At least three people have been injured as demonstrators marched through the Thai capital, Bangkok, on Sunday to protest a recent Constitutional Court ruling branding calls to reform the monarchy unconstitutional.
Protesters flooded the streets in the city center carrying banners and placards that read: “No absolute monarchy” and “Reform is not abolition”. People took part in the massive march to protest what they described as a return to absolute monarchy under King Maha Vajiralongkorn.
The march is well and truly underway. They want the world to know that the Thailand they are fighting for is one where everyone is equal. #ม็อบ14พฤศจิกา64pic.twitter.com/KDIDTLdpWy
“Say no to absolute monarchy!” shout the monarchy-reform protesters just now. #WhatsHappeningInThailand#Thailand#ป#ม็อบ14พฤศจิกา64#ม็อบ14พฤศจิกายนpic.twitter.com/bKL0q4vbdh
Some activists were seen spray-painting graffiti on the roads they were marching through. “This country belongs to the people,” one message read. The protest was sparked by the Thai Constitutional Court’s Wednesday decision de facto outlawing all calls to reform the institution of the monarchy.
This country belongs to the people. #ม็อบ14พฤศจิกา64pic.twitter.com/1V4lcJM3dz
It stated that calls for reform issued by three protest leaders in August 2020 were unconstitutional and tantamount to an attempt to overthrow the monarchy altogether. “We are not overthrowing this country.
The reform is to make it better,” one of the protest leaders, Thatchapong Kaedam, said on Sunday. “The Constitutional Court is seizing power from the people.”
เวลานี้ที่แยกปทุมวัน บรรยากาศการมวลชนร่วมชุมนุมใหญ่ #ม็อบ14พฤศจิกา64#ปฏิรูปไม่เท่ากับล้มล้างpic.twitter.com/wRimdZxIU2
Protesters also burned nine effigies of the Constitutional Court judges to express their dissatisfaction with the ruling.
No absolute monarchy lll#ม็อบ14พฤศจิกา64#ไม่เอาสมบูรณาญาสิทธิราชย์pic.twitter.com/WtltliwPPT
Burn them all???#ม็อบ14พฤศจิกา64pic.twitter.com/qKMZZRARhy
The crowds initially planned to march towards the Democracy Monument in the city center but were blocked by the police. They then moved to the German Embassy where they read a statement drawing attention to the king’s frequent stays in the European country.
German Embassy in Bangkok allowing a representative or representatives if monarchy-reform protesters to submit a letter expressing concerns about perceived growing Royal powers. #WhatsHappeningInThailand#ป#Thailand#ม็อบ14พฤศจิกา64#ต่อต้านระบอบสมบูรณาญาสิทธิราชย์pic.twitter.com/dX6sUoQ0tm
It said the king’s “increased powers… are pulling Thailand away from democracy and back to absolute monarchy,” and that the demonstrators want to see the nation “ruled by a system in which everyone is equal.”
Police have been deployed to the city en masse in response to the protest. There have been several brief standoffs between law enforcement and the rally participants. At one point, the crowd broke through a police cordon. Another particularly tense moment saw a small, tightly packed police formation retreating from the crowd with several officers allegedly shooting rubber bullets point-blank at the crowd.
A confrontation between police and protesters after security officers tried to block the way to the German embassy #Thailand#ม็อบ14พฤศจิกา64pic.twitter.com/EeoZNTrhuX
#ไม่เอาสมบูรณาญาสิทธิราชย์#WhatsHappeninglnthailand#ม็อบ14พฤศจิกา64 คลิปเหตุการณ์ที่ จนท ใช้ปืนลูกซองยิงกระสุนไม่ทราบชนิดใส่ผู้ชุมนุมจนมีผู้ได้รับบาดเจ็บ Cr-PostToday pic.twitter.com/oYhi3FeFzU
A photo shared on social media showed at least one person with what appeared to be an abdomen injury inflicted by a rubber bullet. Police confirmed that at least three people were injured on Sunday, adding that the causes of the injuries were unclear. The officials also said explosions were heard as the crowd was heading towards the German Embassy.
A police spokesman said the authorities are still investigating what led to the shooting that wounded 3 demonstrators during Sunday’s march to German Embassy. Police have yet to say what type of bullets was used and who fired them. #ม็อบ14พฤศจิกา64pic.twitter.com/dCAPiNrdrL
The demand to reform the monarchy is considered radical and controversial in Thailand, as the institution is considered sacrosanct. The nation also has lese-majeste law, in which anyone found guilty of defaming the monarchy could face up to 15 years in jail. At least 157 people have been charged under this law since last year, when Thailand also saw massive protests, according to the Thai Lawyers for Human Rights group.
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