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PM Prayuth promises to use ‘all laws’ against Thai protesters

  • November 19, 2020

Thai Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-ocha said on Thursday the government would use all forms of legislation against protesters who broke the law, as demonstrations calling for his removal and reforms to curb the powers of King Maha Vajiralongkorn that began in July, continued to escalate.

Activists voiced concern the prime minister’s comments could signal the resumption of prosecutions under some of the world’s harshest laws on royal insult.

The protests are the biggest challenge to Thailand’s establishment in years and have broken a long-standing taboo by criticising the monarchy, which can carry a jail term of up to 15 years.

Prayuth’s announcement came a day after thousands of protesters threw paint at Thai police headquarters in what they said was a response to the use of water cannon and tear gas that hurt dozens on Tuesday, the most violent day of protests since July. Some protesters also sprayed anti-monarchy graffiti.

“The situation is not improving,” Prayuth said in a statement. “There is a risk of escalation to more violence. If not addressed, it could damage the country and the beloved monarchy.”

Workers began cleaning the paint-splattered sign outside the national police headquarters on Thursday  [Mladen Antonov/AFP}
On Wednesday night, protesters threw paint at the sign and covered it in graffiti to show their anger at the police use of tear gas and water cannon on demonstrators the night before [Mladen Antonov/AFP]

“The government will intensify its actions and use all laws, all articles, to take action against protesters who broke the law.”

It did not specify whether this included Article 112 of the criminal code, which forbids insulting the monarchy. Prayuth said earlier this year it was not being used for the moment at the request of the king.

“This could mean they are using Article 112 to arrest protest leaders,” said activist Tanawat Wongchai on Twitter. “Is this a compromise?”

Although the Royal Palace has not commented on the protests, the king recently referred to Thailand as a “land of compromise” in a phrase that has been treated with scorn by protesters. He has spent most of his time since taking the throne in Germany but has been in Thailand in recent weeks where he has been pictured during walkabouts with Queen Suthida, and, on Saturday, taking the MRT after opening a new mass transit station in Bangkok.

Outraged by the anti-monarchy graffiti at Wednesday’s demonstration, some royalists took to social media to call on the authorities to use Article 112.

Dozens of protesters, including many of the most prominent leaders, have been arrested on a variety of charges in recent months, although not for criticising the monarchy.

King Maha Vajiralongkorn and Queen Suthida have spent more time in Thailand this year, and have been pictured on walkabouts outside the palace as well as taking a ride on the MRT during an inauguration of a new subway station in Bangkok on Saturday [Royal Household Bureau/Handout via Reuters]

A major protest is planned at the Crown Property Bureau on November 25 over the management of the palace fortune, which the king has taken into his personal control. The fund is valued in the tens of billions of dollars.

Protesters said there would be seven more days of demonstrations after that.

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