Thailand: protesters call on king for dialogue, police use water cannons
Thai policemen form a security cordon to prevent protesters from reaching the Grand Palace in Bangkok during an anti-government demonstration on November 8, 2020. REUTERS / Athit Perawongmetha
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The protest movement against the government and for a reform of the monarchy continues in Thailand.
According to the police, nearly 7,000 people gathered around the grand palace in Bangkok on Sunday, November 8, in a rather tense atmosphere, marked by the use of water cannons by the authorities.
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While the authorities had warned that they would prevent access to the former royal palace in Bangkok,
the demonstrators
, who had come to bring a letter of grievances to the sovereign Rama X, took possession of the two buses which blocked the access.
Until, around 8 p.m. local time, the police used the water cannons.
A high-ranking officer may then come and explain that it was a mistake, the damage is done: anger is palpable among the militants, reports our correspondent in Bangkok,
Carol Isoux
.
"
We are very angry with the reaction of the government and the police, who use violence against peaceful demonstrators
, indignantly a protester.
We just wanted to send a request to the king, through a letter
!
This type of reaction is not good for the king or for the monarchy, because we are the voice of the people
: they must learn to listen to it, to listen to what the people want, and what they need.
"
Not far from the building,
the protesters
deposited hundreds of letters of demand in garbage cans converted into home-made letterboxes.
The letter addressed to the sovereign calls for a reform of the monarchical institution and reminds him that his duty is to listen to the voice of all his subjects.
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Protesters have been marching since the summer to demand
the resignation of the head of government and General Prayut Chan-O-Cha
, brought to power by a coup in 2014 and legitimized by controversial elections last year.
They also demand the abolition of the lese majesté law, control over the royal fortune and the sovereign's non-interference in political affairs.
The king speaks for the first time on the movement
Extremely rare, the sovereign Maha Vajiralongkorn spoke last week briefly on the subject, answering the question of a journalist who asked him about a possible reform.
"
We love everyone in the same way (...) Thailand is a land of compromise,
" he said.
The tug-of-war between the government, which intends to protect the untouchable aspect of the monarchy and the demonstrators, appears hopeless.
Groups of ultra-royalists plan to meet on Monday 9 November in front of the army headquarters to call for yet another coup, in order to "
restore public order
".
► To read also
: Thailand: the demonstrations could "lead to a rebalancing in favor of the army"
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