FRIDAY, April 19, 2024
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A huge crowd of student-led protesters are closing the roads around Democracy Monument in Bangkok

A huge crowd of student-led protesters are closing the roads around Democracy Monument in Bangkok

Free People student-led protesters have gathered to hold the rally against the government at Democracy Monument in Bangkok's Rajdamnoen Road on Sunday (August 16).

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A huge crowd of student-led protesters are closing the roads around Democracy Monument in Bangkok

The demonstration starts at 3pm until 9pm on Sunday. Those who had arrived earlier showed the three-finger sign, symbolically showing their opposition to coup d'etat and clapped their hands to welcome those who arrived later.

A huge crowd of student-led protesters are closing the roads around Democracy Monument in Bangkok

At 3.25pm, the Free People group set up a stage with an electricity generator in the centre of the Democracy Monument.

A huge crowd of student-led protesters are closing the roads around Democracy Monument in Bangkok

At 3.40pm, the Coordination Centre for Vocational Students and People Protecting the Institution group, who had rallied earlier, were dismissed from the scene after police officers asked them to avoid any confrontation.

A huge crowd of student-led protesters are closing the roads around Democracy Monument in Bangkok

At 4.30pm, roads around Democracy Monument were closed by a huge crowd of student-led protesters.

Ten minutes later, the rally organised by students began with stinging criticism of the government. The speakers accused the government of controlling children's mindset by drilling in them the 12 core Thai values, as a result the country's education had failed to develop.

A huge crowd of student-led protesters are closing the roads around Democracy Monument in Bangkok

The students demanded that the government repeal Section 112 of the Thai Criminal Code, or lèse majesté law, which says: "Whoever defames, insults or threatens the King, the Queen, the Heir-apparent or the Regent, shall be punished with imprisonment of three to 15 years."

A huge crowd of student-led protesters are closing the roads around Democracy Monument in Bangkok

At 6pm, a farmer in Bang Pakong district of Chachoengsao province told the gathering that they were forced to leave their land by a group of capitalists supported by Palang Pracharat Party to work on the Eastern Economic Corridor.

A huge crowd of student-led protesters are closing the roads around Democracy Monument in Bangkok

Meanwhile, the students accused the government of using real bullets in dealing with the demonstrations so far.

A huge crowd of student-led protesters are closing the roads around Democracy Monument in Bangkok

At 7pm, a women's rights activist told the gathering that the right to abortion had been ignored for a long time because lawmakers only listened to the voices of certain scholars, showing that the government was indirectly threatening the people.

Meanwhile, the pro-democracy students urged the media to report the protest news boldly, emphasising that the media must stand on the people's side.

A huge crowd of student-led protesters are closing the roads around Democracy Monument in Bangkok

During the rally, a student band played music for political refugees and students holding protests nationwide, while the gathering turned on their mobile phone flashlights and waved to the beat.

A huge crowd of student-led protesters are closing the roads around Democracy Monument in Bangkok

At 8pm, an activist from Khon Kaen province staged a political parody that highlighted the role of a former Future Forward Party MP who joined the government coalition and became involved in the alleged hit-and-run case of Vorayuth ‘Boss’ Yoovidhya, and the government establishment whose benefits went to the Army’s commander.

A huge crowd of student-led protesters are closing the roads around Democracy Monument in Bangkok

The activist emphasised that this rally was not a conflict between generations, but a conflict between those who saw the truth and those who did not accept the truth. He added that the rally has brought together people of all ages and sectors because of the government’s failure to manage the country.

A huge crowd of student-led protesters are closing the roads around Democracy Monument in Bangkok

Meanwhile, representatives from a labour group told the gathering that the government could not solve the unemployment issue and expressed concern about new graduates who were facing unemployment.

A huge crowd of student-led protesters are closing the roads around Democracy Monument in Bangkok

A huge crowd of student-led protesters are closing the roads around Democracy Monument in Bangkok

A huge crowd of student-led protesters are closing the roads around Democracy Monument in Bangkok

A huge crowd of student-led protesters are closing the roads around Democracy Monument in Bangkok


 

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