Thousands expected at Bangkok anti-govt rally on Sept 19-20
Student protesters on Wednesday announced plans to camp overnight at Thammasat University on September 19 before marching to Government House the following morning.
Plans for the latest large anti-government rally were revealed by the United Front of Thammasat and Demonstration group at a press conference. Observers predict the rally could attract up to 100,000 participants, making it the largest protest since the 2014 coup.
The protest will start at 2pm at Thammasat’s Tha Prachan Campus in Bangkok, according to student leaders Parit Chiwarak and Panusaya Sithijirawattanakul. The rally is expected to spill over to nearby Sanam Luang as Thammasat will not have capacity to hold such large numbers.
Ratchadamnoen Klang road will be also closed to make way for protest-related activities.
Participants will march to Government House at 8am on September 20.
Pro-democracy protesters are calling for a rewrite of the junta-drafted Constitution, a halt to intimidation of activists, dissolution of Parliament, and reform to curb the monarchy’s power.
Student-led protests have intensified in recent months, despite a government crackdown in which police have issued arrest warrants for activists. MPs have agreed to the proposal to draft a new Constitution, but have not yet reached consensus on whether to first cancel the unelected Senate’s power to vote for a new prime minister.