticism of the monarchy is taboo due to harsh lese majeste laws that carry penalties of up to 15 years in jail per charge.
Since the movement kicked off in July, more than 50 protesters have been hit with the charge, but authorities have allowed all to be bailed.
But that changed Tuesday when four major faces of the movement were indicted at Bangkok's Criminal Court and were denied bail. — AFP
Thai authorities file fresh legal action Thursday against a pro-democracy protest leader after he criticised a court ruling that kept the prime minister in office.
The kingdom's constitutional court on Wednesday ruled Prime Minister Prayut Chan-O-Cha was not guilty of a conflict of interest by living in an army residence after leaving the military.
The ruling angered some 5,000 protesters who took to the streets, and student leader Parit "Penguin" Chiwarak encouraged the crowd to raise their middle fingers at the judges, defying a court warning against "vulgar" criticism. — AFP
Thai Prime Minister Prayut Chan-O-Cha, under pressure from months of street protests, Wednesday survives a legal challenge over his living arrangements that could have seen him thrown out of office.
The kingdom's constitutional court rule that Prayut was not guilty of conflict of interest by living in an army residence after leaving the military.
"The defendant's position as prime minister remains unchanged," the head judge says. — AFP
Tensions are rising around Thailand's pro-democracy protests, with police shooting six people last week and using tear gas and water cannon on the streets of Bangkok.
After four months of rallies, sometimes involving tens of thousands of demonstrators, the mood is getting tougher, with protest leaders warning they are not prepared to compromise.
Slogans and insults against the monarchy — unthinkable only a short time ago — are proliferating, while riot police showed last week they are ready to take firm action against the rallies.
— AFP
Photo: Pro-democracy protesters hold up their mobile phones during an anti-government rally at Udomsuk in Bangkok on October 17, 2020, as they continue to defy an emergency decree banning gatherings. AFP/Jack TAYLOR
- Latest
- Trending
