Thousands of pro-democracy demonstrators expected in the streets of Bangkok

Thousands of pro-democracy demonstrators had already gathered in Bangkok on August 16, 2020. AP Photo / Sakchai Lalit

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Thousands of students are called to demonstrate this Saturday, September 19 in Bangkok to demand the withdrawal of the Thai government.

For months it has lasted, the student movement has turned to arm wrestling with power.

The executive responds with increased control of the Internet with more than 2,000 blocked pages.

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With our correspondent in Bangkok,

With hundreds of websites closed, as well as Facebook pages and Twitter accounts of the most influential activists, the Thai government is banking on Internet control to prevent the rally from growing too large.

The most recent, a few weeks ago, had gathered more than 20,000 people.

This time, the demonstrators are invited to sleep there until Sunday evening.

50,000 people expected

At least 50,000 people will participate in the rally according to the organizers.

It would be the biggest protest since the 2014 coup that brought current

, who has since been legitimized by controversial elections, to power.

The movement, which has paraded in the streets almost daily since the summer, brings together mainly young people, students and urbanites.

Taking the Hong Kong protest as a model, they have no real leader and rely on social networks to relay their calls.

At the heart of their demands, the end of the "

 " of political opponents, the dissolution of Parliament with the resignation of Prayut Chan-O-Cha and the revision of the Constitution of 2017, drafted during the time of the junta and deemed too favorable to the army.

Police ready to intervene

If the initial plan to march to Parliament has been abandoned, the leaders of the movement, who seem more determined than ever, promise surprises.

So far, violence has been avoided, but until when?

The police are already warning that they will not let the youth attack properties linked to the monarchy.

King Vajiralongkorn, who ascended to the throne in 2016, failed to maintain this religious aura and this is one reason why young Thais feel much more reckless in criticizing the monarchy than their elders before. them.

Eugénie Mérieau, researcher and author of the book "Received ideas about Thailand"

Heike schmidt

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