Why risked Thai protesters to 15 years in prison for criticizing the monarchy?

For years, Thailand has the powerful monarchy was the untouchable third rail of politics of the country. A strict law of lese majesty derived presumably the Royal Institution of libel, but in practice stifles discussion of sovereign rich with the threat of up sentenced to 15 years in prison. This summer, denied that deterrence. Grievances once limited to muted conversations he of open government arias exploded when a new generation of activists Thai public frustration with the existing system – including the role of their sovereign in it. “We dream of a monarchy that coexists with democracy” Anon Nampa, a lawyer for the human rights activist and first floor presumably masses said on August 16 in Bangkok. I remember in one of the largest demonstrations Empire from 2014 coup, more than 10,000 people converged at the Democracy Monument, the end of absolute monarchy in 1932. “We need this is to our generation,” he said to applause Anon. Do you think Thailand real democracy needs of groups of students led near daily protests held around the country have since last month, calls for Parliament to dissolve, to be rewritten for the military-designed constitution and end the persecution of activists, have given to government a September deadline to meet their demands, or say they are fans of the protest flame – no small threat in a country that was rushed through chronic upheaval and revolt. Read more: Thailand: Coup inspired That form helped the country’s coup in part by the decentralized demonstrations in Hong Kong last year, students in Thailand say they have no leaders to organize focus on social media. The movement, which has crossed the country, colored crack is present together for LGBTQ activists environmentalists separatist Malay Muslim South. “This is a very diverse group,” said Sunai Phasuk, a senior researcher at Human Rights Watch in Thailand. “But if you dig into what motivates all these different voices, the bottom line is that they believe that Thailand needs a true democracy.” For some, to put this line inspection means monarchical traditions of Thailand in question. “In the past there have been statements were misleading we say that he was born in men of the royal family are incarnations of gods and angels,” said student activists Panusaya Sithijirawattanakul reported from the stage at a rally on August 10 at Thammasat University. “With all due respect, please ask are sure that the angels or gods, this personality type are you?” 10 poster points that push beds by the Royal Institution Reform, including draconian lese majesty abolishes law, cutting the budget of the monarchy and the prohibition of the policy Palace. “Frustrated by a travesty of democracy and militarily dominated by the royal government supported these protesters become dangerous fat than risk strict lese laws majesty to make their voices heard,” Paul Chambers says a special adviser for Community ASEAN Studies International Center, business on Thailand Naresuan University. But even those who boundaries of loads taboo traditions given the test effort not to emphasize the attempt to dismantle the monarchy. A group of students said in a statement that the manifesto aims to allow only the king “by the people in a democracy like the most.” The current state of the Kingdom of Thailand, King Maha Vajiralongkorn, spends most of the year abroad, for the occasional trip flew back as the birthday of the mother visited last week. It arrived on Wednesday and Thursday went, according to the New York Times. Since the throne in 2016 on the rise, after his father’s death widely revered Vajiralongkorn has consolidated the financial and military control. With the changes to the Constitution, made a rule easily from abroad, brought two important regiments of the army under his command, and the direct supervision won active in the real. The Crown Property Bureau, a real estate portfolio of large and investments, previously managed by government agencies. While the estimated value is not made public, but their real estate portfolios in the Thai capital were $33 billion, evaluate after a semi-official biography in 2011 Vajiralongkorn father. Read more: Re Vajiralongkorn 68 years The King cuts a sharp contrast with the late King Bhumibol Adulyadej, who was the world’s longest monarch charge when he died at the age of 88 Thought unpopular crown prince and the promotion of his beloved foo-foo toy poodle to the rank of air Marshal involved in numerous scandals Privacy Vajiralongkorn has served as fodder for international tabloids, including his affairs, children and denying the leaked diplomatic cables. to marry before its official coronation, a few months after his fourth wife, Suthida queen appointed her lover a royal consort. (Later she moved from his rank and title, the 34-year-old throws to try to overcome the queen.) The pandemic Crown did not help his image. So the king flies in and out of Thailand Lockdown deep inequality has been exacerbated and the economy of the tourism-dependent bleeding. Millions are now out of work, while the Southeast Asian nation this week reported the worst economic contraction in Asia since 1998 financial crisis. “I think [COVID-19] and the economic downturn has added between protesters frustrated. But I think it has more to do with the way King Vajiralongkorn has behaved,” said Pavin Chachavalpongpun, a self-exiled Thai academic who teaches at the University of Kyoto. “They see it as irresponsible, and sometimes involved in politics.” While the building is widely seen as suspended above the turbulent political sphere of the country, it has often played an important role as arbiter. Since 1932, Thailand has recorded a dozen coup, formally approve the building each acquisition. The Vajiralongkorn last year transformed supports junta leader premier Prayut Chan-OCHA Cabinet. Prayut The Prime Minister has promised to restore stability after several years of upheaval again. But many young people see their government as imperfect democracy to revive, and instead allows the generals stay in power long after the coup 2014 the court was after the elections in 2019 followed by allegations of irregularities, dissolved an opposition party the proven popular among young people, progressive voters. The feeling defeated at the polls, the protesters demanding a say in the future of the country stormed the streets in February. But their momentum was temporarily offset by COVID-19 restrictions. Activists say Prayut generally characterized by increasing repression. Since the coup six years ago, legislation, act as computer crime and detain the injured critically law Majesty used. The activists were also physically attacked by unknown assailants while at least nine dissidents fled overseas disappeared by Human Rights Watch of the count. Two washed up following on a river bank, their stomachs filled with concrete. Read more: restore democracy leader Promise Thailand. It has its hold in a televised speech, on August 13, however Prayut insisted the government was held this summer in dealing with unrest suit. He called on all citizens “please do not say the hate and division policy.” Previously, he warned that “went too far” when demonstrators raised the issue of the monarchy. But his comments have not stopped. The increasingly popular Twitter hashtag “WhyDoWeNeedAKing” was shown on the Democracy Monument on Sunday, while photos captured case character who said: “pretending Stop, this is still a constitutional monarchy” “We need a real democracy” and fear a raid not everyone has the turn of the arsonist monarchy objectives. Some concern the move could endanger their larger, pro-democracy goals. Back Thai protests were violently crushed left dozens dead, including students. Some observers fear that history will repeat itself. Powerful army chief General of Thailand Apirat Kongsompong this month railed against “nation-haters”, in an earlier speech. “It can be cured [Crown] virus, but what is not curable, the nation hate disease,” he reportedly said. “Those who hate their country is not recoverable because they consider their country mockingly.” Three protesters were arrested prominent on bail on their participation in the recent demonstrations and released. Two of them, a lawyer Anon and Parit student activists “Penguin” Chiwarak, even the face of lese majeste complaints. Police have issued arrest warrants against six fresh protesters Wednesday, including Anon and Panusaya. They are equipped with bill “cybercrime sedition act, it acts of violation of the disease control and with the speakers”, Pathum Thani provincial police commander Chayut Marayat told Agence France-Presse. Experts say that while authorities seem to be going after figureheads, hoping that the rest of the movement is organically flatten the risk of backfiring strategy. So far, only further fueled challenge. “Students threaten war is to explain about the future,” Parit tweeted on August 17, three days after he was arrested on sedition. “Stop harassing students now, if you do not want to escalate things.”
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