Pro-democracy protesters have started their march toward the Germany embassy in Bangkok to submit a petition asking the German government to look into whether the King rules Thailand from Germany.
The King is thought to spend most of his time in Germany.
At 6pm, the protesters sang the national anthem while holding up the three-finger salute. The march started about half an hour later than initially scheduled from Sam Yan intersection and as of press time were only close to Chulalongkorn Hospital.
Their destination is the German embassy on Sathorn Road in the heart of Bangkok.
Most protestors began gathering at the intersection at around 4pm, though barriers were set up outside the Samyan MitrTown and Chamchuri Square complexes from around 3pm.
Like other new graduates of Chulalongkorn University, probably Thailand’s most prestigious education institution, Aomtip spent the afternoon happily posing with family and friends during commencement day early this month.But as her classmates lined up for what was supposed to be the most important moment, this 23-year-old chose to skip the conferment ceremony.Aomtip, who asked for her surname to be left out, is one of the many who have decided to skip the ceremony – which for most graduates is considered to be a pivotal point for themselves and their families. Several students, who support the anti-establishment movement, are joining calls to boycott conferral ceremonies.The young graduate launched a campaign with the hashtag #ไม่รับปริญญา, or #BoycottConferralCeremony to cheers at a protest organised by the Free Youth group on Bangkok’s Pathumwan Skywalk in August.“It [the ceremony] costs a lot of money. The event should be a celebration for graduates, family, teachers and friends – it’s not necessary to hold it in a conference hall,” she told protesters.A clip of her speech went viral and the hashtag top-trended on Twitter.Aomtip’s act of defiance won full support from her family. Her mother, Kanokwan, said the family had discussed the issue and were happy with the young woman’s decision.“The [graduation] ceremony is a kind of soft power used to shape youngsters. Deciding not to take part [in it] is a way of fighting against state power,” the mother said.Aomtip’s campaign has now spread to other universities and been adopted by more and more new graduates. Fighting soft powerAmong them is Thammasat University, where less than half of the new graduates are expected to attend this year’s ceremony to receive their degree from His Majesty the King. Thammasat students are at the forefront of calls for royal power to be curbed.Accompanied by HM the Queen, HM the King will hand certificates to graduates on October 30 and 31. The ceremony comes after four months of student-led rallies pressing for reform of the monarchy, the resignation of Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha and changes to the Constitution.Thai PBS World has learned that only around 48 to 50 per cent of Thammasat graduates attended the first and second commencement rehearsals this month.In contrast, last year only about 10 per cent of graduates skipped the final ceremony, a source familiar with the matter said.Around 9,600 graduates are eligible to attend the ceremony next week, but they must register and attend the final dress rehearsal last Saturday. Though the number of students at the dress rehearsal has not been revealed, it has fallen “drastically”, said the source who witnessed the event on Saturday.A significant number of students withdrew their registration after riot police used water cannon against a large crowd of protesters at the Pathumwan intersection in central Bangkok on October 16, the source added.Assoc Prof Dr Yukti Mukdawijitra, who teaches anthropology at Thammasat University, said on Twitter he expects more than 60 per cent of humanities and social science graduates to stay away from next week’s ceremony.Assoc Prof Chalie Charoenlarpnopparut, Thammasat’s vice rector of Academic Affairs, put the low attendance down to ongoing anti-government rallies, the COVID-19 pandemic and the short notice given for the delayed ceremony, meaning students who travelled abroad might struggle to return in time.The ceremony was originally scheduled for April, before the virus hit the country. Thammasat has also announced that strict COVID-19 prevention measures, including rapid finger-prick tests, will be conducted on every student ahead of the event.Assoc Prof Chalie, who is organising the ceremony, spoke of a lively atmosphere at the dress rehearsal, which was attended by many of the graduates’ parents. However, not all the students at rehearsal would necessarily join the ceremony, he added.“We won’t know how many will attend until they enter the conference hall,” he said. Thammasat spearheading campaignA group of Thammasat students calling themselves the “Graduates of the People” last week launched a campaign urging classmates to boycott the graduation ceremony.The group set up life-sized effigies of their reformist heroes at the university’s Tha Prachan campus in Bangkok. Students were invited to take selfies with cut-outs of Pridi Banomyong, 1932 Siamese Revolution co-leader, ex-prime minister and Thammasat founder; Puey Ungphakorn, ex-central bank chief and former rector of Thammasat; and exiled Thammasat academic Somsak Jeamteerasakul, an outspoken critic of the monarchy.The group said students’ decision to skip the ceremony was an act of peaceful civil disobedience in support of reforming the monarchy.The United Front of Thammasat and Demonstration was the first group in the current anti-establishment movement to call for royal power to be curbed. The unprecedented call was made in a 10-point manifesto for monarchy reform presented by its co-leader Panusaya “Rung” Sithijirawattanakul. She and fellow leader Parit “Penguin” Chiwarak have been arrested and charged with sedition and other alleged crimes over comments they made at previous protests.Meanwhile Aomtip is encouraged to see many of her peers at Thammasat and Kasetsart universities now boycotting their commencement ceremonies.“I’m happy that more and more people are joining my campaign,” she said.
Royalist demonstrators converged on the Germany embassy at 2pm on Monday, where barriers have been set up to protect the latest focus of Thailand’s political upheaval.
A royalist group calling itself Prachachon Kon Thai (Thai Citizens), led by lawyer Nititorn Lamlua, delivered a letter to the embassy explaining the political situation.
Demonstrators occupied both lanes of Sathon Road outside the embassy from 1pm, halting traffic for more than an hour as police set up steel barriers.
After hearing a short speech from Nititorn, demonstrators dispersed at 2.45pm, explaining they did not want to face student-led pro-democracy activists. The pro-democracy movement will rally at the embassy at 5pm in their latest push for reform of the Constitution and monarchy.
Nititorn said that students should study Thai history, especially the 1932 Siamese Revolution staged by Khana Ratsadon (the Peoples’ Party), which founded the principles in chapters 1 and 2 of the current Constitution – that the Thai Kingdom is one and indivisible with a democratic government with the King as head of state.
“You need to stop making the original Khana Ratsadon look bad,” he said.
“If you want to reform the monarchy, you have to ask the majority of people first. We have witnessed a lot of improper behaviour [from student-led protesters].”
“We don’t want a president,” he added, referring to alleged pressure to abolish the monarchy and turn Thailand into a republic.
The student-led movement has stated its aim is to reform rather than abolish the monarchy. Pro-democracy demonstrators said they will submit a letter to the embassy this afternoon calling on the German government to investigate whether HM the King is ruling the country from Germany.
A group of royalists led by former monk Phra Buddha Isara handed a letter to the House speaker on Monday objecting to the setting up of a panel to look into reforming the monarchy.
The royalists have been camping outside Parliament since Sunday to show their support for the government and prevent the invasion of pro-democracy protesters.
The former monk, who now goes by the name Suwit Thongprasert, was defrocked and jailed over two charges: the unauthorised use of royal initials in amulets and his role as the co-leader of the People’s Democratic Reform Committee protests in 2014.
This group also had a chance to interact with Their Majesties the King and Queen when they were mingling with the crowds outside the Grand Palace on Friday last week.
In his speech during the Parliament’s extraordinary session, which kicked off on Monday morning, Pheu Thai leader Sompong Amornvivat outlined the reasons why Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha should resign and called for protest leaders to be released.
He said Prayut should resign because he is a burden on the country, adding: “If you resign, it will show that you are taking responsibility for all your failures.”
He also insisted that all protesters who have been thrown behind bars unfairly should be released immediately.
“You have overlooked the people and are arresting anybody who stands against you,” he said.
He added that lawmakers should use this extraordinary session to seriously consider the protesters’ demands and amend the Constitution so it is more democratic.
Sompong said the protests were justified because Prayut’s government has written a Constitution that supports itself, instead of writing one that provides for society and ensures equality.
The Pheu Thai leader said Prayut has failed as a leader of the country during his six years in administration, pointing out that he had received his power unfairly under rules that had been created to be advantageous for him and his allies.
He said this administration is not accepted by the people, and slammed Prayut for ordering a violent crackdown on unarmed protesters on October 16.
Sompong said the pro-democracy protesters were exercising their democratic rights and freedom, and that their demands should be considered seriously.
He also said the government should stop using time-buying tactics, adding that the steps taken so far to deal with problems only shows that the powers-that-be are narrow minded. He added that he hopes this extraordinary parliamentary session will not be used to justify this government’s shortcomings.
The session wraps up on Tuesday.As members debated in Parliament , pro-democracy protesters kept up pressure on the Prayut government to resign with plans to march from the Sam Yan intersection to the German Embassy on Sathorn Road at 5pm. The protesters said they would deliver a letter asking the German government to check whether HM the King has been ruling over Thailand from Germany, where he is thought to spend most of his time.
Meanwhile, ultra-royalists announced they would gather in front of the embassy for a counter-demonstration at 2pm.
Prime Minister General Prayut Chan-o-cha has arrived at Parliament on Monday to attend the extraordinary session aimed at resolving political tensions. He asked the media to wait for the result.
Separately, the police led by Metropolitan Police Bureau chief Pol Lt-General Phukphong Phongpetra, brought water trucks and mobile toilet trucks to ensure safety around Parliament and Thahan Road near Wat Kaew Fa Chulamanee.
Pro-democracy protesters of the Ratsadon (The People) gathered at the Ratchaprasong intersection on Sunday, demanding the resignation of Prime Minister General Prayut Chan-o-cha.
At 4.15pm, the protesters closed Rajdamri Road in front of CentralWorld department store.
Meanwhile, a small group of royalists carrying portraits of HM King Rama IX and HM King Rama X gathered at the entrance to CentralWorld before dispersing to avoid confrontation.
At 5pm, Pro-democracy activist Jatupat “Pai Dao Din” Boonpatararaksa arrived at the rally site, while roads around the Ratchaprasong intersection were completely closed by the protesters.
At5.55pm, the protesters opened smartphone flash lights and showed a three-finger salute, a gesture of protest against dictatorship.
The head of non-profit organisation iLaw expressed scepticism at the extraordinary session of Parliament resolving the political tensions in the country.
Internet Law Reform Dialogue (iLaw) director Jon Ungphakorn said on Sunday that the extraordinary meeting on October 26-27 will not help resolve the situation.
“It’s clearly seen that the government will use this opportunity to attack the protesters, ignoring the people’s demands. I believe that they will focus on attacking the protesters who seek real democracy.”
According to the petition for convening the extraordinary general assembly of Parliament, there are three issues for discussion: the risk of a Covid-19 outbreak in assembly areas, the use of high-pressure water cannons to control the crowd on the night of October16, and the case of protesters blocking a royal motorcade on October 14.
iLaw has outlined six solutions:
1. Cancel the severe emergency decree in Bangkok;
2. Release every protest leader and drop all charges;
3. Open a public area to talk about reforms to the monarchy;
4. The PM must resign or parties supporting the government should withdraw support;
5. Convene an extraordinary meeting to amend the Constitution;
6. Revoke the Senate’s right to vote for a new PM and choose a PM from the party with the most votes. However, the new PM has to vow to stay for four months until a new Constitution is written and then resign to pave the way for a new election.
Pro-democracy protesters of the Ratsadon (The People) group vowed to hold an anti-government rally at the Ratchaprasong intersection on Sunday and outside the Germany embassy on Monday.
After Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha refused to resign by 10pm on Saturday as demanded by the protesters, the United Front of Thammasat and Demonstration posted on Facebook and Twitter their plans to hold a rally outside the German embassy on Monday.
Meanwhile, pro-democracy activist Jatupat “Pai Dao Din” Boonpatararaksa told protesters gathered outside Bangkok Remand Prison, demanding the release of their arrested leaders, to disperse from the rally site at midnight, and vowed to hold a rally at the Ratchaprasong intersection on Sunday.
Separately, Move Forward Party MP Rangsiman Rome said there was no hint of the government bowing to the demands of the protesters, even though a few of them had been released from detention.
Two political rallies were held in Bangkok on Saturday evening and nine in other provinces, the Free Youth pro-democracy group updated via its social media.
The protests in Bangkok were held at Yaek King Kaeo and in front of the Mall Bangkapi department store. Other protests on Saturday were in Phichit, Chainat, Ayutthaya, Chonburi, Rayong, Buriram, Roi Et, Bueng Kan and Nakhon Si Thammarat provinces.
The group also broke new ground by announcing a rally at Washington Square Park in the US at noon (US time).
Earlier, pro-democracy activist Jatupat “Pai Dao Din” Boonpatararaksa said that the protesters gathered in front of Bangkok Remand Prison would not move, as they are waiting for Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha’s answer to their demand for his resignation.
Pro-democracy protesters have gathered in front of the prison since Friday afternoon, urging the authorities to release protest leaders who had been arrested and held at the prison.
Photos by Korbphuk Phromrekha 
Photos by Korbphuk Phromrekha 
At 5pm, Pro-democracy activist Jatupat “Pai Dao Din” Boonpatararaksa arrived at the rally site, while roads around the Ratchaprasong intersection were completely closed by the protesters.
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